I've seen lots of floppies with this problem. I find that it occurs on
systems which (a) leave the motor on and the head loaded (not an option on
low-cost 5-1/4" drives, the head was always loaded) and (2) drives with some
form of contamination, i.e. particulates, on either the head or the
head-load pad. Dust and smoke are often the offending contaminant, i.e.
they damage the extremely hard surface of the head, normally polished to a
very fine finish, and leave a burr which subsequently scratches the emulsion
off the media. In any case, the problem is much scarcer in "clean"
environments than in my basement or anyplace like it.
Solution: (a) take the media out of the drive when it's not in use and (b)
make the fan in whatever enclosure houses the drive blow into rather than
suck out of the enclosure, preferably through a filter of some sort.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com <CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, September 13, 1999 6:41 PM
Subject: RE: HELP! Kaypro 2X Drive (Was: HELP! Osbourne drives)
>>This made me remember that I have a perhaps similar problem with one of my
>>Kaypro drives. It works at first, but eventually wears away portions of
the
>>disk making the disk unusable. (After a few uses, if you hold the disk
>>up to the light there are arcs
>>that are clear.) I assume this is a head alignment issue.
>
>Why assume this? And why is everyone so quick to assume that the
>first thing you want to do to a floppy drive is realign the heads?
>Reminds me of those folks who insist on tweaking the IF cores in all
>their AM/FM radios without the proper test equipment, and then they
>wonder why it doesn't perform so well anymore...
>
>In my experience, the only floppy drives I've ever had to realign
>the heads on were drives that someone else decided to align the heads on
:-).
>
>Two questions:
>
>1. Single sided drive? If so, check the head load pad. An extremely
>worn head load pad will gouge up the media for sure.
>
>2. Double sided drive? If so, is there anything wedged in the spring
>supports that'll make the heads press against the media with too much
>force?
>
>--
> Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa_at_trailing-edge.com
> Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/
> 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917
> Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927
Received on Tue Sep 14 1999 - 09:20:10 BST