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 Post subject: HDDSurgery manual - HDDS HGST 3.5” Ramp Set
PostPosted: January 30th, 2014, 11:46 
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Joined: November 18th, 2013, 10:54
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The following user guide will give step-by-step instructions on how to change read/write heads with this set of HddSurgery head replacement tools on almost all new 3.5” Hitachi hard drives which “park heads” on a ramp. More details about this tool set can be found on our website:

http://hddsurgery.com/tool/hdds-hgst-3-5-inch-ramp-set

You can also check:

1. Video guide - http://www.hddsurgery.com/tool/hdds-hgst-3-5-inch-ramp-set&box=video
2. Animation - http://www.hddsurgery.com/tool/hdds-hgst-3-5-inch-ramp-set&box=animation
3. Manual - http://hddsurgery.com/dl/HDDSHGST35RampSetManual.pdf

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HddSurgeryTM HDDS HGST 3.5” Ramp Set is a set of head replacement tools which can be used to safely and easily replace heads on the most of the modern 3.5” Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGST) hard drives which “park heads” on a ramp. Set contains 5 pairs of head replacement tools: HGST 3.5” Ramp p1w, HGST 3.5” Ramp p2w, HGST 3.5” Ramp p2, HGST 3.5” Ramp p3 and HGST 3.5” Ramp p5 which are used together with pair of HGST 3.5''Support Tools.

HGST 3.5” Ramp p1w


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This head replacement tool can be used on 3.5” HGST hard drive models PLAT, PLA, VLSA, VLAT and others which have 1 platter and with their heads parked on a white ramp with one track (one track - space for two heads).

HGST 3.5” Ramp p2w

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This tool is used on HGST 3.5” hard drives models VLAT, VLSA, DLAT, DLA and others with 2 and 1 platters, which park their heads on a white ramp with two or three tracks.

HGST 3.5” Ramp p2

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HGST 3.5” Ramp p2 head replacement tool can be used on 3.5” HGST hard drive models CLA, GLAT, GLA, SLA, DLE and others which have 2 and 1 platters and their heads parked on orange ramp with one or two tracks.

HGST 3.5” Ramp p3

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HGST 3.5” Ramp p3 head replacement tool can be used on the 3 and 2 platter HGST drives which include models ALA, BLA, SLA and others. These drives have their heads parked on a orange ramp with three tracks.

HGST 3.5” Ramp p5

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HGST 3.5” Ramp p5 head replacement tool can be used on 3.5” HGST hard drive models KLA, KLAT, ALA, ALE, ALS and other models which have 5, 4 and 3 platters and their heads parked on both - white and orange ramps with five tracks. This tool is used together with HGST 3.5'' Support tool.

HGST 3.5” Support tool

HGST 3.5” Support tool is designed to support head (and magnet) replacement process on 3.5” HGST hard drive models KLA, KLAT, ALA, ALE, ALS and other models which have 5, 4 and 3 platters and their heads parked on both - white and orange ramps with five tracks. The upper and lower magnet of these drives are connected and can't be disassembled by classical methods. This means that heads must be disassembled together with the magnets. Support tool secures position of heads in relation to both magnets during heads replacement process.

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Head replacement process with p1w Ramp tool

Preparing the hard drive for head replacement

To prepare the hard drive for head replacement process it is needed to dismount the PCB (circuit board on the bottom side) and to take off the lid from the top of the hard drive. Loosen and remove all the screws on the PCB, than pull out the flat cable from the connector and gently take of the board. In order to easily dismount the heads later in the process, loosen the screw on the bottom side which is holding the head assembly just a little bit and then tighten it again. After dismounting the PCB loosen all the screws and take off the lid.

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Step 1 – Dismounting the upper magnet

Remove the upper magnet by using the needle-nose pliers. One side of pliers should be resting on the edge of the hard drive casing and one end of the open pliers should be under the magnet. Lift the magnet by pushing down the handles of the pliers while holding them tight. Remove screws that are holding the flat cable connector and push the connector from the bottom upwards to release it. Pressure from below may cause the connector to pop out and possibly damage platters. Because of this, hold the top of connector with another hand while pushing it from the bottom. Before applying pressure, remove screws from their holes.

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Step 2 – Mounting the tool on the actuator arm

Carefully center the axle of the tool over the hole near the top of the head arm (near the heads themselves). Most of the HGST hard drives have only one hole near the top of the actuator arm which should be used for mounting the tool. However on hard drives which have 1 platter and white ramps with one track (for which p1w tools should be used) there are two holes at the end of the actuator arm and the tool's axle should be placed in the smaller one (see picture 6.3). Take care that the snouts stand away from the heads, and put the axle of the tool through hole in the actuator arm. Axle of the tool should go easily through this hole.

