Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!rochester!rit!ultb!clf3678
From: clf3678@ultb.UUCP (C.L. Freemesser)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Noisy drives
Summary: How to quiet the drive
Message-ID: <832@ultb.UUCP>
Date: 16 May 89 22:23:35 GMT
References: <8905160147.AA16219@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Reply-To: clf3678@ultb.UUCP (C.L. Freemesser (709ITP))
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Information Systems
Lines: 38

In article <8905160147.AA16219@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> RIDDCJ@KIRK.ASTON.AC.UK writes:
>On Mon, 24 Apr 89 00:09:18 PST, Dustin Baughman wrote:
>>I have a VERY noisy internal drive in my 1040st which is about 2
>>1/2 years old now.  Is there any way to quiet it?  Will putting a
>>light oil on the "bars" that the head slides on help?  Is this bad
>>for the drive?  The drive also seems to be "sluggish".  Any
>>suggestions?
>

Drives can be quieted down a bit by lubricating the rail(s) that the
head glides back and forth on.

However, finding a good lubricant is difficult.
You do NOT want a petroleum based lubricant because this could soften
the plastic of the head and cause problems.

You will have to look for an industrial lubricant that is not petroleum
based, perhaps something made from silicon or molybdenum.  Different
companies have them, so I would look at 3M first.

Anyways, you open up the computer, remove the shielding from the drive,
and you will see the steel rail(s) that the head glides on.  Using a
Q-tip, apply a moderate amount of the lubricant to the rail IN THE
PLACES WHERE THE HEAD TOUCHES IT.  Putting it elsewheres is just a
waste.

Depending on how good of a lubricant you have, your drive should be
quieter.

I really can't recommend a good lubricant.  I've tried the Lube Gel
available from Radio Shack, but have gotten only marginal improvement.
Industrial stuff is much better.


Chris Freemesser, Rochester Institute of Technology | What I like :
BITNET: %clf3678@RITVAX                             | 1) My Atari ST
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"Another brilliant mind ruined by higher education" | 3) Coke Classic