CF 28 MK2 ,MK3 caddy's will fit a MK1 with some help

Ok Guys and Girls

I'm not sure if this has been touched on. I searched about 50 different hits and didn't see it . So here goes, Mk 2/ MK3 caddy's will fit a MK 1 with a small bit of modification. I bought a CF 28 caddy off evil bay and it wound up being a MK 2 which is taller. I simply used the Dremel and made the slots where the screw goes on the caddy cover longer. You have to elongate the slots toward the top of the caddy. The top closes closer on the caddy and it fits. If this has been shown before yall , I apologize. I thought it was a pretty quick fix.

 

Looks good , myself I have not seen anybody try this. Good work

 

Yeah, Modly (Or was it Gravitar?) did mention way back when in the before time that you COULD make the Mk2/Mk3 caddy fit in a Mk1 with some massaging; but he was concerned that usage might put excess pressure on the HDD connection at the MB.

mnem
Still NOT recommended.

 

Stef,

EXCELLENT post! Thanks! Rep to you!

Rick

 

Actually when you do this mod the height changes to that of a MK 1 caddy. Which would be no more pressure than that of a MK 1 caddy. I was concerned with that too until I measured both side by side after the mod. The caddy on the right is a MK 1 the one on the left is the modified MK 2

 

What I'm referring to is the rubber strap and plastic plunger assembly that actually press the plug into the MB, not the metal box. They are designed such that the box "floats" around that connector; this is why the connector rides in that slot.

You can squeeze the metal box enough thinner with your hands to be able to cram it into a Mk1; but the plastic plunger is approximately 2mm shorter on the Mk1 Caddy if you hold them up side by side, which I am looking at right now on my bench.

In fact, you can see the difference in the placement of the black plastic sliders that are part of the plunger as shown in your own photo, see below:

mnem
STILL not recommended.

 

Wouldn't that be negated by the free floating aspect of the plunger, given the extra travel room before the female portion of the connector engages and the click is felt ?

 

The PLUNGER does NOT "float"; if it did, the connector would unplug from the MB. The battery door holds it in place, but not very well on the Mk1. On later Mk2 & Mk3 models, you'll see a little nipple cast into the battery door which presses against the plunger to ensure it stays plugged into the MB.

It is the metal box which "floats" around that connector, to allow for differing expansion & contraction of that big magnesium chassis vs little stainless steel box and to prevent excess stress on the MB connector.

mnem
Plungered.

 

The post was about using a Mk2/Mk3 caddy in a Mk1 ergo no nipple to press on the plunger. But I digress.

 

Look... I didn't want to start an argument here; I was just trying to give you a warning. I hold an engineering degree and have over 20 years experience in several fields of fabrication and manufacturing; I have more than the average hacker's knowledge of how such things are designed, and why.

I spent several hours working out the details of THIS VERY experiment with one of this forum's oldest and most experienced members for use on my own Mk1; I've known for years that if you take the screws out you can fit a Mk3 box inside a Mk1. I eventually used just the cable to test and troubleshoot mine as the plunger, etc were visibly tall enough (Measured with a digital caliper) to have an interference fit with the Mk1 battery door.

If you wish to continue using your setup by all means do so; but I will still recommend against it, or at least recommend that you should remove the plastic plunger so it can't cause the damage I've described.

mnem
Good luck, and may your God go with you.

 

I appreciate the advice . I was in no manner arguing. I used plasti gauge on the highest points of the plunger to see if there was any indication of change. My findings with the battery door closed and locked in place, were that the plasti gauge was un effected. I did this several times with the same results each time, un effected. luck be with you Who Dares Wins