Quantum ProDrive ELS: attempted bumper replacement

This video is a sort of continuation of the previous one regarding the ELS where I try to replace the sticky inner bumper. Spoiler: it does not go well, so there's a proper autopsy at the end.
This also applies to the later 250-800MB ProDrive LPS/Maverick/Lightning drives: the wretched inner bump stop is under the platters and it's basically impossible to replace.

[@cdos9186]

I've never seen where the actual rubber degrading leaves marks where the gases have escaped, that is very strange and this video is the first time I've seen something like that. It definitely ruined the bottom platter and if the drive did work hitting that area would cause damage to bottom head or the drive would have bad sectors, so that is definitely even more concerning adding to the problems these already have. I actually think your method of making sure the platters were in alignment was very clever since if they are taped together as long as you don't flex the tape then it should stay near perfectly in alignment, so good thinking! I'm sure you could've used a repair insert that they sell on eBay, but that wouldn't do much for the rubber gases that damaged the bottom platter unfortunately unless that stuff comes off. I assume the heads are still good, so they definitely could be used to save a drive with bad heads as long as they aren't damaged in any way.

[@fsfs555]

I don't know the history of this drive before I bought it about 2 years ago, but I imagine it had been sitting inoperative for at least 10 years, possibly more. It's from Japan, where hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters are unkind to most things. I'm not a chemist so I don't know why this particular rubber or possibly petroleum-based analog would have outgassed like that, but it was certainly unexpected. I think part of the severity of the degradation of these drives is that they have no atmospheric venting; they're totally sealed. In combination with the still air of the unpowered drive, the gases just collected in one spot because they had nowhere to go. Conversely, lack of atmospheric venting is a good thing in that humidity can't get in, which caused problems on the previous ProDrive LPS models (specifically, the platters rusted).

[@windisk1112]

One issue is you let the heads touch, this acts like very fine sandpaper and thus destroys the heads instantly, I would recommend using a real hair comb to hold them apart.

[@fsfs555]

I'm sure you're right. I was hoping that maybe, as old as it is, it wouldn't be as sensitive as a newer drive, but that was probably not the case. I'm not too upset though, since the trouble this thing had with calibration before I even started meant it was unlikely to work for long anyway (probably due to that ring on the bottom of the lower platter). Subsequently I did a bit of research (including Scott Moulton videos on YT) and next time I'll try some improvised head lifters. I have a stack of these that would need this surgery, including successor models. Thanks for watching.