1.6 Cleaning the Tape Drive
Clean the 7208 Tape Drive:
After you use a metal particle (MP) tape, such as a 112-meter tape, a 160-meter tape, or all tapes that were compatible with previous
8mm drives
After a maximum of 72 hours of tape motion
You must clean the tape drive after using MP media. If you use advanced metal-evaporated (AME) media after using MP media, the LCD
prompts you to clean the tape drive by displaying the message MUST CLEAN.
The 7208 Tape Drive counts the number of hours of tape motion and indicates when it is time to clean the tape drive by displaying the
message CLEAN SOON and turning on the Fault status light.
To clean the tape drive, use only the IBM 8mm Cleaning Cartridge (part number 59H2898). For uninterrupted operation, have one or more
spare cleaning cartridges available.
Attention: Do not operate the 7208 Tape Drive Model 342 in a poor air-quality environment. If your environment contains an excessive
amount of particulates, they may permanently damage the media, the drive, or both. Contact your service representative for more
information.
To load the cleaning cartridge:
1. Make sure that the 7208 Tape Drive power is on and the Power-On Self Test has completed.
2. Grasp the cleaning cartridge ( 1 in Figure 11) by the outer edges, with the window side up and the write-protect switch 2 facing you.
7208 Tape Drive Service Guide
Cleaning the Tape Drive
¦ Copyright IBM Corp. 1998
1.6 - 1
