Disk drive bolted back inside IBM 1130 - without additional people

SPENT TIME MEASURING, VISUALIZING MOVEMENTS AND PLANNING STRATEGIES

The disk drive won't slide in from the front nor the back as the vertical height of the drive is larger than the vertical gap to the upper frame rails. Sliding from the side would require removal of CE transformer and usage meter boxes to open up the gap.

After I unbolted the transformer and meter boxes, I lowered them out of the path of the disk drive. I still had an issue because the height from the lowest to the highest part of the drive is too large, even tilting the drive as I slide it in to get over the frame stands that it has to bolt onto. To deal with this, I took the upper sheet metal off the drive to lower the height.

Transformer and meter box relocated

When I attempted to slide the drive in from the side, I found that a plastic bar that anchors the cartridge receiver tilt mechanism was about 3/4" too high to clear the left frame rail even with tilting. 

I had to admit to myself that the only way the drive would get inside the frame is to be lowered from above, exactly the situation that should force me to have a second person or some kind of a crane/lift. 

Inspiration struck. I have a board that is of appropriate size that I could use to sit the disk drive on top of the 1130 frame. If I slid the board backwards then it would pivot down and the drive would start to slide to the front but inside the 1130. Holding the front of the drive near its mounting spot, I could pull the rest of the board out and lower the rear of the drive to its mounting spots. 

BOARD METHOD IMPLEMENTED, DRIVE BOLTED DOWN

The method worked almost as well as I envisioned it. A bit more cumbersome to hold the drive from sliding too far forward while also pulling out a board and lowering the rear, but it did do the job. 

The bottom of the drive has four threaded studs that fit into holes on frame supports. I added the bolts and nuts to secure it down. To wrap up, I put the sheet metal parts back onto the drive. 

threaded stud with rubber donut on left side of picture

NEXT STEPS

When I get back into the shop, I will replace the CE transformer and usage meters to their proper positions and put the tops of the machine back on. 

• I have to connect the AC power, the Run switch and the Unlock lamp to the front of the drive. 
• The rear has a set of DC power connections to reattach for +3, -4, +6 and +48V. 
• A duct for cooling air entering the rear of the drive will be reattached to a frame member
• The run switch bracket must be attached
• The faceplate will be remounted in front of the drive opening
• Normally the signal cable from the CPU would be plugged into the drive's card cage

Since this will run with the Virtual 2315 Cartridge Facility emulator sitting between the 1130 and the disk drive, the connector going into the drive will come from the facility. I am still waiting for the PCB fab house and parts suppliers for what I need to make that drive connection.