Removing and replacing the tailstock on a PCIe adapter

Find information about removing and replacing the tailstock on a PCIe adapter. You can replace the tailstock on an adapter if the adapter has a different tailstock.

You must have removed the PCIe adapter or the adapter filler from the system.

The tailstock for individual PCIe adapters can be either tall (high-profile) or short (low-profile). New systems ship with the correct tailstock on the cards already installed. Through unique feature codes, a miscellaneous equipment specification (MES) also ships with the correct sized tailstock. For repairs, however, replacement parts usually ship with high-profile tailstock. If the failed adapter was a low-profile adapter installed in the system, then you must exchange the tall tailstock that was shipped on the replacement card with the low-profile tailstock from the failed card.
Note: A Phillips screwdriver is required to complete the procedure.
To remove and replace a PCIe adapter tailstock, choose from the following options:

Removing the tailstock from a failed adapter or adapter filler

  1. Ensure that you have the electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap on and that the ESD clip is connected to an unpainted metal surface. If not, do so now.
  2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the two screws (A) that attach the tailstock (B) to the PCIe adapter, as shown in Figure 1.
    Figure 1. Removing the low-profile tailstock from a PCIe adapter
    Removing the low-profile tailstock from a PCIe adapter
  3. Detach the tailstock from the PCIe adapter and place the tailstock and the screws on a flat, static-protective surface.
  4. If you are removing the tailstock from a 4-Port 10/100/1000 Base-TX PCIe adapter, there is only one screw to remove. After removing the screw, disengage the tabs from the card hardware and remove the tailstock.
  5. If you are removing the tailstock from an Ethernet or Fibre Channel adapter that has small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers, you must first remove the SFP transceivers. To remove the SFP transceivers, complete the following steps:
    1. Place the card flat on a static-protective surface.
    2. Open the latch (A) by rotating it down and away from the card as shown in Figure 2.
    3. Slide the transceiver (B) out of the adapter hardware.
    4. Repeat for the other transceiver.
    Figure 2. Removing SFP transceivers from adapters
    Removing SFP transceivers from adapters
  6. If necessary, remove the adapter from the antistatic package.
    Attention: Avoid touching the components and gold connectors on the adapter.

Removing the tailstock from a new adapter

  1. Ensure that you have the electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap on and that the ESD clip is connected to an unpainted metal surface. If not, do so now.
  2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the two retaining screws (A) that attach the high-profile tailstock (B) to the new PCIe adapter, as shown in Figure 3.
    Figure 3. Removing the high-profile tailstock from a new PCIe adapter
    Removing the high-profile tailstock from a new PCIe adapter
  3. If the new adapter is a 4-Port 10/100/1000 Base-TX PCIe adapter, see 4 for removing the tailstock and then return here.
  4. If the new adapter is an Ethernet or Fibre Channel adapter, see 5 for removing the tailstock and then return here.
  5. Detach the tailstock from the new PCIe adapter and store the tailstock and its screws in the antistatic package that the new adapter shipped in.

Replacing the tailstock in a new adapter

  1. Ensure that you have the electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap on and that the ESD clip is connected to an unpainted metal surface. If not, do so now.
  2. Place the adapter, component-side up, on a flat, antistatic surface.
    Note: Some PCIe adapters are shipped from the manufacturer with a blue handle or support bracket along the back edge of the adapter. To use adapters of this type, you must remove the blue handle or the support bracket from the adapter.
    Attention: A pin on the tailstock of the adapter resembles a removable screw. Do not remove this pin. It is required for correct alignment and seating.
  3. Using a Phillips screwdriver and the two retaining screws (B), attach the tailstock (A) from the failed PCIe adapter onto the new PCIe adapter, as shown in Figure 4.
    Figure 4. Attaching the low-profile tailstock to a PCIe adapter
    Attaching the low-profile tailstock to a PCIe adapter
  4. If the new adapter is a 4-Port 10/100/1000 Base-TX PCI Express adapter, first engage the tailstock with the tabs on the card hardware. After the tailstock is attached, secure the tailstock with its screw.
  5. If the new adapter is an Ethernet or Fibre Channel adapter, you must attach the SFP transceivers after you replace the tailstock. To attach the SFP transceivers, complete the following steps:
    1. Place the card flat on a static-protective surface.
    2. Slide the transceiver (A) into the adapter hardware.
    3. With the latch (B) in the open position, push the latch by rotating it up and toward the card as shown in Figure 5.
    4. Repeat for the other transceiver.
    Figure 5. Replacing SFP transceivers in the adapter
    Removing SFP transceivers from adapters
  6. Put the failed PCIe adapter in the shipping material and return it.

Return to the procedure that sent you here.

Parent topic: Related procedures for installing PCI adapters
Parent topic: Related procedures for installing and removing PCIe adapters
Parent topic: Related procedures for installing and removing PCIe adapters


Last updated: Mon, November 12, 2018