Specifications

Chapter 1. Hardware Training
18 Dim11
Manual Cleaning
Use the following instructions to manually clean the tape drive. These are
manufacturers’ recommended procedures.
CAUTION: If you have an Exabyte, Gigatrend, or Dat drive, use only the recommended cleaning kits.
No manual cleaning should be done.
Supplies Needed:
1. Lint-free swabs (foam-tipped, not cotton).
2. 80% or higher isopropyl alcohol. Any lesser percentages of alcohol contain
high enough concentrations of water to cause oxidation of the tape drive
parts.
3. Low-pressure canned air. Do not use an oil-lubricated air compressor.
Procedure:
Step 1. Turn the power off to the tape drive and remove the power cord from
the back of the drive.
Step 2. Using the canned air, blow any dust or lint away from the end of
tape sensor (see illustration below).
Step 3. Moisten a swab with alcohol. Do not saturate the swab to the
prevent the alcohol from dripping into the drive.
Step 4. With the moistened swab, reach into the drive and clean any dust or
lint from the capstan wheel. You can clean this wheel by moving the
swab tip across it in any direction.
Step 5. Using a fresh, moistened swab, wipe the tape read/write head in the
direction that follows the path of the tape across the head. If you are
cleaning a 60mb tape drive, which has the tape head facing you,
wipe the swab from left to right across the tape head. If you are
cleaning a tape drive other than 60mb where the tape head is turned
sideways, wipe the swab from front to back across the tape head.
Wipe the head in one direction only. Do not wipe back and forth.
Wipe left to right or front to back only.
Step 6. Allow the tape drive to dry for 10 minutes after cleaning before
inserting a tape cartridge. This will give enough time for all traces
of alcohol to evaporate completely.
End of Tape
Sensor
Capstan
Tape Read/Write
Head
Left or front side of tape drive unit