Disc drive woes!

ProfessorPike · 08:22, 29 December 18

Recently bought a 6128 (mid life crisis time!)

Tested it before I bought it, all keys work but no disc drive. Thought to myself (drive belt) got some money knocked off.

Yesterday, took unit apart, removed drive, opened drive. Drive belt in several pieces, removed said pieces, cleaned inside with cotton bud and (having no isopropylalcohol) whisky, fitted new drive belt and reassembled. No joy!

In a quieter environment, I can hear no noise at all from the drive. When a disk is present, I get the disc not present message, when drive is empty, I get bad command. Now I realise I can fit a different storage medium, but i'd love to keep the 3" drive if possible!

Any thoughts? Have I done something really stupid?

tjohnson · 11:55, 29 December 18

The drive in my 6128 has kind of siezed when I first got it, upon closer inspection I could see it trying to turn but failing, with a bit of encouragement I got it going again and it is working great since.

Open the case, cat the disk and see if you can see any movement at all.

tjohnson · 11:57, 29 December 18

Quote from: tjohnson on 11:55, 29 December 18
The drive in my 6128 has kind of siezed when I first got it, upon closer inspection I could see it trying to turn but failing, with a bit of encouragement I got it going again and it is working great since.

Open the case, cat the disk and see if you can see any movement at all.

Ps I presume you are feeding 12v into the cpc too, the 12v is centre negative while the 5v is centre positive.

Bryce · 11:58, 29 December 18

First check that you've reconnected the two connectors properly. Then try it with the case open: Does the disk turn? Does the head move. If not, check that the drive is getting both 5V and 12V.

Bryce.

ProfessorPike · 12:30, 29 December 18

Thank you all! Will try later, not even going to attempt to open it up with 2 insane children running around!

Will try to find my multimeter. Am happy with the process of using it as a voltmeter, but is there anywhere is particular I should be probing? (I use them in school to test batteries and the like, but nothing more complicated than a GCSE level circuit (bulbs and cells, maybe in parallel if i'm feeling really adventurous!

*edit* I am a right muppet (464 with modulator guy, first time i've seen a monitor or 6128 in the flesh) See pictures, I guess there should be a cable coming from the computer and plugging into the monitor as such, is this the 12V referenced?

tjohnson · 15:38, 29 December 18

Quote from: ProfessorPike on 12:30, 29 December 18
*edit* I am a right muppet (464 with modulator guy, first time i've seen a monitor or 6128 in the flesh) See pictures, I guess there should be a cable coming from the computer and plugging into the monitor as such, is this the 12V referenced?

Yeah there should be a cable from the computer that connects to the monitor for the 12v

ProfessorPike · 16:06, 29 December 18

Checked the pile of stuff that came with it, including 2 printers! But no cable!

Any idea where I can get one?

Bryce · 16:18, 29 December 18

The cable should be permanently connected to the circuit board, so the previous owner must have opened the computer and removed it. I might have a spare here if you need it.

Bryce.

ProfessorPike · 17:07, 29 December 18

Quote from: Bryce on 16:18, 29 December 18
The cable should be permanently connected to the circuit board, so the previous owner must have opened the computer and removed it. I might have a spare here if you need it.

Bryce.

Weird that! I checked the ebay ad and the cable isn't present in his pictures either. If you had a spare I would be super grateful!

Bryce · 17:21, 29 December 18

From the infamous "Box of random spare bits"...
Send me a PM and we can exchange details.

Bryce.

tjohnson · 23:30, 29 December 18

Its a bit odd that the cable was disconnected

MikeSDK · 02:56, 30 December 18

it's possible the previous owner modded the 6128 to only require 5V and step that up to 12V for the disc drive, kinda like Bryce's excellent 5VCPC board. Or they were just a tool and removed the cable because.. something.

ProfessorPike · 09:44, 30 December 18

Quote from: MikeSDK on 02:56, 30 December 18
it's possible the previous owner modded the 6128 to only require 5V and step that up to 12V for the disc drive, kinda like Bryce's excellent 5VCPC board. Or they were just a tool and removed the cable because.. something.

It is weird that it is removed! Maybe the owner took it to replace one elsewhere. I don't think its modified, if it is, the drive is shot, and its plan B time!

Bryce · 11:24, 30 December 18

They tend to break after a lot of use (cracks in the copper), so maybe he took it for a different 6128 that was in better condition or had other mods done to it?

Bryce.

ProfessorPike · 15:34, 05 January 19

Yay! Thank you Bryce! Cable arrived today, fitted.

Powered up the CPC, typed cat and briefly paused with anticipation! It works! I've learnt i'm still not very good at paperboy!

Need some more games now! and to decorate the spare room!

Interestingly, the little white plug that connects to 12V power cable to the motherboard, looks identical to a little white plug that is floating around inside the CPC's box. I think the cable may have been forcibly removed in the past!

Bryce · 15:42, 05 January 19

Cool, glad you got it working again.

Bryce.

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Disc drive woes!