Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

7 posts / 0 new
Last post
Offline
Last seen: 5 days 21 hours ago
Joined: Apr 24 2012 - 17:03
Posts: 272
Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

Hi, a few months ago I bought a couple of Mac 800k floppy external drives. Both were pretty stuck, and didn't eject the floppies. in one found that a gear was broken inside the motor that moves the eject mechanism, the other one just ejects half off, and as much as I have lubricated and cleaned it still does not eject completely. Any suggestions or guidance please?
Thanks
Javster

jwg1962's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 hours 31 min ago
Joined: Jan 29 2012 - 07:17
Posts: 363
Re: Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

Javster,

I had the same problem and just fixed mine over this past weekend.

1. The gear one is gone, the only thing you can do here is buy another drive mechanism on eBay and very carefully replace the motor assembly. This is what I did and it fixed it.

2. The other one that ejects half way sounds like it has a motor that is worn out or partially worn out. Same advice as above.

However, if you feel like microsurgery you may be able to take the gears out of the worn out motor assembly and transplant them into the broken gear motor Assembly and maybe get one of them working.

Jay

Offline
Last seen: 5 days 21 hours ago
Joined: Apr 24 2012 - 17:03
Posts: 272
Re: Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

Thanks Jay, after a lot of tinkering I finally opened the motor and found the broken gear. There is no way to find a replacement for it, too small. I also doubt it can be recreated in a 3D printer. The issue is to find another drive, will be easier to buy another drive.
For the half eject, I disassembled all the metal and springs, cleaned them and grease them, now it works.
Thanks
Javster

Offline
Last seen: 9 months 1 week ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 18:53
Posts: 906
Re: Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

Have you tried this miniature gear supplier? www.sdp-si.com

Otherwise PM me. I have one of the drives in question that ejects perfectly, but has a dying main spinning motor.

bushnrvn's picture
Offline
Last seen: 7 months 3 weeks ago
Joined: Jan 15 2012 - 10:08
Posts: 193
Re: Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

Also if still needed, I think I have an 800k drive in the closet. It was erroneously paired with a IIgs I got some time ago. It even had a 1.44mb disk inserted.... Beee

Offline
Last seen: 7 years 10 months ago
Joined: Dec 23 2014 - 15:39
Posts: 1
Re: Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

I had the same issue with my floppy drive. Found that the smallest gear had broken because it became brittle over time. Since these are impossible to find, I created my own. I am making them available to anybody who wants them...

https://www.shapeways.com/designer/VesperWorks

Thanks Jay, after a lot of tinkering I finally opened the motor and found the broken gear. Ther is no way to finds replacement to it, too small. I also doubt it can be recreated in a 3D printer. The issue is to find another drive, will be easier to buy another drive.
For the half eject, I disassembled all the metal and springs, cleaned them and grease them, now it works.
Thanks
Javster

c0op3r's picture
Offline
Last seen: 7 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: Nov 11 2016 - 14:25
Posts: 46
Re: Fixing Apple 3.5 floppy drive eject mechanism

Order 2 tonight, thanx for offering them

Log in or register to post comments