Spectrum +3 disc drive won’t read discs

[Lardo Boffin]

Hello all

I am trying to get a +3 disc drive to work. I have cleaned the read head and changed the belt but it is not playing ball - it just spins and tells me there is no disc present.
The disc I am testing with is a known good one.

I removed the old drive belt which was rather unusually in one piece and noted quite a lot of lubricant on and around the white wheel as shown below:

The sheen is from some sort of oil like substance. The removed belt is quite oily.

I wonder if this is causing the belt to slip? The disc is being rotated but the noise it is making is not normal for my experience of these drives in +3s and 6128s.

I don’t have a +3 to borrow the disc out of to prove the rest of the computer is ok but do have a 6128 so will dig that up and try that at some point.

What is the best method of degreasing this thing? Hopefully if I can do that it may spin properly and work. He says with more optimism than he feels…

Many thanks!

[ujko]

I would try with 70% alcohol, but this is not the only wheel to degrease - don't forget the other one on the motor shaft.

[1024MAK]

Most solvent cleaners will remove light oil and light grease, including IPA. Some types are better than others.

Some hand or tool cleaning wipes also work.

But don’t use these on rubber parts.

Mark

[Lardo Boffin]

Thanks all.

I have IPA so will give that a go.

[1024MAK]

Oh, and be very careful about what solvent cleaners you use on plastic parts. Some weaken some types of plastic.

If in doubt, use a water based soap or detergent on a damp cloth.

Mark

[Lardo Boffin]

10 minutes with IPA has removed the grease but still not reading discs.

I guess the next step is to try and do a head adjustment to make sure it is starting in the correct place.

After that post it to an expert!

[Paul]

Maybe before adjusting the head you could try to format a disk and write/read it?
That way you can check if would work at all before adjusting anything

[1024MAK]

I guess the next step is to try and do a head adjustment to make sure it is starting in the correct place.

After that post it to an expert!

Be very wary of any mechanical adjustments to the read/write head. As if maladjusted, you need an unattainable calibration disk…

The next step I would say is to check that the rotation speed (RPM) is correct.

Check also on the CPCWiki here.
And the links at the bottom of this page.
There is also a service manual for the Amstrad DDI-1 drive here which may help.

Mark

[Lardo Boffin]

Maybe before adjusting the head you could try to format a disk and write/read it?
That way you can check if would work at all before adjusting anything

Good suggestion thanks. I just get ‘Drive not ready’ when trying to format.

[Lardo Boffin]

Thanks for the links Mark.

I have had to do the drive head adjustment before and managed to get a dead disc drive to work but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t getting ‘Drive not ready’ on that one.

Given that I have no idea if the rest of the computer is OK I will try a drive out of my 6128 before doing anything else.

How would I check the RPM is ok? I have an external gotek (which works fine with the Spectrum so I’m assuming it is largely OK) I can connect and load software from if necessary.