Samsung HD501LJ Heads Transplanting

[imaarouf]

Dear friends, I am new member in your family, i like to share my little experience with yours.
I am experiencing problems with head transplanting for Samsung Series begin with HD..., like HD501LJ , never succeeded. Originally the drive is producing fast clicking sounds, I did head swapping, same thing happened, also same for other models, I read some thing about head alignment, may be this is the cause, would you please tell me how i can align the heads.

Thank you to all

[pcimage]

Never had a problem with Samsung heads, second only to Toshiba for easyness!

[hddguy]

Never had a problem with Samsung heads, second only to Toshiba for easyness!

I agree. Maybe there is a compatibility issue, otherwise the method is all wrong

[networkpc3000]

hello,
welcome to HDDGURU, any problem post here with more detail. we'd to help.

[BlackST]

Wrong diagnose, and/or wrong method so heads damaged, or the original problem was not the headstack. Did you check log, firmware and the preamp out/switching/signalling with logical analyzer? Successful recovery begin with EXACT diagnose!

[beto]

Samsung MHA exchange doesnt need alignment, knocks its not always caused by MHA, HD501LH means many heads, if u dont have experience with head exchange u should not be practice with u data disks, because could be damaged some of the MR sensors on the process.

[harddrivespecialist]

Originally the drive is producing fast clicking sounds, I did head swapping, same thing happened, also same for other models, I read some thing about head alignment, may be this is the cause, would you please tell me how i can align the heads.

I don't mind to share my experience

I worked with hard drives for 3 years; fixing boards, analizing models, learning compatibility of the parts and etc., before I did my first headstack swap.

Head alignment do help sometimes, especialy when it can't store common sence knowledge.

[imaarouf]

Thank you all , I am using PC3k tools, according to Terminal report, it was head problem, this an answer for diagnosis issue, concerning heads swapping, i am doing it since three years, almost it goining fine, i perform it in clean room,... with some tools.
Third, i am not a hero that is right. I need some appreciated help. Thank you , all

The disk is clicking, then stops spinning, and and shows DRD and DSC registers Green
No other red registers.

The report is:

ADC: 0002
SPW 1.5G LinkOk! ADC: 0002

SpnOk
spd: 0000 0000 FFFF
H: +00000
ADC: 0002
DAC: 7A88
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00001
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00002
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00003
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00004
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00005
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00000
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00001
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00002
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00003
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00004
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00005
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00000
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00001
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00002
UF 3 1stGrayErr
H: +00003
UF 3 1stGrayErr
WriteSctLog -- buffer not valid
LED 13 0000
LED 13 0000
LED 13 0000

[BlackST]

13 = Head unlatch error. The fact that you have continuous UF3 1st Gray Err. seems like a head problem or a serious SA (MC) problem. In fact the relevant modules are NOT loaded according to your terminal log. Maybe you have a circular scratch. Are you sure the heads can reach FREELY the whole surface of the disk pack? Also, maybe the drive was dropped (external case) and the axis is bent so you have vertical vibration of the entire pack ?
I suggest a THOROUGH check with logic analyzer at the read channel, the whole interface between HSA and the PCB. Experienced technician can easily identify the problem looking at the waveform.

[BlackST]

Update : have you checked the PCB with an identical drive ? Also, have you tried writing firmware and / or maintenance operations like module writing on MC ?

[BlackST]

Update 2... Have you opened the drive and checked for stiction and/or head load/unload?

[imaarouf]

Much thanks to BlackST

The drive is dropped, before i received it, i noticed that heads are not swapping all platters surface.