Floppy issues, possibly motherboard-related?

Turrican_3 · 21 February 2022, 16:18

Hey there,

I recently pulled out from the closet an A500 I've talked about here in the past.

Since then I had noticed a strange issue with the floppy drive: its motor often suddenly started rotating (with NO disk inserted), but everything else seemed to work fine.

Fast forward to 2022: the very same A500 / floppy still starts rotating without notice BUT this time I'm having various issues. Disk icon disappearing from Workbench, WHDload imaging tools failing, etc.

First thing I tried was simply replacing the floppy with another one, but symptoms seems more or less the same, starting from the sudden motor rotate. So at first glance, unless I'm extremely unlucky, I'd guess the issue might lie in the motherboard (and/or the flat cable)

Any things that might be worth monitoring to isolate the problem? Motor and/or diskchange signal for a start?

Leon Besson · 21 February 2022, 17:57

Have you recapped the mainboard? Sounds likes a Bad Cap or 2 not keeping a charge.

Turrican_3 · 21 February 2022, 21:43

Nope, not yet. I guess you believe it's worth trying?

I think I already have a complete cap set (for rev5), it would be nice though to replace the bad ones only.

lilwshu · 21 February 2022, 21:55

I would give the disk detect switches a good dousing with contact cleaner for a start.

Turrican_3 · 21 February 2022, 22:20

Thanks to you, too!

Leon Besson · 22 February 2022, 01:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turrican_3

Nope, not yet. I guess you believe it's worth trying?

I think I already have a complete cap set (for rev5), it would be nice though to replace the bad ones only.

Have seen plenty of electronics in my day exhibit weirdness due to faulty caps. If you have tried other floppy drives then to me it’s worth a try. No fishy smells or signs of leakage on the mainboard?

Turrican_3 · 22 February 2022, 11:05

No fishy smell at all. I still haven't inspected the motherboard though since I worked on it many months ago so I can't say for sure yet.
[I did replace two caps back then, but IIRC they shouldn't affect floppy operations (the two big ones near video out)]

I'm going to try to test the original floppy on a rev3 motherboard (it's the easiest, quickest route I can see right now since it's barebone) to see if it behaves in a similar way.

solarmon · 22 February 2022, 12:29

Have you used Amiga Test Kit to check the drive signals? You can then determine whether the system is 'seeing' these strange drive signal changes?

Turrican_3 · 22 February 2022, 20:52

Not yet.

But this afternoon I cleaned with IPA both the connector of the floppy and the disk detect switch. For good measure, I also used a different flat cable, as there was some suspicious dirt (oxidization?!) on many pins on one side of the female connector.

I see no random motor spinning anymore BUT I definitely need to test the floppy for a far longer time.

I'll check with Amiga Test Kit too and will report back.

Thanks!

Leon Besson · 22 February 2022, 22:08

Sounds like you might have cracked it Bud!

Turrican_3 · 22 February 2022, 23:18

Definitely hope it so... but I guess only time (and thorough tests) will tell.

21 February 2022, 16:18	#1
Turrican_3 C= and Amiga aficionado! Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Italy Posts: 334	Floppy issues, possibly motherboard-related? Hey there, I recently pulled out from the closet an A500 I've talked about here in the past. Since then I had noticed a strange issue with the floppy drive: its motor often suddenly started rotating (with NO disk inserted), but everything else seemed to work fine. Fast forward to 2022: the very same A500 / floppy still starts rotating without notice BUT this time I'm having various issues. Disk icon disappearing from Workbench, WHDload imaging tools failing, etc. First thing I tried was simply replacing the floppy with another one, but symptoms seems more or less the same, starting from the sudden motor rotate. So at first glance, unless I'm extremely unlucky, I'd guess the issue might lie in the motherboard (and/or the flat cable) Any things that might be worth monitoring to isolate the problem? Motor and/or diskchange signal for a start?

21 February 2022, 21:43	#3
Turrican_3 C= and Amiga aficionado! Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Italy Posts: 334	Nope, not yet. I guess you believe it's worth trying? I think I already have a complete cap set (for rev5), it would be nice though to replace the bad ones only. Last edited by Turrican_3; 21 February 2022 at 21:57.

22 February 2022, 20:52	#9
Turrican_3 C= and Amiga aficionado! Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Italy Posts: 334	Not yet. But this afternoon I cleaned with IPA both the connector of the floppy and the disk detect switch. For good measure, I also used a different flat cable, as there was some suspicious dirt (oxidization?!) on many pins on one side of the female connector. I see no random motor spinning anymore BUT I definitely need to test the floppy for a far longer time. I'll check with Amiga Test Kit too and will report back. Thanks! Last edited by Turrican_3; 22 February 2022 at 23:19.

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21 February 2022, 17:57	#2
Leon Besson Banned Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Anywhere and everywhere I have a contract Posts: 822	Have you recapped the mainboard? Sounds likes a Bad Cap or 2 not keeping a charge.

21 February 2022, 21:55	#4
lilwshu Registered User Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: UK Posts: 252	I would give the disk detect switches a good dousing with contact cleaner for a start.

21 February 2022, 22:20	#5
Turrican_3 C= and Amiga aficionado! Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Italy Posts: 334	Thanks to you, too!

22 February 2022, 11:05	#7
Turrican_3 C= and Amiga aficionado! Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Italy Posts: 334	No fishy smell at all. I still haven't inspected the motherboard though since I worked on it many months ago so I can't say for sure yet. [I did replace two caps back then, but IIRC they shouldn't affect floppy operations (the two big ones near video out)] I'm going to try to test the original floppy on a rev3 motherboard (it's the easiest, quickest route I can see right now since it's barebone) to see if it behaves in a similar way.

22 February 2022, 12:29	#8
solarmon Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: UK Posts: 1,716	Have you used Amiga Test Kit to check the drive signals? You can then determine whether the system is 'seeing' these strange drive signal changes?

22 February 2022, 22:08	#10
Leon Besson Banned Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Anywhere and everywhere I have a contract Posts: 822	Sounds like you might have cracked it Bud!

22 February 2022, 23:18	#11
Turrican_3 C= and Amiga aficionado! Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Italy Posts: 334	Definitely hope it so... but I guess only time (and thorough tests) will tell.

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