Sony 920 MPF z/121 fix for Amiga - Page 5

DeluxePhoton · 02 September 2010, 12:09

Well I made the mods.

But when I plug the Sony drive in, the drive light is permanently lit on the Amiga, the drive doesn't make a polling sound like the old drive and the drive activity light on the front of the drive is permanently lit.

Any suggestions?

I checked all the changes with a multimeter, to make sure I hadn't created any unintended shorts or breaks around the areas that changes were made.

Are the power connections the same as the original drives?
eg. the original power connector can be plugged in to the new drive, the same way around as the old drive??

FOL · 02 September 2010, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeluxePhoton

Well I made the mods.

But when I plug the Sony drive in, the drive light is permanently lit on the Amiga, the drive doesn't make a polling sound like the old drive and the drive activity light on the front of the drive is permanently lit.

Any suggestions?

I checked all the changes with a multimeter, to make sure I hadn't created any unintended shorts or breaks around the areas that changes were made.

Are the power connections the same as the original drives?
eg. the original power connector can be plugged in to the new drive, the same way around as the old drive??

You got the ribbon cable in the wrong way wrong?
There's an arrow on the case for Pin1 (red wire).

DeluxePhoton · 02 September 2010, 13:24

FOL, yes you are right the connector on the Sony is the other way up.

Still not there yet, now the Amiga drive light comes on for a short time then goes out. I think that's correct, but the drive isn't being polled and when a disc is inserted nothing happens.

A problem with the RDY signal??

DeluxePhoton · 02 September 2010, 14:05

Oh bollocks.

I forgot to do the zero ohm resistor bit!

Hopefully will be back with better news later.

DeluxePhoton · 02 September 2010, 15:51

Cool, yep.
The link/0 ohm resister move fixed it.

I have a working A500 Amiga now.

DeluxePhoton · 02 September 2010, 18:10

Next job fitting the Sony drive into an A500...

What are peoples prefered methods??

1. Bringing the drive forward, raised using some sort of custom mounting and cutting the disc eject button to fit the existing hole in the case?

or

2. Cutting the case hole bigger, fit the drive slightly raised using existing mounting holes, plus extending the Sony eject button with glued on plastic?

prowler · 02 September 2010, 21:01

If you want to make the best possible job of this and you're reasonably skilled and patient, I would recommend that you leave the Sony drive's fascia on and fit the drive into your A500 to look much the same as an Archimedes A3000.

(Click the thumbnail for a bigger picture.)

Though I must admit I have no knowledge of exactly how to position the drive to get such a good fit.

DeluxePhoton · 02 September 2010, 22:10

That's a good point. It would mean other drives could fit in later, without any further changes, like in a PC.

Although the fascia is black.

prowler · 02 September 2010, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeluxePhoton

That's a good point. It would mean other drives could fit in later, without any further changes, like in a PC.

Yes, that was the thinking behind my suggestion. However, it won't be easy. I have seen some terrible workmanship on converted A500s offered for sale on eBay. A recent example looked like a hammer had been used to smash out an opening for the drive!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeluxePhoton

Although the fascia is black.

That shouldn't matter, as it would be a simple matter to change it.

That A3000 in the picture is mine. I will try to get a couple of close-up pictures of the drive bay area uploaded for you tomorrow if you're interested.

DeluxePhoton · 03 September 2010, 11:01

I think it would be possible to cutaway an area.
The top of the disc insertion slot in the case, aligns with the top of the drive, once the drive is lifted a bit (I have placed 4 washers between the existing spacers and the drive). The right side of the drive lines up with the right side of the ejector button slot.

So it should be possible to make a cut out. I have a history of plastic model kit building for my sins, so I'm used to hacking away at plastic and getting things to fit.

prowler · 04 September 2010, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeluxePhoton

I have a history of plastic model kit building for my sins, so I'm used to hacking away at plastic and getting things to fit.

It sounds like you're the ideal person to get this done right!

I'm looking forward to see the result of your endeavours. I reckon I'll be tempted to convert one of my A500s to take a big box Amiga floppy drive if you're successful.

Eclipse · 18 November 2010, 11:13

The cheap floppy's from PC World in the unbranded white boxes are usually a Sony MPF920 Z/121. Well, most of mine have always been anyway.

03 March 2011, 11:39

hi sorry to drag up an oldish thread, but i have 2 floppy drives here both quite old and was wondering if anybody knows how to mod them for my a500+

they are an EPSON SMD-1300 dated 10/04/1995

and an ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD. DF354H071C which i think came out of a tiny pc around 2000

hope one of these is suitable to be modified

cheers

ps the epson seems to have a small blue switch or jumper near the drive led, would it harm my amiga if i try these drives as is first?

cpiac64 · 03 March 2011, 12:16

insert more photo please

ceedy · 10 March 2011, 13:38

On the info on this thread..and to keep things easy for me!

I've just grabbed a Sony from fleabay for £1.24.

Its marked as a MPF920 Z/121 , but has a different board much the same as a /161 .

But all modded as the 161 and is working perfectly..

I did forget to do the HD/DD link ..

but it still works ok without it.. only DD though

.

