Hi, I'm having a hard time bending the tabs in the 5.25" bays in my case in order to get a norco SS-500 installed.

 

There's not a lot of room to get any leverage with pliers. With what little leverage I have it seems very difficult. The tabs are barely moving. Only the part that's actually clamped down by my pliers is moving--not the whole tab. They're getting mangled without really getting too far out of the way.

 

I have seen people mention using c-clamps to move them. I'm not really handy and I'm having a hard time imagining how to do that.

 

Here's one example of where someone describes a technique kind of vaguely:

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=16036.msg148494#msg148494

It's easy to cut them off with a Dremel tool.    You may need the right-angle attachment or the flex-shaft attachment.  I have both, and either would work in most cases I've seen.

 

Cutting off a tab takes less than a minute.

 

I've never had to use the flex shaft attachment. I might have to give that a try tomorrow.

One caveat (it's obvious, but easy to overlook) ...

 

When you're cutting the tab, there are going to be bits of metal flying around in the case.  If the case has parts already mounted (motherboard, hard drives, optical drives, etc.) be sure you either remove them or cover them with a rag (washcloths work well) so none of those metal shavings end up in a "bad" place 

 

I just get a long mouth C-CLAMP and use that to bend the tabs.  Then I could if needed bend them back.

I just get a long mouth C-CLAMP and use that to bend the tabs.  Then I could if needed bend them back.

 

Works perfectly.

I just get a long mouth C-CLAMP and use that to bend the tabs.  Then I could if needed bend them back.

 

Clamp is the best way to deal with the tabs. Dremmeling is risky unless the case is completely empty IMO. Those tiny shards of conductive metal are just too insidious. It also takes practice and can be dangerous, especially given the tight quarters. Bending is very easy with the right clamp and is not an aesthetics problem.

I agree the tiny shards of metal need to be controlled, but it's NOT hard to cut them off with a Dremel ... and if done carefully there's no aesthetic issue -- if you're careful to cut straight (easy with the Dremel cutting wheels) you can't even tell there were tabs there.

 

I usually do this when I'm building a system, so the case is empty;  but even if it's not, covering the motherboard with a towel, and removing everything else from the case, easily controls that.

 

Just depends on whether or not you can access them with a C-clamp or not.  The Dremel with a right-angle attachment can easily get to any tabs I've seen ... and if there are some where that's difficult, the flex shaft will almost certainly work.

 

You sound like a better dremeler than me, and I've done a lot of mods with mine. I personally would not dremel on a case that has anything installed.

 

I have a clamp like THIS ONE and it had made short work of my tab bending chores. (I did not buy this clamp for this purpose, but it works very well).

Get one of these if you have a harbor freight around, http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-deep-throat-c-clamp-45917.html.  Put it over the tab and tighten it up.

 

It is possible that the tab will bend up, so don't let it.  On mine two bent up and I had to bend them down with a pair of pliers to rebend them with the c clamp.