Full height drive: No apparent failure or damage to tape

About this task

Note: If the cartridge in the drive is an INPUT tape that contains ACTIVE or 'ONLY COPY' data (there is no backup), eject commands that are issued at the host fail to unload the tape, and power-cycling the drive fails to eject the cartridge, make no further attempts to unload this tape. Call Technical Support and open a PMR if one is not already open, to initiate the process of sending the drive with the loaded cartridge in for recovery.

Procedure

Set the drive on its left side with the head and tape path facing up.

Figure 1. The hex wrench rewinds tape into cartridge
From the bottom of the drive, locate the access hole ( 1 in Figure 1).
Insert a 2.5 mm offset hex wrench through the bottom cover access hole and into the reel motor axle. Begin spooling the tape back into the cartridge by turning the hex wrench clockwise.
Continue spooling into the cartridge until the tape is taut and remains within the flanges of the tape guiding rollers. Ensure that you do not stretch the tape.

Locate the threader motor worm gear ( 4 in Figure 2) on the rear of the drive. Use your finger to rotate the threader motor worm gear and slowly rotate the threader mechanism gear ( 6 in Figure 2) clockwise.

This action rotates the threader motor worm gear ( 4 in Figure 2) clockwise, drawing the LBA into the cartridge.

Figure 2. Drive with cover removed to reveal gear train.

1	Loader motor worm gear	6	Threader mechanism gear
2	Cartridge loader tray guide bearing	7	Lever
3	Rotator stub	8	Loader mechanism gear
4	Threader motor worm gear
5	Threader intermediate gear

As the tape leader block assembly (LBA) is secured in the cartridge, you hear the LBA retention spring clips click into place. If you do not hear the click, continue rolling until the threader motor worm gear ( 4 in Figure 2) stops. The LBA is in the correct position.

Note: Be sure to keep tension on the tape as the LBA is drawn into the cartridge by using a hex wrench as shown in Figure 1.
Notice these mechanisms:
1. Loader mechanism gear ( 6 in Figure 2) nearest the front of the drive that actuates the cartridge loader mechanism.
2. Position of the rotate stub ( 3 in Figure 2).
3. Front loader motor worm gear ( 1 in Figure 2). Rotating this gear allows the loader mechanism gear ( 8 in Figure 2) to turn.
Rotate the loader motor worm gear ( 1 in Figure 2) to turn the loader mechanism gear ( 6 in Figure 2) counterclockwise. Continue turning until the rotator stub ( 3 in Figure 2) loses contact with the lever ( 7 in Figure 2). This action releases the LBA leader pin.
Rotate the threader motor worm gear ( 4 in Figure 2) to turn the threader mechanism gear ( 6 in Figure 2) counterclockwise. This action moves the LBA out of the cartridge and past the read/write head. Stop this rotation when the LBA is near the tape guide roller nearest the rear of the drive that is shown as 1 Figure 3.

Figure 3. Leader Block Assembly (LBA)
Continue rotating the loader motor worm gear ( 1 in Figure 2) until the rotator stub ( 3 in Figure 2) is positioned as shown. Notice that the rotator stub ( 3 in Figure 2) is nearly aligned with the cartridge loader tray guide bearing ( 2 in Figure 2).
Remove the cartridge from the cartridge loader tray.
Go to Ending procedure.