Issue with floppy heads hitting surface

[Steve]

Hi guys,

I'm doing some maintenance on a Sony MP-F11W. Followed @exxos guide on it, replaced caps and did all the routine stuff. I noticed the heads are actually making physical contact with the floppy surface, thus failing tests. I understand I can adjust the top head with the spring notches, but it seems that the bottom head is actually hitting the disk! There is even a dark line burned into the head that you can see where it has probably been ruining disks for years.

I can't understand how it is physically possible for the bottom head to be touching the surface of the floppy like that. Any suggestions?

PXL_20211011_155345404.jpg

[PhilC]

@Steve its likely the disk insertion/eject mechanism is worn or bent and letting the disk sit too low into the drive.

[exxos]

IMHO When you get to messing around with their heads it is the point I just chucked the drive away. I have spent a lot of time messing around with such things in the past to no avail.

[Steve]

Ok yeah.. makes sense. I tried doing a '@GadgetUK164' on it, but no luck.

[GadgetUK164]

Hi guys,

I'm doing some maintenance on a Sony MP-F11W. Followed @exxos guide on it, replaced caps and did all the routine stuff. I noticed the heads are actually making physical contact with the floppy surface, thus failing tests. I understand I can adjust the top head with the spring notches, but it seems that the bottom head is actually hitting the disk! There is even a dark line burned into the head that you can see where it has probably been ruining disks for years.

I can't understand how it is physically possible for the bottom head to be touching the surface of the floppy like that. Any suggestions?


PXL_20211011_155345404.jpg

They do touch the surface of the disk - that's how most of them work! I don't think I've seen a drive where FDD heads aren't contacting the disk!

[rubber_jonnie]

From what I've read, the heads touch the media to read/write, but don't when moving from track to track, so over time they can get dirty.

The black line you're seeing is likely a thin layer of the metal oxide and can be cleaned with IPA and a cotton bud, I've seen it many times.

If after cleaning and servicing it still doesn't work, there isn't a great deal you can do with it.

[stephen_usher]

From what I've read, the heads touch the media to read/write, but don't when moving from track to track, so over time they can get dirty.

The black line you're seeing is likely a thin layer of the metal oxide and can be cleaned with IPA and a cotton bud, I've seen it many times.

If after cleaning and servicing it still doesn't work, there isn't a great deal you can do with it.

Ah, you’ve been reading about the early floppy drives which had the ‘head load’ signal and solenoid to raise/lower the head. By the time of 3.5” drives this had gone away to save on cost. The heads are permanently on the surface and held there by a spring. When you eject the disk the transport cage lifts the top head/pressure pad off the disk.

Sometimes that residue takes not only IPA but also an extended period of gentle rubbing with a cotton bud or the flat face of a piece of paper to polish the surface if the drive has been left like that for decades. However, if it looks clean and still doesn’t work then it’s bye-bye drive.

[rubber_jonnie]

From what I've read, the heads touch the media to read/write, but don't when moving from track to track, so over time they can get dirty.

The black line you're seeing is likely a thin layer of the metal oxide and can be cleaned with IPA and a cotton bud, I've seen it many times.

If after cleaning and servicing it still doesn't work, there isn't a great deal you can do with it.

Ah, you’ve been reading about the early floppy drives which had the ‘head load’ signal and solenoid to raise/lower the head. By the time of 3.5” drives this had gone away to save on cost. The heads are permanently on the surface and held there by a spring. When you eject the disk the transport cage lifts the top head/pressure pad off the disk.

Sometimes that residue takes not only IPA but also an extended period of gentle rubbing with a cotton bud or the flat face of a piece of paper to polish the surface if the drive has been left like that for decades. However, if it looks clean and still doesn’t work then it’s bye-bye drive.

Makes sense they removed it by the time the 3.5" drives arrived. The 5 1/4" drives I have do a similar thing, except the top head has a felt pad that is lifted to remove the pressure.

[rubber_jonnie]

Out of interest I just watched this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfEzjcG_0gs

Quite enjoyed it and the drive mechanism is really interesting too.