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Step 3 – Securing the heads with the tool

Push the tool so the snouts go between the heads. These snouts will keep the distance between the heads and assure that the heads don’t touch each other after sliding them off the ramp. Secure the tool in this position by providing securing pin. Pin should go through the hole easily. Securing pin will be placed through the actuator arm itself only when using p1w ramp tool.

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Step 4 – Removing the security brake(s)

Remove the security brake(s) with the tweezers. Some HGST hard drives have one and some two security brakes (both plastic and rubber one). Plastic brake should be removed first and then the rubber one. Be careful when grabbing the security brake because it can slip and fall on the platter if too much pressure is applied. Tweezers should grab the security brake in the thinner part and lift it up without moving in the other directions. While removing rubber brake hold the end of the actuator arm with a finger. When rubber brake is removed, nothing else holds head assembly in its position.

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Step 5 – Moving the heads off the ramp

Carefully move the heads off the ramp while controlling their movement with a finger at the end of the actuator arm. Tool's snouts will prevent the heads from touching each other when they are moved off the ramp.

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Step 6 – Removing the screw that holds the head arm

Loosen and remove the screw that’s holding the head assembly connected to the donor drive casing. While loosening this screw, hold the head assembly with your other hand to prevent the heads from going back to the ramp area.

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Step 7 – Dismounting the heads from a donor drive

To lift the head assembly, tweezers are needed. Use tweezers to grab the head assembly and pull the head arm up. To make sure that the head assembly goes straight up, use one finger to pull the back side of the head arm (side where the magnetic coil is) simultaneously. Don’t try to dismount the heads by pulling the tool. While lifting the donor head assembly up watch not to damage the heads. Especially take care that heads don't come in contact with the ramp. Because of strong bottom magnet's magnetic force, don't place actuator arm's steel shaft over it while lifting the head assembly up.

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Step 8 – Mounting the heads on a patient drive

Place the head assembly to its place in a patient hard drive by using the tweezers. Assist the process with your other hand. Watch not to damage the heads in the process. Especially take care that heads don't come in contact with the ramp. While placing the head assembly, watch not to place actuator arm's steel shaft over the bottom magnet.

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When the head assembly is in its place, tighten the screw which is holding it from the bottom while holding the head assembly from above. Be sure to tighten this screw to assure good connection between the head arm and the patient hard drive casing.

Step 9 – Moving the heads to the patient drive's ramp

While controlling the head assembly movement with the finger at the end of the actuator arm, slide the heads to the patient drive's ramp.

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While keeping the heads position on the ramp by holding end of the actuator arm with the finger, put the security brake(s) to their places by using the tweezers. If there are two brakes, first place rubber brake - which will secure heads position on the ramp and then the plastic one.

Step 10 - Dismounting the tool and finishing process

Remove the securing pin from the tool. Scroll the tool away from the heads. While gently holding the actuator arm, pull the axle of the tool out of the hole by holding the tool for its handle.

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Place the connector on its place and tighten the two screws that are holding it. Put back the magnet by using the needle-nose pliers. Be careful when putting back the magnet because of magnetic force and use the leverage (like when You took it off).

Put the lid and PCB back and clone the disk.



Head replacement process with p2w, p2 and p3 Ramp tools

Step 1 – Mounting the tool on the actuator arm

Dismount PCB and loosen just a little bit the screw on the bottom side which is holding the head assembly and then tighten it again. This is needed in order to easily dismount head assembly later in the process. Open the hard drive casing and remove the upper magnet by using the needle-nose pliers. On some drives upper magnet is connected with the casing with a screws. On such drives firstly remove the screws and then upper magnet. Remove screws that are holding the flat cable connector and push the connector from the bottom upwards to release it. Carefully center the axle of the tool over the hole near the top of the head arm (near the heads themselves). Take care that the snouts stand away from the heads, and put the axle of the tool through the hole. Axle of the tool should go easily through this hole. Push the tool so the snouts go between the heads. These snouts will keep the distance between the heads and assure that the heads don’t touch each other.

!!! VERY IMPORTANT !!! Don't secure the tool with the securing pin at this moment. On some models there is a danger that securing pin will fall on the top platter if it is placed at this moment.

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Step 2 – Removing the security brake(s)

Remove the security brake(s) with the tweezers. Some HGST hard drives have one and some two security brakes (both plastic and rubber one). Plastic brake should be removed first and then the rubber one. Be careful when grabbing the security brake because it can slip and fall on the platter if too much pressure is applied. Tweezers should grab the security brake in the thinner part and lift it up without moving in the other directions. While removing rubber brake hold the end of the actuator arm with a finger. When rubber brake is removed, nothing else holds head assembly in its position.

