• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Apple II 5.25 cleaning disk

magnusfalkirk

magnusfalkirk

Experienced Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2007
Messages
218
Location
Oklahoma
Reposting for a friend


Hi. Just wondering if anyone has a spare 5.25 cleaning disk they could spare? I would like to see if cleaning the heads can get my 2c drives to read disks again.
Thanks in advance!
 
Cleaning disks are good to have as you dont have to take the drive apart. Unfortunately seems 5.25" floppy drive cleaning disks have all but dried up and the ones showing up are fetching big money. I have been using the same 5 forever.

Honestly on every drive I come across, you pretty much have to take them apart and clean them manually, the rails, the heat, etc. Lube what needs lubing. Cleaning disks are more for preventative maintenance on already working drives. I wouldnt use a cleaning disk on a questionable drive. Just pop it open and clean it by hand.

since its apple II be sure to check the speed with a program like locksmith 6.0 as it may be too slow or too fast.
 
Had a response from softwarejanitor on Applefritter to the same effect about opening up the drive and cleaning. Will let the OP know about checking the drive speed with Locksmith 6.
 
VERAULT said:
Cleaning disks are good to have as you dont have to take the drive apart. Unfortunately seems 5.25" floppy drive cleaning disks have all but dried up and the ones showing up are fetching big money. I have been using the same 5 forever.
Click to expand...
What's "big money"? I think I have about 100 NOS refills in my hellbox. Picked 'em up at a Xerox retail store closing.
 
Chuck(G) said:
What's "big money"? I think I have about 100 NOS refills in my hellbox. Picked 'em up at a Xerox retail store closing.
Click to expand...
$30 each.. I have seen them higher as well.

I used to recommend them to everyone. I dont anymore due to scarcity and price. I just tell them what I said earlier. Do it the manual way.
 
magnusfalkirk said:
Hi. Just wondering if anyone has a spare 5.25 cleaning disk they could spare? I would like to see if cleaning the heads can get my 2c drives to read disks again.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
You can use any scratch disk as a cleaning disk. Just put the iso stuff on the bottom of the cookie and let it spin. I just paint one stripe through the window and that's typically enough to clean the head.
 
What I've run into with old 8" floppies is also worth a mention. This relates to the cleaning fabric inside the jacket. Lately, I've run into a few where said fabric is shedding, so bits keep depositing themselves on the cookie and ultimately, on the heads. The only practical solution is to re-house the cookie in another jacket. I find that using a shear-type paper cutter to remove the barest top 1/16" of the jacket is the cleanest way to get at the cookie without damaging things.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top