[rescue] VS80 DLT tape drive question

[Curtis H. Wilbar Jr.]

Dan Sikorski wrote:
> Curtis H. Wilbar Jr. wrote:
>   
>> I was given an external VS80 (Dell branded) tape drive.
>>
>> The 'door' where tape goes, flaps freely in... I'm used to my
>> DLT4000 where the door is locked closed when a tape is out.
>>
>>   
>>     
> The VS80's are just spring loaded flaps, they don't lock closed like the 
> larger drives do.
>   
>> I've opened it up, and I don't see any evidence of an interlock
>> mechanism or even a spring to hold it closed.
>>
>>   
>> When the external drive is powered on, the fan in the case
>> causes the flap to pull partway in (pulling dust/etc into the
>> drive).  Is this really how these drives are ?
>>
>> If not, where would the door spring go ????
>>
>>   
>>     
> When you're looking at the front end of the drive, the left side of the 
> door should have a spring on it.  If you take the drive out of the case, 
> you should be able to see the (lack of) spring if you look at the top of 
> the drive on the hinge of the flap.
>   

what sort of spring ?  if missing, is it likely inside the drive ? !

>> How are these drives ?  Seems like a very compact drive.
>> Specs show a slower transfer rate vs the full size DLT8000.
>>   
>>     
> Not too bad, we have probably a dozen of them in service, and have had 
> some failures, but i think i can probably attribute all of the failures 
> to dirty air (dust, smoke, etc.).  I've also taken two of those drives 
> apart to fix them in the past.  (I'm not expert though, i only have a 
> 50% success rate. :) )
>   

What failure do you tend to see ?

If you have any failed units, do you have a spring/etc you could spare ????

I'm quite worried a small metal spring may be inside this thing 
somewhere  :-(

-- Curt

>     -Dan Sikorski
> _______________________________________________
> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue