Morgan Just Games (Excellent C64 & Amiga Live Streams) - th-cam.com/users/Jamienmorgan82 With regards to the "resistor" I mentioned when using the Rockwell 6522s - it's a diode you need, not a resistor! It relates to the pin being open drain. See this video for more information:- th-cam.com/video/kn5ZH94gSj4/w-d-xo.html The CPU clock does come from one of the gate arrays (as mentioned) - but not the one I pointed to I think. I think it comes from the DIP gate array.
A timely video! I just recorded a repair of a 1571 drive with many of the same issues. I laughed at the disk lock mechanism falling apart -- I had the exact same issue -- and yes, it was an immense pain to put it all back together. I ended up putting a small amount of MOLYKOTE (you got me hooked on using it everywhere 😉) on the handle pin too, now the handle will slide off easier if it has to come off again. Great video again!
@@GadgetUK164 Don't hold your breath. At the rate I edit videos, we're looking at a 2021 release date.😂 The guts of the 1571 look almost the same as the 1541-II, except that it also has its own transformer and related power supply circuitry and dual heads, of course. The two R/W heads make it challenging to get to the heads for cleaning -- you have to actually dismantle the top head assembly and remove it to get at everything... fun stuff. I might need to pick your brain for advise, too. The drive worked when I serviced it and gave it back to its owner, but now it has come back to me with some weird behaviour: The initialisation at power-up seems to take a fair amount of time to complete, upwards of 8-10 sec. and the drive is suddenly having trouble reading most disks. I haven't had the time to look at it yet. Part II of the video, I guess.
Thank you Mr X. I'm really happy as this has been like that for many years. I'm just not confident enough to take things apart like what you guys do so well.
An absolutely brilliant Video. Thank you very much for fixing my Disk Drive. I've owned it since the 80s and it's never been opened up before. Thank you for making a Video of it and for all the Amazing work you did on it.
Great video! I have experienced every issue on the 1541 II that you cover here. One of only a few videos which fully addresses these issues and solutions, incidentally that I have used in the past (from trial and error). Well worth viewing for people with 1541 II and possibly other Commodore disk drives. Thank you for sharing!:-)
PlastX is awesome stuff. Combined with some Back to Black I cleaned up a seriously scratched Model 1 Sega CD over this past weekend and it looks fantastic now!
Another great repair video. I've had one of these drives on the shelf for a year or so now but only recently got a C64 so I'll have to get it down and get it tested. Just FYI the Amiga cd32 power brick also works with the 1541-2. Oh and I took 2 of my cd32 discs to game for repair. They came back spotless but the cd32 absolutely refused to read them. I tried to clean the disc further myself thinking some residue of what game used was the issue but with no luck. So I now have genuine worms and cannon fodder cd32 coasters. I'll maybe try them again now that I've got my laser levels adjusted (with thanks to yourself again) but I'm not hopeful.
Thanks =D I might experiment cleaning some cheap magazine cover disks or something with an orbital polisher. If I have any success with that I might try it on the CD32 discs. Surprised it didn't work after that resurfacing - unless the thickness of the protective layer alters how the light reflects back or something (ie. altering the focus somehow).
@@GadgetUK164 possibly. I'll have another look tonight and see if I can get them working. I was absolutely gutted by it because the discs did work before all be it they where badly scratched but I thought I was doing a good thing getting them restored.
Yep, I tried it again last night and they will not read. Every other disc including burnt discs read fine. With the 2 original discs cleaned by game they spin up and you can hear the laser trying to focus. It obviously doesn't get anything though as the CD icon on the console splash screen doesn't even start to spin (the way it would once the console starts to load a disc). I may take a closer look at this with the scope on the rf test pad just to see what is happening.
@GadgetUK - I've just bought a Spectrum +2 and recently got a component cable that plus into the Spectrum's RGB socket, the 3 yellow, red and white RCA connectors to the TV. Tried it on my TV and all I get is a really bad picture that looks like an analog signal that's not tuned properly. Any idea's why the picture is so crap?
On the grey Spectrum +2 there's a transistor sometimes installed the wrong way around - maybe that's the problem! It might also need recapping, or could have a voltage problem - maybe something going on with the 12v rail?
Commodore drives, that good old times. I use to have some clones from the local shop that broke down after a few weeks, and then my dad had to go back to the store and swap it for a new one. Hehehe ;) Great video as always.
Good fix, I thought there were two sets of heads and I'm not keen on the top spring loaded one as you can bugger it, so sent it to you... just think, your hoover has bits of Jamie's DNA in it since the 80's... surely we owe you some more money, you ripped Jamie's drive apart and cleaned it right up!!?? 😎
Thanks =D Nah, single head on these! Totally easy to clean as you saw in the vid =D You should give Graemes drive the same treatment! LOL @ Jamies DNA - great minds think alike, I've already got the cloning process underway using said DNA. Jamie v2 coming to the channel soon!
Watching these retro videos, I've been getting the itch to get into the attic and pull out the old SX64. It was having drive issues when I shelved it back in 2001, so it's probably in desperate need of a recapping. I am also considering the possibility of locating a LCD monitor to swap into it, that would significantly lighten it up.
I have been advised against using domestic vacuum cleaners with electronics. The nozzle tends to build up a static charge, which doesn't play well with semiconductors.
Nice simple repair. It wasn't even a repair, it was maintenance really. By the crack sound of the screws, it sounds like it's never been opened before. I wonder what the inside of my 1541-II looks like
Nice work! Love these vids. 'Non-serviceable' is putting it mildly for Commodore 64 transformers.... unless you fancy taking a hammer and chisel to the brick of epoxy lol
Thanks for posting the video - one question however, what kind of grease are you using? I have this same drive and plan on doing this same maintenance, minus the cap replacement as I'm not quite ready for that and want to practice a bit more on some cheap stuff. Thanks!
Must admit I always treated floppy heads with kid gloves... Strange really as I was always much more aggressive with tape heads and they're fundamentally the same thing.
I don't normally watch these early, but the wife has gone away from a week and I've exhausted all the YT stuff I normally watch, so, great timing Gadge, another drive lives on. Can't seem to find the MMU clip I was on about a few vids ago, I hope I've not lost it else my FM is naffed lol.
I had to make do with a cassette drive back in the day. My parents didn't see the need for the expense of one of these! :( Where do you source your Panasonic caps? I'm hesitant to order them from a lot of sites, in case I get fakes! I have some recapping to do.
Yeah, it's just not worth it! By the time you've prized the bottom off they always end up sticking together badly and I wouldn't be comfortable super glueing the base back on. If you are lucky you can prize the bottom off without doing too much damage to the support pillars but I've had enough experiences of going inside them to know its far easier to build or buy a modern replacement.
LOL =D To be clear, the stuff that comes off onto the head is usually mold! I've found that when these disks have been stored in damp areas for decades they accumulate some marks of mold.
That's a matter that's never changed, dust management, electronics unfortunately attract it. Always seems naive with new things like PS4 or Xbone where you have a warranty sealed box that needs vacuuming once and a while. ^_^
You know that if you want to take a look at two Amiga 1200 boards with some new chips to try, you only have to tell me. I offer you to keep one for you (€€€ ?) if you wish, in the case that you fix both of them, or if not to keep the not working one as spares and you pay the sending back to me of the working one. If both are dead, you can keep both, but if you need any chip or whatever I could find and surely pay that. I'm offering a lot I think, but you also know that you would receive a ton of viewings to your channel, so you also as an honest man could agree with less at the end... It's all up to you.
That style disk lever is a major PITA. I had the same issue on a 128 DCR I worked on last year. Lets just say I had an expletive moment (^&*%^$%#%#) Translation not allowed on TH-cam.
Hello! I hope you can help me, I was referred to you by Darren at global garage. I have a Japanese Sega Mega Drive that needs a region mod doing to, he tells me you can help. Could you provide me your contact details so I can get it sent over to you? And an idea on the cost? Many thanks, Oliver
Morgan Just Games (Excellent C64 & Amiga Live Streams) - th-cam.com/users/Jamienmorgan82
With regards to the "resistor" I mentioned when using the Rockwell 6522s - it's a diode you need, not a resistor! It relates to the pin being open drain. See this video for more information:- th-cam.com/video/kn5ZH94gSj4/w-d-xo.html
The CPU clock does come from one of the gate arrays (as mentioned) - but not the one I pointed to I think. I think it comes from the DIP gate array.
A timely video! I just recorded a repair of a 1571 drive with many of the same issues. I laughed at the disk lock mechanism falling apart -- I had the exact same issue -- and yes, it was an immense pain to put it all back together. I ended up putting a small amount of MOLYKOTE (you got me hooked on using it everywhere 😉) on the handle pin too, now the handle will slide off easier if it has to come off again. Great video again!
Excellent! I look forward to watching!!! Not been inside a 1571 before I think! Nice idea putting some molykote on the handle section!!!
@@GadgetUK164 Don't hold your breath. At the rate I edit videos, we're looking at a 2021 release date.😂 The guts of the 1571 look almost the same as the 1541-II, except that it also has its own transformer and related power supply circuitry and dual heads, of course. The two R/W heads make it challenging to get to the heads for cleaning -- you have to actually dismantle the top head assembly and remove it to get at everything... fun stuff. I might need to pick your brain for advise, too.
The drive worked when I serviced it and gave it back to its owner, but now it has come back to me with some weird behaviour: The initialisation at power-up seems to take a fair amount of time to complete, upwards of 8-10 sec. and the drive is suddenly having trouble reading most disks. I haven't had the time to look at it yet. Part II of the video, I guess.
Nice repair / service there Chris, great diagnosis. I'm super happy for Jamie such a nice guy hope he has many more years with this drive.
Thanks mate =D
Thank you Mr X. I'm really happy as this has been like that for many years. I'm just not confident enough to take things apart like what you guys do so well.
It's very satisfying to see this old hardware being cleaned and pampered. Glad to see these old drives getting some much needed love!
An absolutely brilliant Video. Thank you very much for fixing my Disk Drive. I've owned it since the 80s and it's never been opened up before. Thank you for making a Video of it and for all the Amazing work you did on it.
You're welcome mate =D Keep up the great work with your channel!!!
The steel pins used in the latching cam assembly are a real pain. I am resigned to pressing them with the hobby vise 9 out of 10 times. Great video.
Great video!
I have experienced every issue on the 1541 II that you cover here.
One of only a few videos which fully addresses these issues and solutions, incidentally that I have used in the past (from trial and error).
Well worth viewing for people with 1541 II and possibly other Commodore disk drives.
Thank you for sharing!:-)
Thanks =D
I had saved money for two years, to buy this disk drive, back in 1992 (I think).
Great job! Awesome movie with very nice and clear commentary:):):)
PlastX is awesome stuff. Combined with some Back to Black I cleaned up a seriously scratched Model 1 Sega CD over this past weekend and it looks fantastic now!
Both are great products for making these old systems look like new aren't they =D
Nice video! Didn't think to ever use PlastX as a head cleaning solution! Thanks!
Another great repair video. I've had one of these drives on the shelf for a year or so now but only recently got a C64 so I'll have to get it down and get it tested. Just FYI the Amiga cd32 power brick also works with the 1541-2.
Oh and I took 2 of my cd32 discs to game for repair. They came back spotless but the cd32 absolutely refused to read them. I tried to clean the disc further myself thinking some residue of what game used was the issue but with no luck. So I now have genuine worms and cannon fodder cd32 coasters. I'll maybe try them again now that I've got my laser levels adjusted (with thanks to yourself again) but I'm not hopeful.
Thanks =D I might experiment cleaning some cheap magazine cover disks or something with an orbital polisher. If I have any success with that I might try it on the CD32 discs. Surprised it didn't work after that resurfacing - unless the thickness of the protective layer alters how the light reflects back or something (ie. altering the focus somehow).
@@GadgetUK164 possibly. I'll have another look tonight and see if I can get them working. I was absolutely gutted by it because the discs did work before all be it they where badly scratched but I thought I was doing a good thing getting them restored.
Yep, I tried it again last night and they will not read. Every other disc including burnt discs read fine. With the 2 original discs cleaned by game they spin up and you can hear the laser trying to focus. It obviously doesn't get anything though as the CD icon on the console splash screen doesn't even start to spin (the way it would once the console starts to load a disc). I may take a closer look at this with the scope on the rf test pad just to see what is happening.
Hadn't seen PlastX used to clean a drive head before - neat tip!
@GadgetUK - I've just bought a Spectrum +2 and recently got a component cable that plus into the Spectrum's RGB socket, the 3 yellow, red and white RCA connectors to the TV. Tried it on my TV and all I get is a really bad picture that looks like an analog signal that's not tuned properly. Any idea's why the picture is so crap?
On the grey Spectrum +2 there's a transistor sometimes installed the wrong way around - maybe that's the problem! It might also need recapping, or could have a voltage problem - maybe something going on with the 12v rail?
Commodore drives, that good old times. I use to have some clones from the local shop that broke down after a few weeks, and then my dad had to go back to the store and swap it for a new one. Hehehe ;)
Great video as always.
Great idea to use a hard drive power brick or even the guts of an external hard drive enclosure I guess.
Or is it? There's an issue (follow up video just keeps getting delayed)! Should be able to get onto it soon though.
Another quality repair as usual Chris keep up the awesome work 👍
Good fix, I thought there were two sets of heads and I'm not keen on the top spring loaded one as you can bugger it, so sent it to you... just think, your hoover has bits of Jamie's DNA in it since the 80's... surely we owe you some more money, you ripped Jamie's drive apart and cleaned it right up!!?? 😎
Thanks =D Nah, single head on these! Totally easy to clean as you saw in the vid =D You should give Graemes drive the same treatment! LOL @ Jamies DNA - great minds think alike, I've already got the cloning process underway using said DNA. Jamie v2 coming to the channel soon!
