Okidata gm 3305hu 5 1/4 disk drive problem

[jmellidg]

Hi dear friends,

I have a Kaypro 2X with two DS DD disk drives, model Okidata gm 3305hu. The kaypro works but don't boot.

Trying to fix it, I removed the disk drives to test it in a DOS environment. Finally I've managed to get one of those drives working, but not the other. The configuration are the same in both drives, but one of the drives doesn't read or write diskettes at all. Normally a "Sector not found error". If you try to format a diskette, it seems to work, the head goes up and down as it was working, but after the format, you can't access de drive.

Some lead about where to start the tests?? What could be wrong??

 

[krebizfan]

On an IBM PC, all drives need their jumpers set to the second position, traditionally, Drive B. The twist in the cable fixes the drive letter. Is the working drive the drive that was Drive B: in the Kaypro? If so, then just swap the jumper on the other drive. Remember to set it back before returning the drive to the Kaypro.

Other causes are possible. I suggest checking to make sure that the wire supplying power to the read/write heads is still attached.

 

[jmellidg]

I'm afraid that I wasn't clear enough, sorry. I test the drives one at a time, with the same configuration and test stuff and both like drive A.

One work and the other don't.

Thanks for your answer

 

[krebizfan]

Jumpering for Drive B will permit a drive to work as drive A on a PC style system. Jumpering for Drive A will not permit the drive to work as Drive A in the PC. This is the source of the vast majority of working drives failing when moved from non-PC to PC systems. Confirming the jumpers are set correctly means that testing for less common causes can happen.

I know it is likely that you have already tested some steps. My apologies if it seems I am requesting you to repeat what was already done.