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Dec rx50

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PG31

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May 31, 2011
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Sefton, Meresyside, England
I have just received an RX50 for my 11/53. I have a RD32 (seagte ST-251) with XXDP installed running off an RQDX3. This will only boot if the jumper is set to 3(even before installing the RX50). When I put an RX50 in either floppy whilst running a DIR command against the RD32 the output stops and I have to reboot. I've swapped the cable orientation on the RX50 and then the RD32 doesn't boot it sits with a solid green LED. So I'm pretty sure that I had the cable the correct way in the first instance. I'm using a flat ribbon cable not whatever was originally installed in the BA23.
Does anyone have a close up picture of the heads on the RX50? I can see coils for the head, shoudn't I see some sort of ceramic coating? When I insert a floppy the drive leaves a mark where the heads have touched the surface.
 
I purchased a floppy drive ribbon cable and tried this. Still getting the same problem. If I put a floppy in either drive and close the drive door the output from a DIR command to the RD32 stops. I'm suspecting that the RX50 drive is faulty.
Any other sugestions/ideas?
 
Thanks Roe but I don't see any DS jumpers on the RX50. I've searched the web and can't find anything relating to jumpers on an RX50. I'm unsure if the RX50 is good but I don't have another machine to try it in.
 
Even after fussing so much with my RX50 I can't remember if the Drive Select was set from an internal jumper (remove the shroud and there might be a jumper block on the back PCB) or if you had to crimp the cable with a predetermined ID on each connector.
 
It's been awhile, but IIRC you want to make sure J17 is not installed in the RX50 for DS1. I can't swear to it though.
 
I've removed the back circuit board and it has no jumpers installed. I've also re-inspected and cleaned the heads. The heads look ok now. I was looking at the back of the head earlier (silly me!) Both motors turn freely and the belt looks intact and moves freely.
 
I've tried it with the drive select link installed and I still get the same result. I've stripped the drive down and cleaned the track sensor and other sensors and both heads. I've tested the spindle motor on a bench PSU and it runs smoothly.
 
Now if I put the RX50 on the RQDX3 it boots from either floppy 1 or 2. If I add the RD32 the system won't boot at all of any drive. Tried all combinations of DS link on RD32 both with j17 on RX50 in and out. Swapped floppy cable, same problem. Swapped both cables to RD32, I can now boot off both RX50 drive 1 and 2 and the RD32. RD32=DU0, RX50-1=DU1, RX50-2=DU2. Looks like problem was with one of the RD32 cables. I had removed these a few days ago to check for bent pins etc.
I'll test both cables to find the one at fault.
 
Thanks Lou, I wouldn't have thought that the hard drive cables would cause problems with the RX50 especially when the hard drive was working ok. ........I live and learn.
 
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