C.

danko · 20 April 2011, 23:06

Hi, I modded Sony MPF 920 REV Z/131 So far so good, now I see from the workbench;
DF1 :????
DF2 :????
DF3 :????
I have done something wrong? can be solved?

kipper2k · 21 April 2011, 00:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by danko

Hi, I modded Sony MPF 920 REV Z/131 So far so good, now I see from the workbench;
DF1 :????
DF2 :????
DF3 :????
I have done something wrong? can be solved?

Bizarre, never seen that message with any of the Sony 131's i done, check the 34 pin cable good and recheck the wiring, other that that i cant suggest anything else

Jope · 21 April 2011, 18:13

Looks like RDY is being pulled low all the time by your drive.

danko · 22 April 2011, 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

Looks like RDY is being pulled low all the time by your drive.

Can be solved?

prowler · 22 April 2011, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by danko

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

Looks like RDY is being pulled low all the time by your drive.

Can be solved?

Hi danko,

You will need to discover why your modification is causing a short between Pin34 (/RDY) on the floppy disk drive connector and ground (0V).

http://pinouts.ru/Storage/InternalDisk_pinout.shtml

Check that there are no shorts caused by solder splashes, etc. on the disk drive pcb.

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02 September 2010, 12:09	#81
DeluxePhoton Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 14	Well I made the mods. But when I plug the Sony drive in, the drive light is permanently lit on the Amiga, the drive doesn't make a polling sound like the old drive and the drive activity light on the front of the drive is permanently lit. Any suggestions? I checked all the changes with a multimeter, to make sure I hadn't created any unintended shorts or breaks around the areas that changes were made. Are the power connections the same as the original drives? eg. the original power connector can be plugged in to the new drive, the same way around as the old drive??

02 September 2010, 13:24	#83
DeluxePhoton Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 14	FOL, yes you are right the connector on the Sony is the other way up. Still not there yet, now the Amiga drive light comes on for a short time then goes out. I think that's correct, but the drive isn't being polled and when a disc is inserted nothing happens. A problem with the RDY signal??

02 September 2010, 14:05	#84
DeluxePhoton Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 14	Oh bollocks. I forgot to do the zero ohm resistor bit! Hopefully will be back with better news later.

02 September 2010, 15:51	#85
DeluxePhoton Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 14	Cool, yep. The link/0 ohm resister move fixed it. I have a working A500 Amiga now.

02 September 2010, 18:10	#86
DeluxePhoton Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 14	Next job fitting the Sony drive into an A500... What are peoples prefered methods?? 1. Bringing the drive forward, raised using some sort of custom mounting and cutting the disc eject button to fit the existing hole in the case? or 2. Cutting the case hole bigger, fit the drive slightly raised using existing mounting holes, plus extending the Sony eject button with glued on plastic?

02 September 2010, 21:01	#87
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	If you want to make the best possible job of this and you're reasonably skilled and patient, I would recommend that you leave the Sony drive's fascia on and fit the drive into your A500 to look much the same as an Archimedes A3000. (Click the thumbnail for a bigger picture.) Though I must admit I have no knowledge of exactly how to position the drive to get such a good fit.

02 September 2010, 22:10	#88
DeluxePhoton Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 14	That's a good point. It would mean other drives could fit in later, without any further changes, like in a PC. Although the fascia is black.

03 September 2010, 11:01	#90
DeluxePhoton Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 14	I think it would be possible to cutaway an area. The top of the disc insertion slot in the case, aligns with the top of the drive, once the drive is lifted a bit (I have placed 4 washers between the existing spacers and the drive). The right side of the drive lines up with the right side of the ejector button slot. So it should be possible to make a cut out. I have a history of plastic model kit building for my sins, so I'm used to hacking away at plastic and getting things to fit.

18 November 2010, 11:13	#92
Eclipse Turpentine Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kent, United Kingdom Posts: 744	The cheap floppy's from PC World in the unbranded white boxes are usually a Sony MPF920 Z/121. Well, most of mine have always been anyway.

03 March 2011, 11:39	#93
quin Posts: n/a	hi sorry to drag up an oldish thread, but i have 2 floppy drives here both quite old and was wondering if anybody knows how to mod them for my a500+ they are an EPSON SMD-1300 dated 10/04/1995 and an ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD. DF354H071C which i think came out of a tiny pc around 2000 hope one of these is suitable to be modified cheers ps the epson seems to have a small blue switch or jumper near the drive led, would it harm my amiga if i try these drives as is first?

03 March 2011, 12:16	#94
cpiac64 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Italy Posts: 1,136	insert more photo please

10 March 2011, 13:38	#95
ceedy Old-Amiga-Git Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Somerset , in the UK Posts: 175	On the info on this thread..and to keep things easy for me! I've just grabbed a Sony from fleabay for £1.24. Its marked as a MPF920 Z/121 , but has a different board much the same as a /161 . But all modded as the 161 and is working perfectly.. I did forget to do the HD/DD link .. but it still works ok without it.. only DD though . C.

20 April 2011, 23:06	#96
danko Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Italy Age: 45 Posts: 196	Hi, I modded Sony MPF 920 REV Z/131 So far so good, now I see from the workbench; DF1 :???? DF2 :???? DF3 :???? I have done something wrong? can be solved?

21 April 2011, 18:13	#98
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	Looks like RDY is being pulled low all the time by your drive.

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