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Step 3 – Moving the heads off the ramp and securing the tool with the heads

Carefully move the heads of the ramp while controlling their movement with a finger at the end of the actuator arm. Tool's snouts will prevent the heads from touching each other when they are moved off the ramp.

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When the heads are off the ramp, secure the tool's position on them by providing securing pin. Ramp tools p2w, p2, p3 and p5 have implemented side-locking system which means that securing pin locks the tool's position on the heads by going to the side of the heads.

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Step 4 – Removing screw that is holding the head arm

Loosen and remove the screw that’s holding the head assembly connected to the donor drive casing. While loosening this screw, hold the head assembly with your other hand to prevent the heads from going back to the ramp area.

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Step 5 – Dismounting the heads from a donor drive

To lift the head assembly, tweezers are needed. Use tweezers to grab the head assembly and pull the head arm up. To make sure that the head assembly goes straight up, use one finger to pull the back side of the head arm (side where the magnetic coil is) simultaneously. Don’t try to dismount the heads by pulling the tool. While lifting the donor head assembly up watch not to damage the heads. Especially take care that heads don't come in contact with the ramp. Because of the strong bottom magnet magnetic force, don't place actuator arm's steel shaft over it while lifting the head assembly up.

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Step 6 - Mounting the heads on a patient drive

Place the head assembly to its place in a patient hard drive by using the tweezers. Assist the process with your other hand. Watch not to damage the heads in the process. Especially take care that heads don't come in contact with the ramp. While placing the head assembly, watch not to place actuator arm's steel shaft over the bottom magnet.

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When the head assembly is in its place, tighten the screw which is holding it from the bottom while holding the head assembly from above. Be sure to tighten this screw to assure good connection between the head arm and the patient hard drive casing.

Step 7 - Moving the heads to the patient drive's ramp

While controlling the head assembly movement with the finger at the end of the actuator arm, slide the heads to the patient drive's ramp.

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While keeping the heads position on the ramp by holding end of the actuator arm with the finger, put the security brake(s) to their places by using the tweezers. If there are two brakes, first place rubber brake - which will secure heads position on the ramp and then the plastic one.

Step 8 - Dismounting the tool and finishing process

Remove the securing pin from the tool. Scroll the tool away from the heads. While gently holding the actuator arm, pull the axle of the tool out of the hole by holding the tool for its handle.

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Place the connector on its place and tighten the two screws that are holding it. Put back the magnet by using the needle-nose pliers. Be careful when putting back the magnet because of magnetic force and use the leverage (like when You took it off). Place back the screws on the magnet (if there are any) and tighten them up.

Put the lid and PCB back and clone the disk.


Head replacement process with p5 Ramp and Support tool

Step 1 – Mounting the tool on the actuator arm

Dismount PCB and loosen just a little bit the two screws on the bottom side which are holding the head assembly and bottom magnet and then tighten them again. This is needed in order to easily dismount heads and magnets later in the process. Open the hard drive casing, remove screws that are holding the flat cable connector and push the connector from the bottom upwards to release it. Pressure from below may cause the connector to pop out and possibly damage platters. Because of this, hold the top of connector with another hand while pushing it from the bottom. Before applying pressure, remove screws from their holes. Carefully center the axle of the tool over the hole near the top of the head arm (near the heads themselves). Take care that the snouts stand away from the heads, and put the axle of the tool through the hole. Axle of the tool should go easily through this hole.

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Step 2 – Securing the heads with the tool

Push the tool so the snouts go between the heads. These snouts will keep the distance between the heads and assure that the heads don’t touch each other. Secure the tool in this position by providing securing pin. HDDS HGST 3.5” Ramp tool p5 has side-locking system. This means that security pin will lock the tool by going on the side of the head assembly, in narrow space between heads, ramp and platters.

!!! VERY IMPORTANT !!! Due to large diversities in HGST drive mechanics, there is a possibility that securing pin won't go through on certain models. If that happens, use the tool without pin.

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Remove the security brake carefully by using the tweezers. Watch not to touch the platters with the tweezers. After removing the brake, heads will slide to the right just a little bit, but won't slide off the ramp.

Step 3 – Mounting the support tool on actuator arm and upper magnet (moving the heads off the ramp)

Mount the support tool on the upper magnet. First center right centering pin over its adequate hole while other pins are lifted up (picture 8.3). After that, place the pushing pin in adequate ellipsoid hole of the actuator arm and gently slide the heads of the ramp as far as possible, while the left centering pin is still lifted up. Moving the support tool will place its holes in line with the adequate holes on the upper magnet and the head assembly. When heads are off the ramp and the corresponding holes are concentric, place the third pin in its place. Only when the holes are concentric third pin will be able to enter its hole.

