Start of testing Virtual 2315 Cartridge Facility in real mode, using the IBM 1130 internal disk drive

SET UP TO REPEAT THE TESTS IN REAL MODE

A switch on the Virtual 2315 Cartridge Facility (V2315CF) interface board is switched to the real position. A physical 2315 disk cartridge is placed in the 13SD disk drive by pulling open the blue handle on the front and sliding the cartridge in. 

Flipping the Load/Unload switch on V2315CF to Load will read the virtual 2315 cartridge image from the microSD card and download it into the SDRAM in the V2315CF box. Closing the handle and flipping the disk power switch on starts the physical drive rotating. The Unlock lamps should go off on the main 1130 console and on the V2315CF box. 

After about 90 seconds, the disk drive should attempt to load the disk heads down on the surface of the rotating 2315 cartridge, then turn on the File Ready lamps on both V2315CF and 1130 main console. The heads will not mechanically be forced down, so they remain above the disk surface in spite of the drive believing they are flying 125 microinches over the platter. 

DRIVE BELT FELL OFF THUS THE SPINDLE WAS NOT TURNING

I slid the belt back on, which is a real pain since the belt is buried inside the 1130 on the underside of the drive, above the power supplies and barely accessible. When I flipped on drive power, the belt popped right off again.

The belt tension is not correct. I looked at the maintenance manuals which gave the procedure for accomplishing this.

The picture below makes the adjustment appear easy to do, but that would only be if I completely removed the drive, after unwiring every thing, then hoisted the extremely heave unit out of the 1130. 

This view is from the underside. I would need to reach into a very narrow gap deep inside the machine, while stooped over since the opening is about 18" above the ground. Three screws get loosened, after which the tension spring should automagically pull the belt into the correct tension. That assumes that the motor mount slides easily - we shall see. 

This is the gap and the view into the abyss. The motor you see near the top of this picture is the blower motor for cooling air. The actual drive motor is mounted with its axle vertical and about 14" further back. The spindle is to the left and about 9" behind the blower motor.