Techknight, thanx for the tip on the head thing with the paper/ toothpick. I did not know that and its great information. And Awesome about your drive... I never looked inside one of the LPS drives but would assume they would be similar; as what you described with the bumper and post is how the other looked inside. But I did not have to remove the head.

I have not attempted to remove a platter yet. Is it hard to do?

Great idea about the silicone...would last long too.