Amstrad CPC 6128 Floppy problem

From: Pete Turnbull <pete_at_dunnington.u-net.com>
Date: Mon Nov 29 18:46:38 1999

On Nov 29, 19:02, Tony Duell wrote:
> >
> > I have a CPC6128 which reports that there is no disk in the drive when
I
> > try to run a program or even |dir.
> >
> > I have opened the box up and it looks as if the drive isn't spinning
up.

> I don't notice
> a disk-inserted sensor on the FD1 schematic in the 8256 service manual
> (which I am pretty sure is the same drive), though, and it appears to
> detect a disk in place by looking for index pulses (the circuitry around
> Q5-Q8).

I think that's right. The classic symptom of the very common drive belt
problem is that the disk isn't detected. Since the motor is pretty quiet,
yo might not realise it's running but simply not driving the spindle.

> These drives are well-known for suffering from drive belt problems, which
> of course results in the motor spinning but the disk not turning. Could
> that be the problem with your drive?

*Very* common. After a few years disuse, the belt goes slack. In a pinch,
you can replace the belt with a flat rubber band to prove the rest of the
drive is operational, but it won't be completely reliable. The belts are
easy to get, at least here in the UK, and quite cheap (a pound or so) if
you don't buy the branded Amstrad spare part. However, they're flat belts
and not very stretchy, unlike most round- or square-section cassette belts,
so you do need to get the right size.

-- 
Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Dept. of Computer Science
						University of York
Received on Mon Nov 29 1999 - 18:46:38 GMT

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