I did find the tech manuals (from classiccmp's mirror of bitsavers).
Tony, IIRC it says the early drives *did not* have brushes and later model ones were
equipped with them? Incidentally this drive started life as an RL01 but also has a DEC
sticker "changed to RL02 by PCO" just to further confuse things.
Do you still recommend I not install them? I think that airflow and centrifugal force
might be the only safe way to remove particles rather than "grinding" them
across the disk platter surface with a brush, no matter how lightly...
I think there may also be a "Fault" if the brushes are not parked?
Ethan, thanks for the suggestion about using a 40 pin double-ended-Berg cable from inside
the drive. I haven't taken the electronics cover off yet. I only have one 8/A and one
RL02 so once mounted in the rack cabinet they'll stay there, connected to each other.
The 40-pin cable will be, of course, trivial to make IF the pinouts are the same on both
ends.
Unless someone has the correct RL8A-to-RL02 cable, and a terminator, they would like to
sell me?
thanks
-Charles