Floppy drive problem

Hi:
I have an old PSR-620 KB.I´m having problems with my disk drive.It´s a very old 2DD model with 24 pin connection,not compatible with modern ones.I have been trying to clean the heads without success.
Does anyone know some tip(s) to fix it?

Thanks

Believe it or not, you can still buy those old 2dd floppy drives--they're still around. Check with www.tigerdirect.com and you may find one there. Another place you may want to look is at your local Radio Shack store. They had them about a year ago. Some of the local computer stores may also have some in stock and willing to let them go dirt cheap.

Good Luck,

Gary

Gary, you can tape over the hole of a 1.44 mg HD disk and format it as a 720 kb disk. It will work perfectly..

Fran, from the way it sounded, he was having a problem with the drive, not the disks. I believe the disks are just fine, but the drive may be dirty or just worn out.

Cheers,

Gary

Thanks;

Yes I´m having problems with the drive itself.I live in Brazil and it´s very difficult to find this kind of drive.It´s really rare.Its connection uses 24 way cable (not 34 as actual drives).I discovered that they were used on old MSX Turbo-R computers.

I have a friend that has a computer store and I have to go there later this week. I'll check to see if he has one laying around. You're right, that particular drive hasn't been in use for the last 10 years.

Good luck,

Gary

I just got off the telephone with my computer guy and he said the old standard double density floppy disk should work in your keyboard. He said the 24-pin connector on your floppy drive is the same as the 34-pin connector, however, it only uses 24 of the pins. He said the connector is the same size and configuration.

He also suggested that you put out a feeler on ebay and you will likely find an exact duplicate for the one you are searching for.

Good Luck,

Gary

Thanks Gary:

But the connector is totally different.Besides the number of pin contacts,620´s drive uses a 24 flexive transparent strip without connector and the new drives use a 34 way flat cable ended with apropriated connector.If it helps,the 620´s drive is a MATSUSHITA EME213YN model.

I'll be at the computer store today and find out what he has available that will match it. Again, you may wish to look on ebay, it's usually a good source for parts.

Cheers,

Gary

Jaaf0,

In my experience, you won't find a replacement except from Yamaha. I have heard of people repairing them by simply disassembling them and cleaning sensors and belts and things that the cleaning kit won't deal with. Yamaha does still stock them.

Regards,


------------------
Steve Deming
Assistant Manager
Customer Support Dept.
Pro Audio & Combo Division
Yamaha Corporation of America

Thanks:

But the price to import this drive from Yamaha to Brazil is very high (almost 620´s price!).
I have been trying to fix it.I have already desassembled the unit and changed rubber belt and cleaned optical sensors and heads without success.The drive motor spins and does not stop (I think it does not find the track 0).
Thanks anyway;I´ll keep trying.

I checked with my computer store today and he said that he would have to special order the drive and it would be quite expensive, probably more than anyone would be willing to pay. Your best bet will likely be to either order it from Yamaha or put some feelers out on ebay.

Sorry I wasn't able to help you with your problem.

Good Luck,

Gary

Thanks again.My hope is that someone in this forum could have experimented some similar problem and have a good tip(s) to fix the drive.
Sorry fo my poor english...

I don't know if I've explained this before on this forum, but the 720 / 1.44 floppy disc question is not as simple as taping up the hole. The physical characteristics of the magnetic medium are different. A 1.44 disc formatted by and used in a 720 floppy disc drive will be unreliable compared to the use of a proper 720 disc. As an emergency, fair enough but for day-to-day use you should use the correct format of disc.

I know this.But my 620´s drive is not reading even the original and genuine 2DD (720K).

For all:

THE PROBLEM IS LOCATED ON FLOPPY DISK DRIVE (OR LESS PROBABLE IN FDC CHIP),NOT WITH THE DISKS !

Hi Jaaf,

This is your friend Bob Gelman writing. I spoke with a Yamaha Technician (at Yamaha USA) about these drives. I know people have NOT had success just putting in a substitute floppy drive that "fit" (same voltage, pins, etc.). The tech told me that the drivers of the PSR were designed for that EXACT SPECIFIC FLOPPY DRIVE that you have in your PSR. If you can find that exact drive it will work, otherwise probably not.

Given the cost of buying a drive from Yamaha, here's what I'd do. Try to find the EXACT drive on the net -- this could take quite a while, but there are probably some out there somewhere. If you are very lucky you will find one! When you do it will cost almost nothing....

In the meanwhile, you can use (this works with newer PSR's, I don't know about the 620) a program called OneManBand. This uses the MIDI I/O and a PC to load styles onto your PSR.

Ate Logo,

Bob

PS: You might want to consider buying a new (used) PSR now Jaaf. Even in Brazil, the price of a 730/630 or 740 should be not too much.

Hi my friend Bob:

Thanks for all these information.
In fact I´m keeping 620 because some cartridge colections that I have.
I think that it is almost impossible to find exactly this drive ,except on YAMAHA .I would like to find one on WEB but even if I find one I think shipping price will be very high.
I disaggre about used keyboard prices in Brazil.We are having high US$ value if compared with Real$( actual currency).Besides,I don´t need a new KB now,since my use is very limited (home hobby).
I´ve already tested OMB Demo;I have also inserted a link to Jos Maas page on my own 620´website.
The last thing is that I do not agree with YAMAHA technicians;of course that they turns the things more complicated for us when they decide to use proprietary or rare components,but we can implement modifications.All drivers work at the same manner.All drives have the same control signals.The differences are around connector types,signal names,etc.It´s tottaly possible co install other components if you make the necessary conversion and adaptation.But you must have this hability and skils.
thanks

Hi people:

I have great pleasure to let you know that my 620´s disk drive is "alive" again.The problem was really the spin motor belt.The first belt that I have installed didn´t have the exact dimmensions ,so the drive was not able to recognize the right speed.I have found on WEB that this belt is also used in a similar drive assembled in old computers MSX Panasonic Turbo-R model.Since you get the right belt you have great chance to fix the drive.I´m able to help you to find this belt.

Thanks anyway

The point about the belt is worth noting.

Is this one of those square section belts like those you get in CD drives?

The belt that I found is very similar to original.The drive works very well.I don´t know were to find identical or similar belt around the world.If someone else needs this belt, please send E-mail to jaaf@gbl.com.br

Dear Jaaf,

My congratulations to you for fixing your FD on your 620 !!! LONG LAST the 620!!!!!!

Ate Logo,

Bob G