How to align head on 1541-II?

Matthew Exon

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Apr 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/23/97

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I just bought a secondhand drive and I think the head is out of alignment
(whatever I do, it comes up with an error like "27,read error,18,00", i.e.,
couldn't read the directory). Is this an easy thing to fix - do I need any
special equipment? I guessed that there was just some adjustment screw
somewhere, but I couldn't see anything obvious when I had a look.

BTW, since it only cost $35, I'm not too worried if I accidentally blow it
up while fixing it :-).

Thanks,
Matthew Exon
exo...@us1.ee.uwa.edu.au

Mark Seelye

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Apr 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/23/97

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Matthew Exon <exo...@cs.uwa.edu.au> wrote in article
<5jkd2m$v1r$1...@enyo.uwa.edu.au>...

> I just bought a secondhand drive and I think the head is out of alignment
> (whatever I do, it comes up with an error like "27,read error,18,00",
i.e.,
> couldn't read the directory). Is this an easy thing to fix - do I need
any
> special equipment? I guessed that there was just some adjustment screw
> somewhere, but I couldn't see anything obvious when I had a look.

What I used to do.. (and still do sometimes) is take it apart and adjust
the head. I think there are a couple little screws holding it in place..
Adjust it
a bit, try it, adjust it again..
BUT Before you go through all that trouble I have to ask: Did you give
it a good whack?
ALSO.. Can you FORMAT a disk in the drive? It may be able to format
a drive with the mis-aligned head.. this would tell you that it can't read
correctly
formatted disks.. BUT It would tell you the head wasn't fubed..
Goodluck.. sorry I don't have a more technical answer.. I have usually
just whack em.. when it starts buzzing around trying to find a track..
hehe

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bob masse

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Apr 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/23/97

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Just a guess... but, if you remove the 4 screws on the bottom of the
drive and remove the top cover you will expose the top of the head. Move
that head with your finger by pushing it along its track in the direction
of the front of the drive and see if it will work now.
Sometimes the head goes to far and can't seem to find where the hell it
is.

Matthew Exon (exo...@cs.uwa.edu.au) wrote:
: I just bought a secondhand drive and I think the head is out of alignment

: (whatever I do, it comes up with an error like "27,read error,18,00", i.e.,
: couldn't read the directory). Is this an easy thing to fix - do I need any
: special equipment? I guessed that there was just some adjustment screw
: somewhere, but I couldn't see anything obvious when I had a look.

: BTW, since it only cost $35, I'm not too worried if I accidentally blow it

: up while fixing it :-).

: Thanks,
: Matthew Exon
: exo...@us1.ee.uwa.edu.au

--
Bob Masse
kh6...@pe.net

Mike

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Apr 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/24/97

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In article <5jkd2m$v1r$1...@enyo.uwa.edu.au>, exo...@cs.uwa.edu.au says...

>
>I just bought a secondhand drive and I think the head is out of alignment
>(whatever I do, it comes up with an error like "27,read error,18,00", i.e.,
>couldn't read the directory). Is this an easy thing to fix - do I need any
>special equipment? I guessed that there was just some adjustment screw
>somewhere, but I couldn't see anything obvious when I had a look.
>
>BTW, since it only cost $35, I'm not too worried if I accidentally blow it
>up while fixing it :-).

Before you try aligning, make sure the heads arn't 'lost'. Put a disk in and
initialize the drive, (ie: open15,8,15,"i0:":close15). Some copy protection
scheems put the heads in normally forbidden places. Initializing will force
the drive to relocate the heads to a known position.

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