[Info-vax] VS80 redux, any service info available

[Rich Jordan]

On Feb 8, 1:29 pm, abrsvc <dansabrservi... at yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Feb 8, 1:45 pm, Rich Jordan <jor... at ccs4vms.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Going to try one last time.  I've had zero luck finding a service
> > manual or any useful service info on the VS80 DLT drive.  We picked up
> > a couple of p/n 337701-001 new in box in 2009, new but out of warranty
> > per HP.  One has been working great, the other worked for about 10
> > backups then the leader self destructed.
>
> > The leaders are available online, though no other parts or info seems
> > to be.  I got a couple of replacements, put one in, and got part of
> > one backup to a brand new tape, then it pulled the tape apart and
> > couldn't eject.  Used HP's 9 volt battery trick to eject the cartridge
> > and reset the leader.  Next cartridge (used this time) also failed but
> > this time the drive leader self destructed again, damaging the end of
> > the tape itself.
>
> > Today we installed the last leader, pulled and reseated every
> > connector we safely could (two of the thin ribbon cables are very
> > badly placed for that and could not be done without excess
> > disassembly) and cleaned the rollers and interior (but not the heads)
> > with proper swabs and cleaning fluid.  The drive started loading the
> > tape then errored out.  Turned out it broke the tape again; the drive
> > leader looks ok.
>
> > We're done playing with this drive unless we can get some usable
> > service information; there's no budget for repair or replacement (it
> > was to replace DAT backup on the cluster; the DAT drives are still
> > working.  The other VS80 got hijacked by the peecee weenies).
>
> > So... is there anyinfo or documentation publicly available out there
> > to help diagnose and possibly fix this drive?
>
> > Thanks for any input
>
> I have a Compaq TH8AL external drive available.  Where are you
> located?
>
> The likely problem is a failure of one of the internal motors or the
> speed control circuits associated with them.  There are 2.
>
> Dan

Palatine, IL.  However I really need a half-height drive like the
VS80; the only spot left in the rack is one bay of a 1-U tape drive
shelf.  Thanks!