How it works? Just like its saying:

ccc h rrr ppp ee o

Before you can type the parametres you need to know the drives exact configuration numbers..

Here are the specs for the ST-251:
ftp://ftp.seagate.com/techsuppt/mfm/st251.txt

So it would be: 820 6 821 821 11 5 (the last two i would keep it default setting.

Every other drive need to configured the same with other numbers.

ftp://ftp.seagate.com/techsuppt/mfm/st125.txt
615 4 616 616 11 5

ftp://ftp.seagate.com/techsuppt/mfm/st412.txt
306 4 128 307 11 5

With N/A i think you dont have to use them)

CCC = Are the total of cylinders (mostly 3 digits (for bigger drives 4 digits are possible)
H = Total of heads (mostly 1 digit, on bigger drivers 2 digits are possible)
RRR= REDUCED WRITE CURRENT (cyl)
PPP= WRITE PRECOMP (cyl)

After set the drive needs to be formatted. ( i think its a low-format). Then again the drive needs to be formatted as normal.

http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/hard-disk-floppy- … 2-driv-221.html

Try the switch positions for BIOS H and see if it changes the setting to match.

Also, check AT / XT mode - if using in a 286 or 386, probably need to set AT.

Finally, Interleave - if it's an XT class system, interleave 3 will be rubbish ... I think you need about 6 for those, possibly 5 may be faster - if the controller and system is fast, then it my be able to go down to 4.
Now in an AT/368 class system, 3 should be easy, and 2 might be possible.

What does interleave do?

Staggers the sectors, so that at 3 (the default now) there are 2 sectors between each "consecutive" sector, allowing for transfer and preparation.

If the interleave is too tight (low) then it will not be ready to catch the next sector, so will only transfer a single sector on each rotation.
if too loose, then it will need an extra rotation compared to the next step down - at the "safe" 6 it takes 6 revolutions to transfer a whole track, while at 5, it will only take 5 - go too low and it will take 17 revolutions.

There have been programs which can dynamically assess the interleave and convert it, a classic one being "CALIBRATE" in older versions of Norton Utilities ... V8.0 has it - and can be (well, can't discuss that here).

Otherwise, do it the hard way, LLF, format, speed test, repeat - for AT/386 I'd try 2 then 3, for XT class, 5 then 6

So far I am able to get everything to work, thanks for the tips guys. Now the only problem I have is I can not get the 5160 with the Xebec Version 1 card to see the ST-412
My card looks just like the one here in this link http://www.minuszerodegrees.net/ibm_xebec/ibm_xebec.htm

I actually have two of them and tried both. I did the LLF and set the drive up then fdisk I then installed DOS 5 all on my 486 board hard drive worked good got it all installed without any problems. I put the drive into the 5160 and hooked it up but it doesn't see the drive. Is there something else I am supposed to do or am I not able to set this all up on the 486 and transfer it over?

You realize that that page states "This controller only supports a drive that has the following characteristics: cylinders = 306 / heads = 4 / WPC = 0 / step pulses per here are valid"?

Yes, which the ST-412 is it even says "IBM supplied with the controller, a Seagate ST-412 drive" I have little experience with using this card, any suggestions?