C128D disk drive just stopped working

[orb85750]

It was working well.  The last program successfully loaded was Fight Night (in 64 mode, of course).  Now the drive won't load a single thing.  It tries, but to no avail.  Any thoughts/ideas?  Thanks.

[BigDumbDinosaur]

Alignment, dirty heads, spindle not spinning exactly at 300 RPM, electronic failure on the C-128D's mainboard, possible connection that has gone south from age.  None of the floppy drive assemblies used in the 128D were particularly good mechanisms.  This sort of failure was quite common back when the 128D was new hardware.

[RobertB]

None of the floppy drive assemblies used in the 128D were particularly good mechanisms.

Actually, in all of the C128DCR's I've had, none of them had problems with the internal 1571.

            Spending the night in Portland, Oregon,
            Robert Bernardo
            Fresno Commodore User Group
            http://videocam.net.au/fcug
            July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[Blacklord]

Four out of the five D's I've had have all had floppy failure (all fixable though) - most common problem I have with my Commie machines.

[orb85750]

Four out of the five D's I've had have all had floppy failure (all fixable though) - most common problem I have with my Commie machines.

What is the best way for me to diagnose the problem, given that there are a number of possibilities?  Thanks.

[redrumloa]

None of the floppy drive assemblies used in the 128D were particularly good mechanisms.

Actually, in all of the C128DCR's I've had, none of them had problems with the internal 1571.

            Spending the night in Portland, Oregon,
            Robert Bernardo
            Fresno Commodore User Group
            http://videocam.net.au/fcug
            July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Actually I have to agree with BigDumbDinosaur, the 128D mechanism is flakey as hell. I've owned several 128Ds over the years...

[redrumloa]

What is the best way for me to diagnose the problem, given that there are a number of possibilities?  Thanks.

First try a drive cleaning kit if you have one. If you don't have one, rubbing alcohol and a q-tip will work but you will have to open the drive to get to the head. The 1571D drive in my 128T throws fits if I try to use a highly degraded old floppy. If I clean the head, it works again.

I'd recommend a 1541 for trying to read failing old floppies.

[RobertB]

Four out of the five D's I've had have all had floppy failure...

I must be beating the odds!  Let's see... the six or so that I have right now have never had any drive problems, and the four that have been raffled at CommVEx over the years never had any drive problems.

          If only I were so lucky in Vegas,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo v6 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[redrumloa]

@Robert
Do you only use minty new floppies?

[RobertB]

     No.  Do you need some?  I'm sure I can dig them out of storage.

            Back in California,
            Robert Bernardo
            Fresno Commodore User Group
            http://videocam.net.au/fcug
            July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[BigDumbDinosaur]

...rubbing alcohol and a q-tip will work...

NO!  NO!  NO!!!

Never use rubbing alcohol on or in any electronic device, especially tape and disk heads.  Use isopropanol, which you can buy at any paint shop or hardware store (Ace Hardware sells isopropanol in convenient one quart cansâ€"look for "Denatured Alcohol Pure").  Rubbing alcohol contains oil and other chemicals that will contaminate head surfaces, making the situation worse, or even possibly damaging the disk medium.

[orb85750]

What is the best way for me to diagnose the problem, given that there are a number of possibilities?  Thanks.

First try a drive cleaning kit if you have one. If you don't have one, rubbing alcohol and a q-tip will work but you will have to open the drive to get to the head. The 1571D drive in my 128T throws fits if I try to use a highly degraded old floppy. If I clean the head, it works again.

I'd recommend a 1541 for trying to read failing old floppies.

Wow, thanks.  To my surprise, the cleaning kit actually did the trick!  Before using it, the drive was making so much noise that I was sure it had to be something more serious.  But it's back up and working once again. 

[RobertB]

     Hurrah!  Another C128D up and running again!

             Still in Aberdeen, Scotland,
             Robert Bernardo
             Fresno Commodore User Group
             http://videocam.net.au/fcug
             July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex