Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!ttrdc!ttrde!ttrdf!carus
From: carus@ttrdf.UUCP (Bryce W. Carus)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: Drive alignment test
Summary: 1541 alignment
Message-ID: <849@ttrdf.UUCP>
Date: 30 Jan 89 21:16:49 GMT
References: <10976@s.ms.uky.edu> <24100005@tippy>
Organization: AT&T, Skokie, IL
Lines: 26

In article <24100005@tippy>, bah@tippy.uucp writes:
> 
> This is generally true. If your drive loads a program that is a
> commercial prog. or as you stated, the disk that came with your 1541,
>
> stuff deleted...
>
> your drive is out of alignment, the only sure and accurate way to check
> this is with a digital alignment disk and a dual trace scope. 
> 
>    Bob Hahn       tippy!bah@newton.physics.purdue.edu

...there is a simple way to align a drive with minimum equipment and software.

The principle behind it is to read the raw AC signal coming off the head and
feed that into a simple filter which rectifies it into a couple volts DC. This
signal can then be read with a simple analog voltmeter. The idea is to use the
output as a "peak" indicator...you are on track when the signal is at it's
peak. You'd want to do this with a decent disk...I use CBM's utility disk.

This method is fast, accurate, and low cost - junk box parts are all you need.
I've aligned dozens of drives this way for my friends...it works like a charm!

The test run by the utility disk said I had a good drive but it didn't work
until it was aligned by this method - far superior to the old CSM alignment
program...