@@GadgetUK164 Haha that would be waaay to much 🙈
Watching these retro videos, I've been getting the itch to get into the attic and pull out the old SX64. It was having drive issues when I shelved it back in 2001, so it's probably in desperate need of a recapping. I am also considering the possibility of locating a LCD monitor to swap into it, that would significantly lighten it up.
Thanks for this Chris I need to do this on my 1541II nicely done mate 🤩🤩 🤩 Kim 🤩 🤩🤩
I have been advised against using domestic vacuum cleaners with electronics. The nozzle tends to build up a static charge, which doesn't play well with semiconductors.
@@FireballXL55 Sounds like a plan!
Nice simple repair. It wasn't even a repair, it was maintenance really. By the crack sound of the screws, it sounds like it's never been opened before. I wonder what the inside of my 1541-II looks like
Thanks! Yeah, technically not really a repair. Jamie has owned this from new (back in the 80's) - so that was the first time anyone went inside there.
Nice work! Love these vids. 'Non-serviceable' is putting it mildly for Commodore 64 transformers.... unless you fancy taking a hammer and chisel to the brick of epoxy lol
Thanks for posting the video - one question however, what kind of grease are you using? I have this same drive and plan on doing this same maintenance, minus the cap replacement as I'm not quite ready for that and want to practice a bit more on some cheap stuff. Thanks!
Molykote - EM-30L
GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods thanks!
Great video gadget cheers
Looking good 🥇
Great Video! . Do you know what happen if the Pin2 instead NC, is connected to GRN? Thanks!
I am not sure where you mean - pin 2 on what, where is GRN? Sorry - I've not watched this video in some time, so I am not sure where you mean.
Must admit I always treated floppy heads with kid gloves... Strange really as I was always much more aggressive with tape heads and they're fundamentally the same thing.
Use care with the use of a Vacuum with a brush attachment to clean a PCB ,, some can build a nasty static charge..
Exealent video, I got the same drive with the same fault now I know how to fix it :)
Awesome video as always
always love you stuff mate :D
Thanks =D
I don't normally watch these early, but the wife has gone away from a week and I've exhausted all the YT stuff I normally watch, so, great timing Gadge, another drive lives on. Can't seem to find the MMU clip I was on about a few vids ago, I hope I've not lost it else my FM is naffed lol.
Thanks =D Yeah, my wife has been away too! Back tommorrow! Given me chance to catch up editing a few vids though =D
Another quality clean , Magic.
I had to make do with a cassette drive back in the day. My parents didn't see the need for the expense of one of these! :(
Where do you source your Panasonic caps? I'm hesitant to order them from a lot of sites, in case I get fakes! I have some recapping to do.
Digikey, RS Online, Farnell etc.
Hello Mr Gadget 😂
What were you using to clean?
IPA = isopropyl alcohol?
and something gritty?
IPA, and Meguiars PlastX (now called Plast-RX I think).
Spot on m8 🙂👍
Cheers mate =D
it IS possible to depot that transformer btw
Yeah, it's just not worth it! By the time you've prized the bottom off they always end up sticking together badly and I wouldn't be comfortable super glueing the base back on. If you are lucky you can prize the bottom off without doing too much damage to the support pillars but I've had enough experiences of going inside them to know its far easier to build or buy a modern replacement.
"stuff flying off everywhere, with friction on the head"
LOL =D To be clear, the stuff that comes off onto the head is usually mold! I've found that when these disks have been stored in damp areas for decades they accumulate some marks of mold.
That's a matter that's never changed, dust management, electronics unfortunately attract it. Always seems naive with new things like PS4 or Xbone where you have a warranty sealed box that needs vacuuming once and a while. ^_^
You know that if you want to take a look at two Amiga 1200 boards with some new chips to try, you only have to tell me. I offer you to keep one for you (€€€ ?) if you wish, in the case that you fix both of them, or if not to keep the not working one as spares and you pay the sending back to me of the working one. If both are dead, you can keep both, but if you need any chip or whatever I could find and surely pay that. I'm offering a lot I think, but you also know that you would receive a ton of viewings to your channel, so you also as an honest man could agree with less at the end... It's all up to you.
Btw wd40 works wonders on CDs 🙂
That style disk lever is a major PITA. I had the same issue on a 128 DCR I worked on last year. Lets just say I had an expletive moment (^&*%^$%#%#) Translation not allowed on TH-cam.
Jamie you can fix it ur self m8 😂
Hello! I hope you can help me, I was referred to you by Darren at global garage. I have a Japanese Sega Mega Drive that needs a region mod doing to, he tells me you can help. Could you provide me your contact details so I can get it sent over to you? And an idea on the cost? Many thanks, Oliver
I cannot do customer repairs and mods sorry! I work full time and have long term health problems (which have got much worse over the last 3 weeks).