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Mac SE SuperDrive - floppy drive

kitsune

Active member
So my SE SuperDrive that I received yesterday doesn't seem to accept a disk.

I don't have any 3.5" disks that have content that's actually for the SE/System 7.1 but I found a disk here at the office that was for Mac OS8 disk tools. While I didn't expect to be able to read it, I figured it would work to find out if the drive on the SE would at least accept a disk and/or eject, etc.

I can slide the disk mostly into the slot, but it won't go all the way in. I'm not trying to jam it in there, but be relatively gentle. But it seems to have no willingness to accept the disk. Attached image shows where it stops moving. There are no sounds of a motor trying to accept it. It just stops there.

Is there anything I should be doing? Want to cover my bases before asking the seller who listed it as "tested working by technician".

Edit: I did look in the slot with a light – I don't see anything physically obstructing (ie another disk. haha).
 

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ScutBoy

Well-known member
Very likely the old lubricant is dried and gummed up. There are a number of good Youtube videos on how to clean and relubricate these drives. Pretty easy to do, and doesn't require much beyond some q-tips and lubricant you can get at a hardware store.

Member @JDW has an extensive video covering this on YT.
 

kitsune

Active member
Thanks, I figured that would be the place to start a fix. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't overlooking something stupid. I will start looking up those videos to start getting an idea what's in store. I need to order a Torx T15 to replace the battery anyway.

But if all were functioning properly, all I would do is push the disk in and the drive should pull it inside and either start reading contents (if there's something it can read) or tell me it's blank or that it needs formatted - is that relatively accurate?
 

cheesestraws

Well-known member
Yes, there shouldn't be any meaningful resistance to the disc. If there is, it means something mechanical is glued up. So yes, cleaning and lubrication is your first step here.
 

kitsune

Active member
Thanks again!

The seller is offering me either a partial refund, or to send a replacement floppy drive. My fear is a replacement drive may have the same issue, as I doubt they will have taken time to clean/lubricate test it. But on the other hand, the partial refund may not cover the cost of a replacement in the event that this drive still doesn't work after cleaning/lubricating (and/or cost of tools).

At the same time, I'm not eager to ship it back either. My guess is that I'm probably better off with some amount of refund and trying my luck with cleaning/lubricating.
 

bibilit

Well-known member
Another possibility, the eject motor gear is broken, leaving the upper tray in upper position and not allowing it going down.

Never seen a 1.4 drive being stuck hard, the 400k is prone to that.
 

kitsune

Active member
I tried to take some pictures through the slot! Tough to get my phone to focus in there and get light inside.

Here's what I came up with.
 

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kitsune

Active member
I wound up with a refund of 50% of purchase price (other than shipping). So now it's just up to me to get it taken care of. Hopefully the clean & lube does the trick. I'll check out the @JDW youtube channel. If not, I may just put the refund toward a Floppy Emu.

I ordered a Torx T15, which should be here Friday. I also ordered a Meowtoast 1/2AA to CR2032 battery adapter. Hopefully I don't find the old battery's guts spilled everywhere.
 
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