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Head tools for new 2.5" drives. E.g. Hitachi thin - 5410A7

March 8th, 2017, 14:03

Is anyone aware of head tools available for the latest generation of (slim) series HDDs?

Hitachi, Seagate, Western Digital and Samsung M9.

I presume they are on the HDDSurgery to-do list?

We currently have a Hitachi 5410A7 in. Very awkward to deal with due to the raised metal casting where the pre-amp connector attaches. See image - very little room to fit a custom tool then retract the head-assembly for safe removal.

What have others found the best results with?

John

Hitachi 5410A7 heads.JPG

Re: Head tools for new 2.5" drives. E.g. Hitachi thin - 5410

March 8th, 2017, 17:02

Ace Tool Lab has some great head change tools, at excellent prices. Unfortunately, I don't think they include a Hitachi head change tool, yet, and certainly not for the new designs that have no room to insert a tool. However, Andrey is coming out with new tools all the time. Snips of heat shrink tubing work okay, but fiddly.

Re: Head tools for new 2.5" drives. E.g. Hitachi thin - 5410

March 9th, 2017, 7:08

Thanks, I've not used the 'Ace Tool Lab' sets before. Prices are low I see.

I've had some interesting suggestions in PM messages for how to deal with head-swaps on the new series HDDs where there are no developed tools available. I shall be trying the suggestions provided this week.

John

Re: Head tools for new 2.5" drives. E.g. Hitachi thin - 5410

March 12th, 2017, 16:12

We made a tool. It will be for sale very soon.
Finishing documentation and boxes...

Re: Head tools for new 2.5" drives. E.g. Hitachi thin - 5410

March 13th, 2017, 16:21

Thanks Serg. Good if there is a tool. Today I worked on this HDD using a suggestion from data-medics.

I've got to say this drive is one of the most challenging I have seen to work on. There are obvious issues associated with the proximity of the heads to the pre-amp connector and resealing this type of HDD with the silver foil label. These are manageable. What makes this disk so difficult is the amount of movement there can be in the head assembly when there is an attempt to disassemble the drive. As per other Hitachi HDDs the bottom half of the actuator is not fixed into place once the top half is unscrewed. Now combine this with that these Hitachi no longer use a fixing screw underneath the drive to hold the head assembly in place. It makes for tricky work.

DSCF2701.JPG
Hitach 5410A7 Head assembly removed
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