What floppy drives did the A500s originally ship with?

quantum112 · 17 July 2009, 15:25

Hello, does anybody know what was the "official" drive that the A500's hit the stores with? Or maybe there was more than one type that was used? Were these drives specifically made for the Amiga?
Thanks

PowerPie5000 · 17 July 2009, 22:34

As far as i remember all the A500's i have had (3 in total) have used Chinon FB-354 floppy drives. I am sure there are different revisions and other brands but i have only had Chinon drives and have had no problems with them.

I am almost certain they were specifically designed for the amiga's floppy controller (anyone correct me if i am wrong), hope this helps?

quantum112 · 17 July 2009, 22:37

Indeed it does, thanks. Only problem is that as far as I understand the ones used on Amigas were labeled FB-354A and had a fitting ejection button, where as the regular PC ones probably would not, I think. Hard to find the Amiga versions on eBay.

Paul_s · 17 July 2009, 22:37

Are you after one? I've an amitek drive boxed/instructions here. I bought it on fleabag years ago. Works fine and fits perfect (has eject button on it too - infact it's a drop in replacement

)... fully tested. PM me... I will only charge shipping for fellow amiga user

Oh and you got to do pics! That's only condition...

PowerPie5000 · 17 July 2009, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_s

Are you after one? I've an amitek drive boxed/instructions here. I bought it on fleabag years ago. Works fine and fits perfect (has eject button on it too - infact it's a drop in replacement

)... fully tested. PM me... I will only charge shipping for fellow amiga user

Oh and you got to do pics! That's only condition...

There you go! can't say fairer than that

Also my current working A500 has a Chinon FB-354 rev B incase you needed to know?

Firthy2002 · 18 July 2009, 03:14

A500+s had those big chunky Chinons.

When my A500+ died it was one of the still fully working parts! Sold it on eBay along with the other still working bits. Built to last they are!

Jope · 18 July 2009, 18:20

There were also A500s shipped with Panasonic drives.. They were slightly modified to stand higher than a normal drive. I have a few of them loose, I'll try and remember to post a picture.

I used to have an Epson mechanism in mine, but that was a replacement drive.

Jope · 19 July 2009, 18:52

Here's a couple I've found in A500s of various ages.

http://jope.fi/amiga/a500drives/

As you can see, the Panasonic drives have little spacers added between the rails and the drive body so that they are at the correct height for the A500. The "PC" DD drives by Panasonic had the same rails, but with smaller spacers.

Paul_s · 19 July 2009, 19:01

The one I'm sending you is a Teac FD-235F. Part no: 19307321-61

quantum112 · 19 July 2009, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

Here's a couple I've found in A500s of various ages.

http://jope.fi/amiga/a500drives/

As you can see, the Panasonic drives have little spacers added between the rails and the drive body so that they are at the correct height for the A500. The "PC" DD drives by Panasonic had the same rails, but with smaller spacers.

I have a JU-253-033P like that. Came with my current A500. Didn't work too well from the start, didn't take long for it to stop working entirely. I tried aligning the heads, but the plastic rail that the upper head is on is somewhat bent, and the screws just don't hold it down properly (has a lot of sideways movement)... so now it just sits here. I don't think I can repair it, someone with enough expertise probably could but it's not worth the time.

17 July 2009, 15:25	#1
quantum112 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Croatia Posts: 121	What floppy drives did the A500s originally ship with? Hello, does anybody know what was the "official" drive that the A500's hit the stores with? Or maybe there was more than one type that was used? Were these drives specifically made for the Amiga? Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Floppy Drives	peter taft	New to Emulation or Amiga scene	12	21 June 2010 07:46
Floppy drives	brokenangel	support.WinUAE	3	18 May 2009 14:40
PC Floppy Drives	adewakd	support.Hardware	1	14 March 2008 18:36
replacing amiga floppy drives with hard drives	Gordon	support.Hardware	2	06 March 2007 00:44
Floppy Drives	Dave_wb	support.Hardware	4	06 October 2005 00:06

17 July 2009, 22:34	#2
PowerPie5000 Miggy Ate My Hamster! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 1,566	As far as i remember all the A500's i have had (3 in total) have used Chinon FB-354 floppy drives. I am sure there are different revisions and other brands but i have only had Chinon drives and have had no problems with them. I am almost certain they were specifically designed for the amiga's floppy controller (anyone correct me if i am wrong), hope this helps?

17 July 2009, 22:37	#3
quantum112 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Croatia Posts: 121	Indeed it does, thanks. Only problem is that as far as I understand the ones used on Amigas were labeled FB-354A and had a fitting ejection button, where as the regular PC ones probably would not, I think. Hard to find the Amiga versions on eBay.

17 July 2009, 22:37	#4
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,334	Are you after one? I've an amitek drive boxed/instructions here. I bought it on fleabag years ago. Works fine and fits perfect (has eject button on it too - infact it's a drop in replacement )... fully tested. PM me... I will only charge shipping for fellow amiga user Oh and you got to do pics! That's only condition...

18 July 2009, 03:14	#6
Firthy2002 2nd era... Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Leeds, England Age: 40 Posts: 288	A500+s had those big chunky Chinons. When my A500+ died it was one of the still fully working parts! Sold it on eBay along with the other still working bits. Built to last they are!

18 July 2009, 18:20	#7
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	There were also A500s shipped with Panasonic drives.. They were slightly modified to stand higher than a normal drive. I have a few of them loose, I'll try and remember to post a picture. I used to have an Epson mechanism in mine, but that was a replacement drive.

19 July 2009, 18:52	#8
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	Here's a couple I've found in A500s of various ages. http://jope.fi/amiga/a500drives/ As you can see, the Panasonic drives have little spacers added between the rails and the drive body so that they are at the correct height for the A500. The "PC" DD drives by Panasonic had the same rails, but with smaller spacers.

19 July 2009, 19:01	#9
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,334	The one I'm sending you is a Teac FD-235F. Part no: 19307321-61

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)