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From: psb@eecea.eece.ksu.edu (Phil Buckland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: 1.2 MB floppy drive permanently "not ready" -- help!
Keywords: floppy disk drive broken 1.2 MB
Message-ID: <677@eecea.eece.ksu.edu>
Date: 12 Jul 89 17:51:42 GMT
References: <1135@sactoh0>
Reply-To: psb@eecea.UUCP (Phil Buckland)
Organization: Kansas State University, Manhattan
Lines: 76


	Sorry to have to post - my mail to you bounced.

In article <1135@sactoh0> you write:
>Thinking that perhaps the problem was a
>simple one (a stuck mechanical switch hooked to the drive-closing
>arm, etc.), I opened up the computer, poked around a bit, and then
	       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>powered up with the case off to observe the drive working.  No
>matter how much I tried, I could not get it to malfunction!!!  It
>worked perfectly through many tests with many different disks.
>Hoping the problem was gone, I put the case back on, hooked up all
					^^^^^^^^^^^^
>my cables, and guess what... same problem!
			      ^^^^^^^^^^^^

	I have seen problems like this when a drive cable has
	been pinched by the case, and where the drive cable 'bends'
	have been so severe as to break wires inside the cable
	without any external signs of damage.  You might try
	putting the drive cable in various positions (straight or
	folded differently) to see if the problem stays away
	when the case is put back on.

	It is also possible for there to be a heat related problem
	with the drive.  You don't say how long the problem took to
	reoccur after you put the case back on.  If the problem
	happened immediately, it's likely not heat related.  If
	it took a few minutes, it might be heat related.  Check
	the power supply fan and the ventilation grills in the case
	to make sure that airflow is not hampered.  I would play
	with the cables before doing this, however.

>Is there anyone (surely there must be) on the net with experience
>in repairing 1.2 MB floppy drives (or anyone else, for that matter)
>who could tell me what might be causing the problem and if I should
>try to fix it myself or take it straight to the repair shop?  This
>problem is really driving me insane and I would greatly appreciate
>any pointers or suggestions about what I should do.  Here are some
>additional facts about the problem, in case they matter:
>
>1)  The problem used to be very intermittent, and could sometimes
>    be cured simply by opening and closing the drive door a couple
>    of times.  Now the drive almost never works, and when it does,
>    it's usually shortly after I turn it on in the morning.  After
>    being on several hours, it *never* works!
>
>2)  Using 360K disks versus 1.2 MB disks seems to have no
>    significance.
>
>3)  *Everything* about the drive (it's noises, delays, etc.) is
>    exactly the same as if there were no disk in the drive and the
>    door was open.  The read/write head doesn't even try to read
>    the disk, because it thinks there isn't one to read.

	Thanks for the extra info. - it rules out a few possibilities.
	You might also check the drive cable to see if it is
	routed close to a heat source (see if the cable is warm and
	where).  If a bend in the cable is present near the heat
	source, brokes wires in the cable could expand from the
	heat and provide poor contact.  Try rerouting/rebending
	the cable.  If the problems go away, it's probably worth
	replacing the cable.

>Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions you might have...
>
>--
>(    Mark A. Haun KJ6PC    )(  SAC-UNIX, Sacramento, CA         )
>(   PACKET: kj6pc@wa6nwe   )(  UUCP: ...pacbell!sactoh0!mahaun  )
>(  AMPRNET: kj6pc@kj6pc.ampr.org [44.2.0.56]                    )

				Phil Buckland
				Computer Engineer

				psb@eecea.UUCP
				psb@eecea.eece.ksu.edu