WTB Apple /// Internal floppy drive Flapper/Lever

[Verault]

one of my Apple III internal floppy drives lever/flapper has crumbled to bits. IT was broken and I glued it but its unsalvageable. The internal drive is different from the external Apple III mechanism as it has an angled faceplate and elongated flapper. I know this makes it pretty hard to come by. I am hoping someone has parts or at least a drive they are willing to sell. Please let me know.

 

[bibilit]

3D print ??

ABS cement ?

 

[Verault]

Id be happy to, do you have the 3d print files?

Cement? No, its gone. You must know the brittle mac plastics disease (although this is not a mac). It crumbled to nothing.

 

[bibilit]

Unfortunately not, but probably someone is working on it. 

 

[Verault]

I certainly hope so since its bespoke to the internal drive only but that wont help me at the moment.

 

[bibilit]

IIRC i replaced the internal unit a couple of years ago with a Disk II unit, apart from the analog board, internally they are the same.

Is the lever so different ? can it be adapted temporally ?

 

[Verault]

Completely different. You would need to swap the faceplate (bezel) and flapper to make it fit internally. There is no ways around it. Yes the guts of a disk II fit, but not the flapper or bezel. And no they aren't even close, You can add the flapper from a standard external Disk III, but its travel is too short and the drive wont close. This is one of Apples dumbest moves making the internal and external drive different. In doing so they made FOUR different apple III floppy drives.( the 4th being the DB25 variant external for the /// Plus which only a few were released), the first being a modified Disk II which looks identical to a disk II [I own two slightly different], the 2nd and 3rd being the aforementioned internal and external Disk ///).

 

[bibilit]

OK, good to know, have been tinkering with those just twice... enough to remember how heavy they are (if i want to compare with an Apple II for instance, coming close with a Lisa in that matter)

Any pictures of the 4 units ? (i will be a bit more clever afterwards)

 

[Verault]

sure, but i need to wait and clear off the projects I am currently waiting on. I have 6 apple /// floppies in parts I need to get to but other things I need to complete first.

 

[Verault]

I have been hunting around online for services where you can mail them a part and they can reproduce it but I have found none. Does anyone know of such a service?

 

[Verault]

I really figured someone would have at least something to say about my comment of finding a service that can create 3D print files....

 

[Verault]

Well as luck would have it I was on eBay just browsing when this was "recommended" to me:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-III-External-Disk-Drive-Latch-Apple-III-Computers/303811894045?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Whats weird is its on my saved searches and I wasnt notified.. of course. Good price, its mislabled external although its the elongated internal version.