3 Feb
2006
3 Feb
'06
1:07 p.m.
opened it up last night. The tape drive capstans have
turned to a
puddle of goo! So I figure that if I ever want the tape drive to be
THis is a well-known problem on most old HP machines. I've repaired many
handhelds (the card reader roller fails the same way), the rollers in my
9100Bs, 9810, etc. I've not yet done this sort of drive, though.
There have been several comments on web sites about repairing similar
drives. Look back through the archives on http://www.hpmuseum.org/ for
some ideas.
I don't know if this drive is similar to any other HP unit (is there a
part number on the PCB wired to the mechanism?) but I would guess ideas
for the 9815/9825/9835/9845 or the HP85 might be applicable.
in working order, that I need to:
i) remove the goo
ii) recreate/replace the capstan
Does anyone have a unit with an intact capstan that could give me
physical dimensions? I doubt anyone has a repair kit that would
include the capstan, but that would certainly be welcome! Aside from
If it's like the 9815/9825 one, then the smallest FRU was the complete
drive, alas. The do come apart, although it can be hard to remove the
capstan from the motor spindle (the grub screws put burrs on the motor
spindle, and you can't lever it off because of the tachometer disk which
is fairly delicate).
If you think it's similar to either of the drives I've mentioned, I can
talk you through taking it apart.
I do have the user manual from bitsavers, but it
doesn't go into
repair stuff, just installation (which is how I figured out how to
open the case) of options.
You might also find some documentaition on http://www.hpmuseum.net/ (this
is not the same site I mentioned earlier, one is .org, the other .net).
But I don't recall seing a schematic or similar info for any terminal there.
-tony