With a kit of other Amiga stuff, I got a 1010 external floppy disk drive. Externally it's very nice, but unfortunately it doesn't work. When I insert a know-good floppy, the floppy mounts to the desktop with correct name, but it's files can't be read. Also formatting a disk in this drive fails, giving a problem while formatting cylinder 0.
The drive mechanism is Mitsumi D357.
I have opened the drive (not an easy task as it really is an example of how to make a sturdy disk drive, all those screws and metal shields!) and cleaned everything. The stupid thing is that I cleaned the drive first, without testing the drive (it was said 'should be working') so I can't really be sure if I did something to cause this! :angry:
The case seems to be very similar to the one mentioned
here.
I think this is something to do with the alignment of the track 0 detection system. The alignment screws have all red glue (ie. original, still sealed). When the drive is powered, it makes the usual clicking sound. Having the drive open, I see that the head bridge is being moved towards the end trail in steps. However, when it reaches the track 0, ie. where the optical sensor is, it doesn't stop, but keeps going on, until it can't move further (bumps to the stopper). This shouldn't be right? If I put a piece of paper to block the sensor (ie. how it goes where the track 0 should be) it doesn't affect anything, but the head bridge keeps moving. Could the opto-sensor be faulty? I can see +5v coming to the sensor, but what the output should be? Now I see only a low (around 1.8v) voltage on the output, and it's constant, non depending on the light on the sensor.
Any ideas how to proceed? Or anyone with an extra similar mechanism lurking around?
