My new 6128 plus disc drive isn't working.

[Dr Tiger Ninestein]

Not happy at all guys. I've just recently bought a 6128 plus off eBay. I specifically asked the seller if the disc drive was working and he said that it was.


I have just received a disk through the post today to test out and guess what...disc missing error.


I have ordered a new belt off of eBay and have opened up the computer to take out and check the drive.


I can't seem to disconnect the ribbon cable or the wire next to it with the white plug. Do I have to pull the ribbon cable out of the black piece of plastic or do i pull the black piece of plastic out with ribbon cable still connected to it?


Also how do I disconnect the wires with the white plug next to it? I just don't want to force anything and cause any damage.


Thanks
Tom

[gerald]

Not happy at all guys. I've just recently bought a 6128 plus off eBay. I specifically asked the seller if the disc drive was working and he said that it was.


I have just received a disk through the post today to test out and guess what...disc missing error.


I have ordered a new belt off of eBay and have opened up the computer to take out and check the drive.


I can't seem to disconnect the ribbon cable or the wire next to it with the white plug. Do I have to pull the ribbon cable out of the black piece of plastic or do i pull the black piece of plastic out with ribbon cable still connected to it?


Also how do I disconnect the wires with the white plug next to it? I just don't want to force anything and cause any damage.


Thanks
Tom

You can only disconnect them from the drive. The cables (power/disk) are soldered on the motherboard.
The power cable should come if you slightly lift it up while pulling it.
The ribbon cable need a bit more force to be pulled.
Also, be careful to not lose the write protect pin when opening the drive.

[Dr Tiger Ninestein]

Do I pull the white piece of plastic at the end of the power cable? It doesn't seem to move at all?

[gerald]

Do I pull the white piece of plastic at the end of the power cable? It doesn't seem to move at all?

You have to lift it a bit. There is a small bit of plastic that lock it if you don't.

[CanonMan]

I hope you've negotiated a partial refund from the seller, for lying and selling you a lemon?

[Dr Tiger Ninestein]

Thanks Gerald, I've managed that now. I have got to the belt and it didn't feel that tight. I have removed it and it snapped when I tried to stretch it. There was some black residue on the capstan but not a lot, so I have cleaned that now.


Does this sound like it is the belt causing the disc missing error? How tight should the belt feel?

[Dr Tiger Ninestein]

I hope you've negotiated a partial refund from the seller, for lying and selling you a lemon?

To be honest, if it's just the belt that's causing the problem I'll let it go as its not an expensive fix. If the problem proves to be more serious I think I'll have to go down that route.

[gerald]

Thanks Gerald, I've managed that now. I have got to the belt and it didn't feel that tight. I have removed it and it snapped when I tried to stretch it. There was some black residue on the capstan but not a lot, so I have cleaned that now.


Does this sound like it is the belt causing the disc missing error? How tight should the belt feel?

If the belt broke when you removed it, there is do doubt it was too old. You need to clean all the residue as it may cause irregular spinning.
The disk missing error comes from no index pulse coming from the drive. This is usually cause by a worn belt.

[Bryce]

If the belt easily snapped, then it was definitely the belt that was causing the problem. Swap the belt and you'Re ready to go. Seller is a twat and liar, but most ebay sellers are.

Bryce.

[Dr Tiger Ninestein]

Thanks for the help chaps, fitted a new belt today and it now works perfectly

[Dr Tiger Ninestein]

For some reason every time I post a photo it turns out sideways or upside down???

[gerald]

For some reason every time I post a photo it turns out sideways or upside down???

The forum does not care about EXIF orientation tag and display the image as is.

[||C|-|E||]

Thanks for the help chaps, fitted a new belt today and it now works perfectly

I also recently bought a new 6128 Plus that was supposed to be a NOS machine with a new belt. However, although it was a true NOS computer the original belt rotted in the drive and the seller did not remove the black residue let by it when he did the replacement. This was causing the new belt to move from the proper position after a short running time and therefore the drive was failing. At the end I had to open the computer, clean the disc drive myself and fit the new belt again. Since the fix was so simple I decided not to complain but, as Bryce said, these things happen all the time when buying from Ebay .

[CraigsBar]

With all these NewOldStock gx4000's appearing on eBay I have been hoping a stockpile of pluses will turn up too. Fingers crossed it was not just this one. I'd also love to know what happened to all the cart demonstration machines, anyone know?

[Dr Tiger Ninestein]

With all these NewOldStock gx4000's appearing on eBay I have been hoping a stockpile of pluses will turn up too. Fingers crossed it was not just this one.

That's what I'm hoping for as well.

[||C|-|E||]

With all these NewOldStock gx4000's appearing on eBay I have been hoping a stockpile of pluses will turn up too. Fingers crossed it was not just this one. I'd also love to know what happened to all the cart demonstration machines, anyone know?

The one I bought was actually not even listed. I contacted the seller because he had another Plus for sale that was in very good condition, but not new. It turned out that the first computer was already sold but he had this other one as well. So, I negotiated a price and he sent it to me. I do not know what happened to the demonstration machines, I never saw one in my city  . Maybe they did not belong to the shops, but to Amstrad, and they were all retired from the stores after some time...

[chinnyhill10]

With all these NewOldStock gx4000's appearing on eBay I have been hoping a stockpile of pluses will turn up too. Fingers crossed it was not just this one. I'd also love to know what happened to all the cart demonstration machines, anyone know?

Unlikely. The reason so many GX4000's have turned up is because the machine bombed. Probably 10,000 unsold units that Amstrad had to sell off at cost price and below. They turned up at market stalls and places like that for years after.


Likewise some retailers would have been left with massive stocks they also had to sell off. Dixon end up selling them off at a cost price of £25. People like WAVE bought up stocks.


The Plus wasn't a failure. Stocks were gradually sold off in a more traditional manner. There is no more chance of a cache of new Plus machines showing up than any other normal 8 bit I'm afraid. All the machines would have made their way though the usual channels.