Help with original floppy disk drive

Resident (52)

10-05-2011, 15:24

I have a MSX DD PLUS brazillian model. It has a built in 3,5 floppy disk and i getting some problem about this floppy. To keep my MSX as original is posssible i want try to reppair it before put a PC floppy.
It is a Yaskawa Electric brand .
The MSX boots normally, so the floppy LED(red) get a fast blink. After booted i type "files" on Basic. The LED turns on, but the drive does not find a disk into it, showing a message: "disk offline".

Other problem sign is that if I put a disk into the drive without type any command, the central motor keeps running (led turned OFF) automatically by itself. It only stop running if i eject the disk.

Any clue whats happening and there´s something that i can do to fix this problems to keep my MSX full original?
Thank You!.

By hardheavy

Resident (52)

10-05-2011, 15:27

Note: Even with no flat cable, only powered by the power cable, as i insert a disk in the floppy, the central motor starts spinning, auntil i eject it to stop running.

By Google

By luppie

Champion (279)

10-05-2011, 19:43

Did you already replaced the drive belt ?

By mohai

Champion (378)

10-05-2011, 20:36

I would try a good cleaning.
Maybe some optical sensors are dirty. Try to blow some air on them. Clean headers with some cotton and alcohol. Change drive belt.

Regarding motor behaviour, maybe it is normal. Maybe "motor on" signal is allways is forced on when you insert a disk.

Check power supply also, if it is delivering right voltage.

By hardheavy

Resident (52)

10-05-2011, 21:06

ok, thank you very much for replaying!!!. Í´ll test and post later!.

By hardheavy

Resident (52)

10-05-2011, 22:06

I take off the cover of the disk driver and did a goos clean using isopropilic alcohol. Aparently no dirty signs insede on the heads, .
So i put the driver to wok without the cover and i noticed the headers keep still, no sign of life, even after i typed "files" or "callformat".
Maybe the malfunction may be on the head motor?
How can i test it? I have some ohter disk drives (PC) and if there is a solution i can try exchange this motor, in case it bey be dead.
Any suggestions?

By hardheavy

Resident (52)

11-05-2011, 12:32

No succeed to repair it. I got a new floppy a Sony MPF920-L. I tried to find a mod to put this floppy works on msx, but until now, I can´t find anything... .
Any suggestions?

By Daemos

Champion (458)

11-05-2011, 13:09

Do you hear the stepper motor working? If the stepper motor does absolutely nothing. Check around the electronic for any signs of black residue. Look good it may look natural. If you find any of that. Carefully clean it away and see where there is contact failure within that area and fix it.

Some floppy drives run very hot at some areas especially at the stepper motor drive electronics and after 20 years they finally tend to give up.

By Repair-Bas

Paladin (895)

11-05-2011, 14:35

There is no drive belt in that drive.
Original is a Y&E Data diskdrive.
I have the same computer here.
I replaced it for a teac drive with a black front-panel.

By hardheavy

Resident (52)

11-05-2011, 14:51

....the stepper motor ... i did not hear it. All that i know the head get a small pulse, but nothing more than that. I´ll post some pic to help.

i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee199/Pasha_br/DSC00912.jpg

By Daemos

Champion (458)

11-05-2011, 16:43

Ohw boy. This is a newer version. Looks a lot more high tech. Is that SOC SMD at the first foto not blakened with its pins near to the drive motor? Could be a optical illusion from the photograph.