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Hold the support tool in position while placing the screws in their original places (3 screws from the lid). First place the largest screw in the hole of the support tool which corresponds to the hole of the actuator arm's shaft and tighten it. Release support tool and place the other two (smaller) screws in their holes and tighten them.

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Step 4 – Removing the screws which are holding both magnets and head assembly

Loosen and remove two longer screws from the upper magnet (picture 8.6). Then remove screw which is holding bottom magnet from below (picture 8.7 - left). Finally, remove screw which is holding head assembly connected to the hard drive casing (picture 8.7 - right). After removing these four screws, heads and magnets are completely disconnected from donor hard drive.

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Step 5 – Dismounting the heads and magnets from a donor drive

!!! VERY IMPORTANT !!! Before dismounting the heads and magnets from donor drive, check once again three screws in the support tool. If they got loosened in the process, tighten them firmly again.

Hold the handle of the support tool and gently pull it up together with head assembly and magnets. Watch not to damage heads in the process. Especially take care that heads and the ramp don't come into contact.

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Step 6 – Mounting the heads and magnets in a patient drive

Carefully place the head assembly to its place in patient drive by holding the handle of the support tool. Assist the process with your other hand and keep the magnet's brake mechanism in the space between magnets. Watch not to damage heads, especially be careful that heads don't come in contact with the ramp.

!!! VERY IMPORTANT !!! Keep magnet's brake mechanism in the space between magnets.

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Check that all of the four screw holes on magnets and head assembly are concentric with the corresponding holes in the patient hard drive casing.

Step 7 – Tightening the screws that are holding the actuator arm and magnet

When head assembly and magnets are on their place in patient drive, put back the screws which are holding the actuator arm and magnets on the bottom side of the Hard Drive casing, and tighten them. Put back the two longer screws which are holding the magnets from the top side.

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Step 8 – Moving the heads to the ramp and dismounting the support tool

First loosen the screws that are connecting support tool and the upper magnet and then, while holding the support tool loosen the screw that is connecting support tool with the head assembly. There is no need to remove the screws from the support tool at this moment, just be sure that they are completely loosened.

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Lift the corner of the tool where the left centering pin is while securing that the right centering pin and pushing pin remain in their positions. Let the heads slide back to the ramp while controlling their movement with the pushing pin. When heads are on the ramp, dismount support tool by lifting it up.

!!! VERY IMPORTANT !!! On some HGST models heads won't slide back until pushing the magnet's brake mechanism inwards.

Step 9 – Putting patient drive security brake back

When heads are back on the ramp and support tool is removed, patient drive security brake should be placed on its place. To do this, first push magnet's brake mechanism inward (action of screwdriver on picture 8.14) and then slide heads slightly to the left by pushing the handle of the ramp tool p5. This will uncover the security brake hole in patient drive casing.

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While keeping the heads position on the ramp by holding the handle of ramp tool p5, grab the security brake with the tweezers and put it back to its place in patient drive.

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Step 10 – Dismounting the tool and finishing the process

Remove the securing pin from the tool. Scroll the tool away from the heads. While gently holding the actuator arm, pull the axle of the tool out of the hole by holding the tool for its handle.

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Tighten screws which are holding the flat cable connector and close the disk by putting the lid back.

Put PCB back and clone the drive.

You can find more information about this tool and many other tools used for data recovery on our website.

http://www.hddsurgery.com/

Also you can watch the videos that show how this tool works on our YouTube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HddSurgery

Thanks for reading,

HDDSurgery team


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 Post subject: Re: HDDSurgery manual - HDDS HGST 3.5” Ramp Set
PostPosted: March 18th, 2014, 12:17 
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Joined: February 25th, 2014, 0:56
Posts: 2
Location: NYC, USA
Team,
This is just Excellent. I have certainly had some of these high capacity drives in Pieces & Parts--beginning with Seagate Internals and Externals when they first started putting out 1.5TB HDD's and beyond. But then, who didn't.

I never really entertained much hope that these could actually be repairable. The double sided heads float on gossamer like positioning supports. The drives are in stacks and data integrity depends on the head assembly retrieving data from the EXACT same physical location across the array of platters, each platter having tiny heads to read their upper and lower surface--and maybe 6 of those platters! It just initially looked entirely foreboding in terms of the delicacy and precision that had to be achieved.

I see you've sorted all that out. I WOULD think those precision tools would be near De rigueur. I don't know if I any longer retain the eyesight or the patience to undertake these repairs but it is certainly heartening to see that Y'all have and apparently triumphed over the problem space.
KUDOS!


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