Maxtor swaping heads - what model is THE ONE

I really know that some of you guys have already written this, but allow me to ask you once again. I got this Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9, 6Y080LO, firmware YAR41BWO, NGBA with lost preamp on heads and really would like to know what models I can use to take out healthy heads and use for pulling out the data from my disk. What about models 6Y080M0 or others.

Veni K.

This article should be helpful: Head stack.

Hi,

first I would probably replace the bad preamp, because there is a risk of heads' misalignment if U swap the MHA.

pepe

I appreciate your answers. Would you advice me on following:

1. Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 series 6Y080
Mine is 6Y080L0

Can I use heads from the model 6Y080M0

2. What is easier to do:

Swap heads or swap media

I am fully aware about the problem in aligement

pepe wrote:Hi,

first I would probably replace the bad preamp, because there is a risk of heads' misalignment if U swap the MHA.

pepe

you can not replace the preamp chip on the hard drive
as this is connected to the head inside and is on wafer
so it will burn right away
only way is a head swap

unless im missing something here ????

craig6928 wrote:
unless im missing something here ????

Hi,

yes, U are surely missing something :lol:

For Calypsos with preamp burned the best solution is to replace the preamp (and it is the same with other Maxtor and quantum drives too). At least I found it the best, since head alignment would change if U replace the whole MHA and it is critical in most of these drives, probably it will not like the new stuff

)
Of course preamp replacement is also critical since one can easily damage the otherwise useable heads without proper technology and knowledge.

regards,
pepe

hi pepe, you got the point there..Maxtor or WD are too sensitive for HDA exchange...some Maxtor preamp chips are fused to the board no pins exposed to desolder, how you go about changing it? cut the flexible ribbon cable and solder the ribbon cable with good preamp?

feedback appreciated.

Here the question was about calypso drives, those have SMD preamps 'easily' changeable.

regards,
pepe

Pepe, how many sets of hands do you have, and what kind of soldering station are you using to be able to desolder the preamp, and remount a new one without damaging any peripherals? Hats off to you.

yes that confuses me too because beneath the preamp there is a plastic wire that might melt if u use hot station so what do u use to replace the preamp ?

That is easy answer, though not easy in practice. Cut donor from ribbon (by cutting ribbon) & desolder, cut legs on dead chip & be quick & gentle with soldering, 12v & grounded as these IC's are sensitive to ESD. You can use 3M fineline blue tape to hold chip on ribbon while you solder. Microscope is useful also.

Thanks for reply ur talking this ribbon :

from where do i cut the ribbon and how do i join back .

yes use Xacto knife or razor to cut the good pream chip off your donor then de-solder legs, as you are only after the chip. then cut the legs off of the dead pre-amp chip to remove. If you are careful you can solder your donor agere chip to the trimmed legs or gently heat & remove them first. You need low heat & be grounded as they are VERY sensitive to ESD.

you can buy these agere chips new also but the only supplier I have found has $500.00 US minimum order :shock:

easier to cut off a donor

sorry red wasn't best color, To be clear you don't try and splice the ribbons you cut it to make it easier to remove the donor chip intact

Are you using an air soldering station for this? What temp are you using?

Thanks for reply yes i think that would be the best thing to do .
Very clever Shortscurcuits.

Hi, no I use low temp 12 v solder gun & microscope, you could hot air the donor off the ribbon, but hot air would melt the plastic on the ribbon, it's better to use a fine tipped iron for the replacement

Very interesting topic

Shortscurcuits wrote: cut the legs off of the dead pre-amp chip to remove.

Interesting. That's a good point. It's easier to solder to the cut-off legs than to the pads. Also, you don't have to heat the ribbon twice. Will try that method. Thanks.

PS: You mean cut legs here, right?

Hi,

I don't use hot air, that would be definitely harmful.
but I use radiated heat (like infrared).
This way it takes about 5 minutes to desolder and 10 to solder back the preamp

qtd4242: I have only 2 hands, I mean one set

pepe