The Magnescale GB scale / readerhead style has not changed for many years and below are the instructions on how to remove correctly. We have done at our facility and on the field multiple times and if done correctly it.
To remove & reinstall the pigtail Items 1~14
To modify if coolant is a
The end cap has to be removed and it is best to use a small screwdriver and fold back the wipers and push slightly to the edge.
You will feel a plastic tab, apply a slight upward pressure & you should hear / feel a snap
Then pull the end cap straight off
Once the cap is off you can pull on the wipers and slide off.
* on a new scale they will slide off easy but on a old scale packed with coolant reside or partially melted from hot shavings it my take some persuasion to pull out.
Now remove the 2 small metric phillips screws on the reader head.
*Having mounted on the original shipping bracket will secure the head and prevent from moving.
Make sure the screws are clean and the proper size phillips screwdriver is used. If not the screw head will easily strip.
Using a small flat screwdriver lightly pry up on the cover plate.
It is partially silicone on so it may take some work.
*CAUTION there are some very small wires that may have silicone on them and may break if not careful.
Prying on each side helps and take your time on this part.
Once removed you can see the small wires that attach to the actual reader head cylinder. if these wires break it is impossible to fix and a new reader head assembly is needed.
There is a rubber insert inside and if you need the cable to exit the other direction it is possible. Reassemble with the insert in the opposite location.
Here is the rubber insert removed.
To remove the pigtail cable lightly pry up on the PCB.
It has silicone on it so pry carefully.
Once lifted out the main concern is the small wires that go to the reader head cylinder. this is the weak link and must pay attention.
By using 2 hands hold the small PCB and by grasping the wires close to the connector pry up and out.
The rubber seal make it dificult for a straight pull but by a slight bend of the wires it will come out easly.
Once the pigtail is removed it can be changed out with a direct cable
Sometime if the display shows "Error" but goes away after a weekend or intermitant there may be some coolant that seaped into the reader head.
If coolant is a issue and will add years to reliability to the Magnescale GB-A scales.
Cut the armored cable and slide 2 pcs of srink tubing on it.
Use a 1/4 and a 1/2 sizes. Tape back the metal armour as it will want to spring back and hide the wire inside as this make it dificult to work with of not secure.
Cut back the wires about 1 inch and tin the 6 wires.
Red / White / Orange / Grey / Yellow / Blue
All other wires are not needed & can be cut back
By using a solider sucker, un-solider the white conector and discard
The connector will easaly come off if all the solider is fully removed.
The white connector will not be used and can be discarded
To prep I scrape off the coating just below the existing solider on the wire trace.
Here is how it looks befor tinning with solider
Soilder the wires color for color on the PCB trace.
There are leters to signify the wire
R=Red, W=White and so on except for the last but it should be the Blue wire.
Here is the finished product.
*I opt to not use the existing holes because the wires are so small to put the wires into. It can be done but leaves a greater chance of shorting the soilder joints together.
Bundle up the sheild wires and tuck into the cavity.
Apply soilder to conform to the housing.
Using a potting compound or "liquid electrical tape" to seal.
After the compound is dry atach the cover & srink the tubing around the armored cable where needed.
