And if that little filter thingy gets all gooey is it cool if it's just removed??? You know I find this head and platter a lot more forgiving than modern day drives.. For example I have a syquest external drive with cartridges.. It's not really air tight.. but is almost the same.. a metal platter and similar heads..

I could only assume they made it really air tight in case the machine is brought in real unique environments.. I think since the machine is not being used as a real everyday machine the dust it will be exposed to will not be in large amounts...

But I understand that it should be sealed just the same... I think I may use a liquid silicone to seal it.. 

BTW I just did like 5 working drives... after cleaning I tested all of them.. all worked fine.. did block tests and didn't pick up any bad ones.. one had a little spot of goo on the side of the platter.. may have dripped onto it as I lifted the cover.. a little 91% alcohol and q-tip got it off right away.. she worked fine after... removed before it ran!

Oh and a few of them had these like black rubber separators on the head arm assembly.. when I briefly just touched it with the q-tip it was like gum.. black crap.. I left them alone but I can't see those lasting very long..  those are breaking down.. One drive had clear ones and didn't have the same issue..