Wanted SF-314 (double sided Atari ST external drive)

[Velociraptor]

http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/ ... isk-Drive/

I'm after a 314 to use with my STM. I've no intention to ever resell it so it will go to a good home.

It's ok if it doesn't work, I will try somehow to get it working.

[stephen_usher]

Ah, but which generation of SF314, there were at least three, two of which used Shugart compatible drive cables and one doesn't.

You have small oblong eject button above the drive, medium sized oblong button below the drive and long rhomboid button under the slot.

They all have different controller interface boards too.

From my experience, the oblong drives (both types) often have motor failures. The rhomboid ones have the top head fall off as the adhesive has dried over the 30 or so years.

Last year I managed to retro-fit a rhomboid STFM drive into my original SF-314 case after transferring the LED and lens and creating an interface cable as the interface board isn't Shugart compatible (Chinon special interface).

I do have an empty (other than interface board) small-high-oblong eject button case you could possibly have (if you're in the UK) but you'll never find a drive to fit it.

[Velociraptor]

That's a very, very persuasive piece on why it might not be worth getting one. Any 314 I did get would be expensive to say the least and I had imagined I could just pop a PC drive with the right cable select in.

Thanks for the info Stephen.

[Tomswork]

I use a aftermarket floppy case I got from a swap meet it hads a 9v ps the case and cable I put a gotek in it. In may have had to move the drive select on the gotek works great.

Tom

[stephen_usher]

Indeed, if you can get one of the ones on top of my renovated SF-314 those work well with the 520STM, though there's no through connector.

IMG_1618.JPG

[rubber_jonnie]

Indeed, if you can get one of the ones on top of my renovated SF-314 those work well with the 520STM, though there's no through connector.

IMG_1618.JPG

I have the same external drive, it's marked as a Datel model here in the UK. It also works perfectly with a Gotek fitted.

[Tomswork]

Yes the datel looks like the one I have works great. I also have a pcf 554 from Atari pc1 I want to make into a gotek as it has the tru connection

Tom

[Velociraptor]

I managed to get an SF314 and SF354 together in an auction today along with another 520ST.

So I'm now wondering if I can put a Gotek in the STFM I have, and put that drive into the SF354 to make it double sided. I'll need to do some research once I find out what works and if I can fix it.

In any case I'm no longer looking for an SF314, thanks for the help everybody.

[stephen_usher]

What shape button has the SF354? If it's rhomboid then it'll have the Chinon-special drive connectors.

It's not impossible to swap the drives over and put a Shugart ribbon cable on it but it's a little bit tricky.

Here are the different pin-outs:

Chinon-Shugart-Pinout.jpg

The interface board looks like this:

IMG_1615.jpg

[Tomswork]

I am hoping the goex long button will be available soon I have a 354 that i would use. The motor long since wore out. I think mine has a funny adapter compared to picture here

Tom