Been a while since I've played with the RA8x drives, but did you unload
the heads? =20

Brian


On Sun, 2001-11-11 at 21:42, Gunther Schadow wrote:
> Hi,
>=20
> today I moved the RA81 from the garage down into the Laundry/Computer-
> Room in the basement. Thanks to my straps and a hydraulic car jack-
> stand I was actually able to install it in my TU81+ cabinet without
> breaking my back or getting squished underneath the drive :-). It
> looks really cool in the TU81 rack. I powered it up and though no
> lights at these push-buttons come on, I could test it quite far.
> Thanks to Will Kranz' abridged service manual
>=20
> http://www.conknet.com/~w_kranz/pdp11/RA81.HTM
>=20
> I knew what I could do with the terminal and that CTRL-C will
> get it going (not CTRL-Z like with the TU81+) and after running
> diagnostics once, I could actually spin up the drive. Just
> seeking seems not to work.
>=20
> Spun up diagnostigs gets the error
>=20
> terminal plugged in, 300 b/s, 8 bit, 1 stop no parity
>=20
> =FE
> ^C
>=20
> CTRL-C gets a prompt
>=20
>   RA81> EUR^C
>=20
>   RA81> EUR
>=20
> turn serial port to 7 bit instead of 8 removes the junk
>=20
>   RA81>
>=20
>   RA81> RUN DIAGNOSTICS
>=20
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:02
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:01
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:07
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:08
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:0B
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:03
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:0D
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:19
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:1B
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:1C
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:1D
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:1E
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:1F
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:20
>=20
> this was diagnostics spun down, everything successful! Now
> I push the RUN/STOP switch in and there comes the sound of
> the drive spinning up, really impressive!
>=20
>   RA81> FRONT PANEL FUNCTION IN PROGRESS
>=20
> then this message comes and a long time nothing, finally:
>=20
> %RA81-TEST: SUBTEST:1B  ERROR:50  UNIT:001
> %RA81-FRU-SLAVE RESPONSE FAIL- SERVO,MICRO
>=20
> not knowing what else to do I do diagnostics again in spun
> up mode
>=20
>   RA81> RUN DIAG
>=20
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:02
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:01
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:07
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:08
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:0B
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:03
> %RA81-COMPLETED TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:19
> %RA81-TEST:DIAG SUBTEST:1B  ERROR:50  UNIT:001
> %RA81-FRU-SLAVE RESPONSE FAIL- SERVO,MICRO
>=20
>   RA81> RUN SEEK
>=20
> ENDING CYLINDER? 1000
>=20
> GROUP? 10
> OPERATION FAILED
>=20
>=20
>   RA81> RUN RECAL
>=20
> %RA81-TEST:RECA SUBTEST:2A  ERROR:50  UNIT:001
> %RA81-FRU-SLAVE RESPONSE FAIL- SERVO,MICRO
>=20
> At no time I heard any seeking activity. Will's service manual page
> says this:
>=20
>  > D.28 TEST 1B (SERVO PLO TEST)
>  > This test checks the servo module PLO circuitry.
>  > Errors associated with this test are: 50, 7B, C6, FO to FE.
>=20
> I don't see any system fault code on the led bits in the front of
> the controller board with the hood open after the E7 "test in
> progress" status byte is cleared. (So I do see the blinkenlights,
> just there is no fault code besides the error message on the
> service terminal.
>=20
> Error 50:
>=20
>  > 50   Ensure that positioner motor lock is in the unlock
>  >      position. If OK, then replace servo module,
>  >      microprocessor module
>=20
> So, sounds like there is once chance for me: to find this
> "positioner motor lock" and move it into the unlock position.
> However, I have no idea how to do that? It sounds reasonable
> that this thing may be locked for transport, I sure hope
> so, because otherwise all my moving and installing this
> thing would have been in vain.
>=20
> any help with this is appreciated. Not that I depend on the
> RA81 for operation, but I've got it and I believe in having
> a VAX collection with 100% functional stuff.
>=20
> regards
> -Gunther
>=20
>=20
> PS: Anyone having dead RA81's for parts? Anyone has spare
> SDI bulkheads? I need one or two 2- or 4- port bulkheads
> for the RA disks outside the SA600 cabinet.
>=20
>=20