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From: doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: net.micro.cbm
Subject: Re: 1541 Disk Alignment Software Review
Message-ID: <183@terak.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Oct-84 13:44:19 EST
Article-I.D.: terak.183
Posted: Wed Oct 24 13:44:19 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Oct-84 05:57:38 EST
References: <535@rayssd.UUCP>
Organization: Terak Corporation, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 44

[]

> 
> Last night I realigned my secondary 1541 disk drive (sigh of relief) with
> the help of a software package I recently purchased from C.S.M. software
> of Indiana.  Anyone who has owned a 1541 for more than a year (sometimes less)
> has probably encountered alignment problems by now, even if it is not
> recognized as such.  The problem is especially noticable when loading
> programs - much clanging (head reset) and flashing of the busy light.
> 
> ...  If you have common sense, fair mechanical ability
> and some patience, this package will save you a trip to the repair shop and
> at 39.95, will probably pay for itself the first time you use it.
> 

How does the price of the package compare with the 39.95 alignment?

By the way, if you can bear to part with your drive for a while and
feel you can trust Commodore, Commodore will *REPLACE* your 1541 with
a *BRAND NEW* unit for $85.00 by mail.

For those who might not know... there are two indications that you have
an alignment problem.  The most obvious is the BRR-A-A-A-A-P of the
head mechanism being slammed against the stop, although this is normal
  1) on the first use after power has been turned on,
  2) during a "New" operation,
  3) when loading many "copy protected" commercial programs.

An earlier and more reliable warning is the sound of the head being
"overstepped" and brought back in the hope that the track can be
read by coming at it from the other direction.  This gives a
"clickity-click..click..click" sound, accompanied by the red
light flashing momentarily.  If this is happening with any
regularity, you probably have alignment problems developing.

By the way, my 1541 had alignment troubles, and I tried all of the
"simple" fixes (clean the band and pullies, clean the head, adjust
the band tension, adjust the track-0 stop, time the drive motor)
to no avail.  What fixed it was the genuine "adjust the stepper
motor while watching the oscilloscope" alignment.  Makes me a
bit suspicious of claims that simple fixes will do the job, but
this WAS just ONE instance.

Doug Pardee -- Terak Corp. -- ..!noao!terak!doug