Can I use a Chinon 1.44 FZ-357 for A1200?

[lanroot]

I scavenged a FZ-357 floppy drive from an old PC that a fellow from work gave me.  I've been looking for a drive that would replace my old external drive OR even better - replace my low density internal drive.  (My A1200 is a Commodore, not AT)

My external drive is a 'Golden Image' drive.  It consists of a Sony drive with a PCB (assumably containing circuits needed to  adapt the sony to the amiga) mounted in a stylish case with the external cord from it to the amiga.  I destroyed the drive somehow.. it was a long time ago and I don't remember what I did to it -something about trying to connect it directly to my internal connector maybe?

Anyway, I heard two conficting reports about the Chinon FZ-357.  Is it ONLY the FZ-357A that will work with amigas, or does the FZ-357 (without the A) work with some amiga models?  One amiga forum indicated that the FZ-357 works with the A1200.  Others say that it's only a PC drive.  But, furthermore, AT 1200 models apparently shipped with a Panasonic drive installed which had to be modded to work with the amiga FD controller.  

Whether or not the FZ-357 can work with my A1200, I'm sure that one of you can tell me how to get this chinon to work!  Will I need to modify it? (it has the DS0,1,2, and 3 jumper settings external yay!)  The other jumper settings are shown embossed on the drive cover - some other settings are MM, MD, RDY, DC, TT-L/C-MOS.  Currently these settings are MM, DC, and the jumper is in for the TT-L/C-MOS setting.

Other than that, once it works, will the high density drive pose any problems for workbench 3.1?

Thanks!

lanroot

[adolescent]

You can use it as a low density drive by setting the jumpers.  Only the 357A works as high density.

[Azryl]

Chinon FZ-357 is standard density drive, not high density, that is ONLY the A model for the Amiga's

To get your FZ-357 running properly as the internal drive, the following jumpers should be set

DS0, MM, RDY, TTL

DS0 jumper horizontal, MM, RDY & TTL all vertical

The drive might vary in dimension to that of the internal A1200 model, you will need to attach the side mounting bracket and maybe place stiff foam or another material across the back of the drive to secure it against disk insertion with only one mounting screw holding it in the case. Hope that helps

Az

[TjLaZer]

These drives work great as 880k drives!  But some do not, just try it and see.  (one quick way I have seen is to check the face plate, if it is rounder than boxier it will work)

[bubba]

Does anyone know if the CHINON-357A or the -357s will physically fit in the standard A1200 case wihout modification?  I assume the faceplate will need to be removed, but will the drive line-up with the floppy cutout?  

I need a new floppy and am having a hard time finding a cheap replacement.  I've seen the 357A's on e-bay for around $100.   I prefer a cheaper alternative, but I've had little luck finding an internal 880k drive for the original commodore made 1200 for sale.  

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Floppyless 1200

 

[TjLaZer]

I was just testing a FZ-357 on a A500 and the button did not align up,  other than that it fit fine.  So I guess some hacking on the button opening on the A500 will need to be done.  I imagine the same thing needs to be done for the A1200.

[bubba]

I got my hands on a Chinon-357A from e-bay and, drum roll...

It fits!  The eject button and the floppy slot align perfectly with the A1200 cutouts.  After pulling off the faceplate, I just had to crimp back two tabs on top of the drive housing to get the case to close.

The only issue I have is that the eject button is a litte short and barely protrudes (just a few mm's).  This is a slight problem since the button can pop-off if is pushed fully inside the case (the button relies on the faceplate to keep aligned).  I wonder if I can find a longer replacement button?

I haven't tried to read or write a high density disk yet, but it seems to work fine with 880k disks.

-Bubba

[amiga1260]

I have a Chinon FZ-357 drive, but has problems with disk changes. It was made in Japan.

Where are your diskdrives manufactured?

[bubba]

From what I've read there are many different makes of the regular FZ-357.  Not all of which work on the Amiga.  I have a FZ-357A that was made specifically for the amiga so compatibility is not an issue.

I found a website somewhere that described how to identify the amiga compatible FZ-357's.  I'll post it if I can find the URL.  I'll also post where my 357A was made later.

-Bubba

[TjLaZer]

@amiga1260

To get your drive to Disk Change open it up and expose the PCB. Then solder jumper J2 to close.  It will work perfectly now.

[amiga1260]

I have the diagram how to solder. Could you put a picture how it looks like?

[badalias]

Ok, it's already been said...

Chinon FZ357A = HD
Chinon FZ357 = DD *

*Certain models only. - See this post and this post.

What about if you use a driver hack like drv-1.44.lha or adapt a circuit hack like PCFloppy2Amiga.lha?

Will the FZ357 work as DD in an A1000? (I have  a  couple of them, and, I'm fantasizing of the things I could do if I had DF0-DF3...) What needs to be done to KS/WB 1.3 to make it recognize HD flopies? Is drv-1.44.lha enough?

BadAlias.

[badalias]

You could try DISKCHANGE DFx: where x is the drive number.

It's for disk changes on drives without wiring/circuitry for the disk change signal. (Like the 5.25" Amiga 1020.)

[badalias]

Got up the courage to try the FZ357 drives I have in my A1000... The good news is that with the jumpers set per the instructions in this post the drives work with the A1000 as DD. The bad news is that they do not automatically diskchange, and I have to enter DISKCHANGE DF1: to get either of the FZ357s to recognise a new floppy. (I tested them one at a time in an A1010 I have...)

This post said something about soldering J2 to fix the diskchange problem. I opened up one of my FZ357 drives, and there was already a surface mount component there... Could somebody send me more info about this J2 fix?

BadAlias

P.S.: Re: Azryl's question - Both of my drives are manufactured in Japan. I suspect that all Chinon floppy drives are manufactured in Japan. I also have a PC 5.25" floppy drive made by Chinon (Model FZ506) that was made in Japan.

[TjLaZer]

The ones I have J2 was open and I had to put a solder blob to close it, then it works perfect with disk changes!  Not sure about a component being there, you must have a different run.  Find another drive that does not have anything at J2 and a quick way to ID a drive that will work is to look at the face plate:  If it has a "rounded" area around the opening (where you insert disk) it should work fine.  If it is "boxy" it will not work.  That is just my experience.