A surgical instrument (203) includes a reusable instrument portion (204) and a disposable tip assembly (205). The disposable tip assembly (205) includes an end effector assembly (206) that in turn includes an end effector. The disposable tip assembly (205) also includes a locking tip cover (410) that locks the disposable tip assembly (205) to a lock interface element (448B) of a tip interface (245) of the reusable instrument portion (204). To facilitate mounting the disposable tip assembly (205) on the tip interface (245) of the reusable instrument portion (204), the disposable tip assembly (205) includes a first quick connect/disconnect element (409) and the tip interface (245) includes a second quick connect/disconnect element (447). The second quick connect/disconnect element (447) is coupled to a tendon (452). The tendon (452) is also coupled to an actuator assembly that provides forces that push and pull (push/pull) the tendon.
