Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

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PhilC
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by PhilC »

@rubber_jonnie that's cool, I'll give it all a go hopefully this evening after I've fixed the Apple
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:20 am @rubber_jonnie that's cool, I'll give it all a go hopefully this evening after I've fixed the Apple
Splendid!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

@PhilC Don't forget to do the RIFAs!!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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PhilC
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by PhilC »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:32 am @PhilC Don't forget to do the RIFAs!!
Its first on my list. Just sorting out what replacements I already have in stock.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:36 am
rubber_jonnie wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:32 am @PhilC Don't forget to do the RIFAs!!
Its first on my list. Just sorting out what replacements I already have in stock.
Cool. Mine were severely cracked so glad I got them done in time after what I shall refer to as 'The BBC Incident'........
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Lunchtime tinker with the Seltron FDD and I videoed the drive during a catalog operation.

The video lasted 6 seconds, during which time the disk drive hub rotated 7.5 times (I counted!)

So there's an issue right there, the drive speed should be around 300RPM, but based on my 6 second video, the actual RPM is 75!! This ties in with the diags I ran, so pulling the drive belt, which seemed ok tension wise and it is quite hard, dry and slippery, almost leathery. No surprises there then, though I had hoped it would be ok.

I did run a speed test using one of the diag disks I have, and that came back really weird. I think I understand why.

I'll get some ordered, thankfully the size is printed on the belt which will help considerably. In the meantime I can lube the spindles to see if I can improve things there.

Of the other diags, the write protect switch is good, but of course I can run the others as they rely on the disk being driven.

EDIT: Belt ordered.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

What a dimbo, I forgot to check where the belt was coming from and it's China, delivery expected by the end of the month!!

So found a UK source that can be here by the end of the week. The Chinese one can go in my parts bin for spare.

For reference these are the belt dimensions:

Diameter: 92mm
Folded length: 144mm
Circumference: 288mm
Width: 3.5-4mm
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Oops, I may have just bought this:

Disk_][.jpg
Disk_][.jpg (274.68 KiB) Viewed 1537 times

:girldance:
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by stephen_usher »

Hehehe. How on Earth did that happen?!
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:11 pm Hehehe. How on Earth did that happen?!
It just did ok! I'm sure it was an accident.....
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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