i am doing some uncoordinated chaotic lab stuff right now, clean up, sorting all the little toys i forgot about...., ..... listen to your videos in the background is so much relaxing and even motivating.... :x thank you.
@@HeyBirt I love that, Great history, Wish I held onto my original VIC and C64 stuff back in the day instead of giving it to my younger brother who threw it all in the garbage 12 months later.
Hey Birt, good vid ! I've been repairing TEC FB-501 for a long time. They were (are) in all sorts of older computers from the old Kaypro I's to TRS add-on drives to early MS DOS machines. The dual headed versions (FB-503 ) were soon to follow and aren't quite as bad as the 501s but they suffer from the same leaky capacitor issues to a lesser degree. Nice to see someone else trudging thru the leaky capacitor issues for once! FYI, I always go up in capacitor VBD value when replacing and the Bipolar caps on the spindle drive boards never go bad, probably because they are two-way devices, different electrolyte maybe ? The 2 empty spots on the logic motherboard are for the MSD-SD2(the SD1 and SD2 share the same board) build to accept extra static ram ICs for running the coveted 'autocopy' program without a connected computer.
There is a procedure called 'reading the error channel' which is in the users manual. It is a command you type in which sends a request to the drive and the drive responds with the error type.
@@HeyBirt thanks. when I powered the drive and my 4032 previously I got a solid green LED. I did run that command anyway and got a '0' (zero) back indicating 'OK'. The drive head activates and spindle spins when I power the drive and then again when I power the PET. The red/green flashing LED appears when I try a LOAD "$",9 (in my case) or use the NEW command to format a disk. I suppose I need to run the diagnostic command again after the flashing green/red appears to read the error channel again. Thanks again.
@@HeyBirt I just had some time to run the diagnostic after an error is indicated (red/green flashing LED) and it came back with Error Code 21: Read Error (No Sync Character). The string is 21 READ ERROR 01 00 so track 01 sector 00. One of the explanations is "an improperly seated diskette". I obviously tried re-seating the diskette and then tried another fresh one. A potential cause is that when I received the drive there were loose parts inside, a bolt and nut that I secured, and a head shield plate that your video helped me find the location for under the drive head. I didn't know at the time that Ray Carlsen had a fix to re-glue it without removing the head (see link at bottom). Anyhow, I removed the drive head to re-glue it and it now could be out of alignment after I replaced it although It operates and sounds fine. Any idea how I might ensure it's properly aligned? Thanks so much again. portcommodore.com/rcarlsen/cbm/msd/REPAIRS/HEAD%20SHIELD.jpg
Polyester caps are made from layers of metalized polyester. They are solid, i.e. nothing to leak, and have difference properties than ceramic capacitors.
Amazing work bringing that drive back from the dead! Those caps; ugh.
I had the dual double sided version of this back in the day... looked like 4 drives. Weighed a TON!
i am doing some uncoordinated chaotic lab stuff right now, clean up, sorting all the little toys i forgot about...., ..... listen to your videos in the background is so much relaxing and even motivating.... :x thank you.
It must feel special to unbox a disk drive from the 80s in it's original box and packaging, thanks for sharing.
I think the best part with this drive was getting to meet the original owner and spend some time learning how he used his Commodores back in the day.
@@HeyBirt I love that, Great history, Wish I held onto my original VIC and C64 stuff back in the day instead of giving it to my younger brother who threw it all in the garbage 12 months later.
neat trick for mopping up flux
Hey Birt, good vid ! I've been repairing TEC FB-501 for a long time. They were (are) in all sorts of older computers from the old Kaypro I's to TRS add-on drives to early MS DOS machines. The dual headed versions (FB-503 ) were soon to follow and aren't quite as bad as the 501s but they suffer from the same leaky capacitor issues to a lesser degree. Nice to see someone else trudging thru the leaky capacitor issues for once! FYI, I always go up in capacitor VBD value when replacing and the Bipolar caps on the spindle drive boards never go bad, probably because they are two-way devices, different electrolyte maybe ?
The 2 empty spots on the logic motherboard are for the MSD-SD2(the SD1 and SD2 share the same board) build to accept extra static ram ICs for running the coveted 'autocopy' program without a connected computer.
Sat. morn java with some Hey Birt! magic. Drive reminds me of my EPSON TF-20.
DOOD! Do one on the TRS-80 Color Mini floppy drive. Also jam in new tiny ceramic caps. Makes it look cleaner.
MSD drives are absoutely my favourite with the double interface. I wish we could find them in EU!
Mine were leaking too, especially on the motor board.
Experienced Technician Glasses , not old man glasses !
The kaypro 4/84 comes with the double sided versions of the TEC drive. It also comes with the same capacitors of death :(
Hey Birt, I have the same red/green flashing LED as in your video at about the 53min mark, how did you determine it was a #24 read error? Thanks!
There is a procedure called 'reading the error channel' which is in the users manual. It is a command you type in which sends a request to the drive and the drive responds with the error type.
@@HeyBirt thanks. when I powered the drive and my 4032 previously I got a solid green LED. I did run that command anyway and got a '0' (zero) back indicating 'OK'. The drive head activates and spindle spins when I power the drive and then again when I power the PET. The red/green flashing LED appears when I try a LOAD "$",9 (in my case) or use the NEW command to format a disk. I suppose I need to run the diagnostic command again after the flashing green/red appears to read the error channel again. Thanks again.
@@HeyBirt I just had some time to run the diagnostic after an error is indicated (red/green flashing LED) and it came back with Error Code 21: Read Error (No Sync Character). The string is 21 READ ERROR 01 00 so track 01 sector 00. One of the explanations is "an improperly seated diskette". I obviously tried re-seating the diskette and then tried another fresh one. A potential cause is that when I received the drive there were loose parts inside, a bolt and nut that I secured, and a head shield plate that your video helped me find the location for under the drive head. I didn't know at the time that Ray Carlsen had a fix to re-glue it without removing the head (see link at bottom). Anyhow, I removed the drive head to re-glue it and it now could be out of alignment after I replaced it although It operates and sounds fine. Any idea how I might ensure it's properly aligned? Thanks so much again. portcommodore.com/rcarlsen/cbm/msd/REPAIRS/HEAD%20SHIELD.jpg
whats the difference with the polyester caps
Polyester caps are made from layers of metalized polyester. They are solid, i.e. nothing to leak, and have difference properties than ceramic capacitors.