Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    If dirty, the heads can be cleaned with one of the kits (under $10)
    available in many places.  Cleaning kits for 3.5" drives are not
    specific to any brand of computer.  The only problem you may have
    is making the motor spin long enough for the cleaner to be effective.
    
    If you suspect that your drive is out of alignment, look in the
    back of magazines for repair places -- some specialize in disk repair
    for much less than the cost of a replacement drive.
    
    You should also ask in the MAY14::ATARIST notesfile.  This may be
    an Atari-specific problem.
    
    Wes Plouff

  RE: < Note 2488.1 by LEVERS::PLOUFF "Wait a Nanojiffy" >

>    If dirty, the heads can be cleaned with one of the kits (under $10)
>    available in many places.  Cleaning kits for 3.5" drives are not
>    specific to any brand of computer.  The only problem you may have
>    is making the motor spin long enough for the cleaner to be effective.
>    
>    If you suspect that your drive is out of alignment, look in the
>    back of magazines for repair places -- some specialize in disk repair
>    for much less than the cost of a replacement drive.
    
>    You should also ask in the MAY14::ATARIST notesfile.  This may be
>    an Atari-specific problem.

     I did ask in the atari notes file, but drive problems, wouldn't be
     computer specific, I thought I'd ask here too.  Besides, there are
     much more amiga noters, than st noters, so the chance that someone
     knows about aligning drive's, etc is much greater here.

    
>    Wes Plouff

     Bill Powers

    Sorry, didn't mean to come across as flippant, or to chase you away.
    I think that disk drive alignment is generally beyond the ability
    of most hobbyists.  In fact, I'd love to hear from someone who has
    successfully realigned a floppy drive at home.
    
    Thus the recommendation to take the drive to a repair shop.
    
    Wes

    It does sound like an alignment problem.  When I used my C64
    (Boy, I love my Amiga), occasionally my 1541 would go out of
    alignment.  Re-aligning it was fairly simple and involved
    locating the adjusting the stepper motor, until the drive
    would properly do a directory on a junk disk.
    
    I found an article in RUN many years ago that describes the
    process and it saved me quite a bit of money ($30+/alignment).
    I must admit that even after 6+ years of (ab)use, my little
    system performs like a champ.  One friend of mine currently
    runs his 1541 sans case, and upside down (to get at the stepper 
    screws) because his drive mis-aligns constantly.
    
    I would think that a similar article/book exists for 3 1/2" 
    drives.  The technique is probably similar, but I haven't
    taken my drives apart yet.  Oh yeah, I would occasionally
    clean the drive head with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol.  
    This may/not do much, but never seemed to do any harm.
    (I won't even hazard a guess how many *hours* my 1541 has spun.
    :^)
    
    Steve - Siena '88

    re: .3
    
    Wes,  I was replying to .2, but the order seems more appropriate.
    
    The 3 1/2 drives operate at much greater speed/precision
    than my 1541, so aligning them would be more difficult. 
    Typically, if I could do a directory (track 18) then I was
    safe reading 0-39 also. (I think those numbers are correct).   

    If the problem only occurs reading the fringe tracks this may be 
    harder to fix, without proper equipment/training.
    
    I'd still recommend doing a little research before taking it in.
    
    Steve

    If the drive will format ok and read/write to itself ok but will
    not read back from a second drive, then you can suspect alignment.
    If it will not format and R/W to itself, then something else is
    wrong (dirty heads, faulty stepper, something electronic) and unless
    you are a good fixer, take it in.
    
    Jean