DLT cleaning tapes

I've recently replaced a failed DLT4000 with a DLT7000 purchased used off of
eBay. The "use cleaning tape" came on a few days ago, and I popped in a
cleaning tape I had on hand, a Sony DLT-III cleaning tape. The light went
off, but after a few days came back on again. Now it won't turn off no
matter how many times I run the cleaning tape through.

Should I be using a different cleaning tape, or might it be a cable or
controller issue? I've re-seated all of the cables. Turning the drive off
and on again clears the "use cleaning tape" but only very temporarily.
there is no indication on the cleaning tape or the jacket it came in as to
what drives may be cleaned with this type of cleaning tape, and I can't seem
to find out anything on the internet with regards to cleaning tapes.

Dave

In article <3RZtk.11158$%b7.2634@edtnps82>, Dave <dspear99ca@yahoo.com>
writes

>The light went
>off, but after a few days came back on again. Now it won't turn off no
>matter how many times I run the cleaning tape through.

The cleaning tape has expired and needs replacement. It will only work
for a finite number of cleaning passes (about 20-25 IIRC)

>Should I be using a different cleaning tape,

Yes.

> or might it be a cable or
>controller issue? I've re-seated all of the cables.

No.

> Turning the drive off
>and on again clears the "use cleaning tape" but only very temporarily.

DLT7000s are excellent drives but tend to collect dirt on the leader
(the bit of flexible plastic that grabs the tape and pulls it into the
drive). When this happens, the leader has become infected and running
the cleaning tape multiple times is useless; next time a tape is
inserted the dirty leader just re-contaminates the head.

Cleaning the leader is inadvisable - replacement is the best option.
It's a fiddly job, and scrupulous cleanliness must be observed; wear a
pair of rubber gloves and do not get finger oil on the new leader or any
part of the drive that the tape comes into contact with.

I get replacement leaders in a kit from:

http://www.datanetuk.com/DLT%20Parts.htm

you want part number TL3.

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Dave <dspear99ca@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've recently replaced a failed DLT4000 with a DLT7000 purchased used off of
> eBay. The "use cleaning tape" came on a few days ago, and I popped in a
> cleaning tape I had on hand, a Sony DLT-III cleaning tape. The light went
> off, but after a few days came back on again. Now it won't turn off no
> matter how many times I run the cleaning tape through.
>
> Should I be using a different cleaning tape, or might it be a cable or

I can't imagine why that drive was on ebay in the first place.