Seagate HDD - Help me break it down

[benjatc]

While breaking down hard drives, I've come across a few Seagate ST320014a's that a assembled differently than most others. I have successfully removed everything but the platter. I can not seem to figure out how to break it loose. I've pried the four metal tabs up hopping that it would free the metal cap and everything would slide off but that did nothing. There also does not appear to be any remaining screws to remove. Any ideas?

Here are the thumbnails and full size links:

[doyousmellit]

Stop.

Hammer time.

[PartTimeScrapper]

Take a punch and punch the motor assembly out from the back. that ill at least get it and platters out of case.

[benjatc]

Thanks. The punch worked.

[johnuppy]

While breaking down hard drives, I've come across a few Seagate ST320014a's that a assembled differently than most others. I have successfully removed everything but the platter. I can not seem to figure out how to break it loose. I've pried the four metal tabs up hopping that it would free the metal cap and everything would slide off but that did nothing. There also does not appear to be any remaining screws to remove. Any ideas?

Here are the thumbnails and full size links:

I did 10 of these til I learned about the punch. After you lift the 4 tabs there is also a retainer that goes around the small piece that is on top of the platter. Like others said WAY faster just knocking it out.

[benjatc]

Wow. I see that now. That is one pesky little retainer clip. Glad I learned the punch method first!

[travistemple202020]

this is why I love this forum. I have never seen one like this before and with in a matter of a few seconds reading boom it saves time when i come across it and know what to do not to mention any blood that may be spilt with the wack and crack method

[Mick]

I've got several that I've just thrown aside till I had time to figure which way to get them apart. This saves me experimenting.

[Sirscrapalot]

The hammer method shouldn't be causing any blood. It's just breaking the metal really, lest in my experience, good whack usually breaks the little piece the discs are on.

Of course one could use the simple punch method to. Both work.

Sirscrapalot - Punch it in the DISK! - Not Hypnoman.

[ScrappinRed]

I just ran into one of these super annoying drives and am glad to see others had difficulty with them as well! Punch it is

[matador]

I've punched a few out, and that seems to be the easiest way. Our yard changed a lot of things last fall, though, so I don't break them down anymore. Those Seagate's were some of the worst to disassemble, though....