How do I remove the manual cover on an IBM 3278? Usually I'd try a few things myself, but I really don't want to damage this cover!
Here's where it all started. A simple question with a not-so-simple answer. I decided to take pictures of the process.
Some tips up front.
1. It's pretty easy to remove
2. It can be tricky. I will let you know where the tricky part is.
3. I found the parts to be very durable and hard to break, so you will most likely not mess up.
These pictures are all part of this album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dork_vader/sets/72157648975573992/
Here is our test subject. IBM 3278. I have the smaller version, which is missing the block of keys on the far right. This procedure should be the same for it's larger brother. The cover at the bottom is plastic and holds a guide to quickly solving issues a user might have with the terminal. You will have to remove this if you want to get the thing powdercoated.
You can see the problem determination guide in there. Mine's a little off center as it's been removed before.
Here you see the left hinges and a bit of the metal bar holding everything together.
One of the more useful shots. This is of the right side area. Here you see the end of the spring. This can cause some difficulty later. It puzzled me a bit the first time I had it apart, but once you do it once it's pretty simple.
Here's a shot of the underside. I flipped it over but rotated it so "left" and "right" are the same.
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Close up of left side . You can see the "stop" pushing the plastic hinge into the metal frame. The force of the spring also holds the bar in place. Clever IBM engineering!
Shot of the "action side" the righthand with the spring. We will need to compress the spring almost fully. I think the easiest way to do this is to press on the little "stop" at the left side of the spring. You can just about see on the far right end of the spring, where it comes up. This spring also acts to pop the cover open, but the end can get caught in the gap a little.
Push in the direction indicated, against the spring. You need to get the far left edge of the rod past the rightmost piece of that side of the cover. In other words move it about half an inch. You can grab on the stop on this side with a fingernail or push on the stop near the spring.
I did it the first way, but I think it's probably easier to do it the latter way, by pushing against the left spring stop. I still got it though.
Spring is fully compressed and the edge of the rod is resting against the plastic. at this point you move the left side of the rod up and out of the way.
/]dork_vader_exe, on Flickr
Left side of rod is now out of the way. Now we will move the rod fully out, so grab on to the left side and slowly pull it out. Sometimes the spring can stick a little, as the right side of the spring is trapped in a channel. You should still be able to get it out. Pull the rod up and to the left. Once the right side is free it can pull straight up. This was the tricky part.
Here you see the rod out. The plastic cover is now removed.
removed parts
The problem determination guide is glued down. Carefully pry it off.
I'm re-using this image (so efficient!) because it has a clear shot of the clip. If you are powdercoating, you'll have to remove this too. Just pry one edge up with a screwdriver or something and it slides out. It's very springy so you are more likely to damage the case than the black clip part.
And that's it! Let me know if you have any questions, wane clarification of the written directions, or would like me to take any more or better photos. If you have any other tips for this procedure, please post.
Enjoy!
