Fit a replacement Belt in a 3 inch disc drive.

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FITTING A REPLACEMENT BELT IN A 3 INCH DRIVE.

ALTHOUGH I SAID I WOULD NEVER DO IT, HERE IT IS!

INTRODUCTION.

The first section covers the removal of the drive from the machine, so just scroll down until you encounter your machine.
The second section hopefully guides you through the belt fitting task.
To skip straight to the belt fitting instructions click here.

REMOVAL OF THE DRIVE FROM YOUR MACHINE.

SPECTRUM PLUS 3
Place your machine, base up, on a table using a towel to protect the table top -- we do not want to upset the wife by scratching it, now do we -- then remove the five fixing screws. Turn the machine over and look at the side next to the disc drive where you will see two small bolts, remove these. Now gently lift the top half of the case from the disc drive end and look inside where you will see two stretched wires (normally orange and black), they plug into the circuit board via a white plug, pull this out. You will now be able to lift the top to a 90 degree angle to the base, prop it up or get someone to hold it -- the keyboard data leads, the only things still connecting the two halves together, come out but it easier to leave them where they are. The disc drive is now very accessible and only held in with one screw, remove this then pull off it's two connectors, data and power ( do not pull on the ribbon cable or wires to remove these connectors! ), and you are now ready to give it a service. There is a mounting bracket on one side of the disc drive, you may have to remove this on certain models of drive, to be able to gain access to one of the small plug/sockets inside the drive. Service the drive and refitting is just a reversal of removal.

AMSTRAD CPC6128
Place your machine, base up, on a table using a tea cloth, towel or very large handkerchief to save damage to either the machine or table top (depends which you treasure the most) and remove the seven retaining screws -- when refitting remember that the hole marked with a pointer takes the odd long screw (note on the early 6128's, for example those marked with an 'A' on a yellow circular label on the base of the machine, there are only six screws all of the same length). Turn the machine over and look at the side next to the disc drive where you will see two small bolts, remove these. Lift the top half up to a 90 degree angle from the disc drive end and prop it up or request that someone holds it for you. The disc drive can be removed by undoing the two screws (only one sometimes) on the mounting bracket on it's left-hand side and, of course, by pulling off the data and power connectors ( do not pull on the ribbon cable or wires to remove these connectors! ). You may need to remove this mounting bracket fixed to the side of the disc drive (by two bolts), to be able to gain access to one of the small plug/sockets inside the drive. To service the drive follow the instructions given in the second section of this page and, as always, refitting is just a reversal of removal.

Base label from an early CPC6128 using six screws of the same length to fix the two halves of the case together.

Base label from a later CPC6128 which uses seven screws, including one long one, to fix the two halves of the case together.

AMSTRAD CPC6128+.
Place your machine, base upwards, on a flat surface and remove the six retaining screws. Then pull back the three plastic retaining clips (one at the front and one each side) which will release the top section. Lift the top section upwards from the front and unplug the two leads connecting the top half of the case to the Printed Circuit Board. Remove the four screws (noting which one the earth lead is connected to) that secure the disc drive cage to the base and then unplug the data and power connectors ( do not pull on the ribbon cable or wires to remove these connectors! ). The drive is fixed to the cage by three small bolts but there are four bolt holes, mark the one that is not used (you could damage the disc drive's printed circuit board if you use this hole) -- remove the bolts and the drive will slide out of the cage. Follow the instructions for Disc Drive Type 3 to replace the belt. The drive fitted to CPC6128+ is a special drive using only 5 volts and other types of 3 inch drives will not work in this machine.

AMSTRAD CPC664.
This machine is the most rare and desirable CPC machine, but does tend, judging by my experiences, to need a replacement disc drive (the originals being not repairable) but we will assume that a belt is all that is required. Place your prize machine face down on a top quality towel and remove the seven retaining screws. Turn it face up and lift the top half from the disc drive end to a 90 degree angle. Get a good friend to hold it tightly and remove the four disc drive fixing screws, pull of the data and power connectors ( do not pull on the ribbon cable or wires to remove these connectors! ) and the drive is free to be serviced. Refitting is just a reversal of the removal process but make sure your good friend is in attendance when the drive is ready to be put back.

AMSTRAD PCW8256 OR PCW8512.

First a note on the tools for the job, no special tools are required but a cross head screw driver with a 10 inch blade will be found to be most useful!
Disconnect both your keyboard and printer from the machine and the machine from the mains voltage, then place it face down on a flat surface -- I use the floor -- remove the six rear case retaining screws - see figure 1 (two at the top, two at the bottom and one above and one below the expansion port) and lift the casing off.
The disc drive (drive 'A') sits in a cage at the top of the machine -- see figure 2 (which shows both 'A' and 'B' drives), and is held in with four screws but first pull off the 26 pin data and 4 pin power lead connectors (you will need to part the power plug from it's socket by inserting a finger nail, a very small screw driver or knife blade between the plastic locking arm on the socket and the plug), do not pull on the ribbon cable or wires to remove the connectors! and remember when refitting, the blue or red stripe -- this indicates pin 1 -- on the edge of the ribbon cable must go back facing the power connector, it will not do any harm if you get it wrong but the machine will not work. The 4 pin power connector must be fitted correctly, it only goes on one, way so do not force it.
Remove the caged drive and place it somewhere so you can work on it, depending on which drive has been fitted there will be either three or four small bolts holding it in it's cage -- remove these and if need-be mark which hole does not have a bolt. The drive will now slide out of it's cage and is ready for an overhaul. The only difference owners of the PCW8512 will notice is that they have two drives and these must be fitted back into their exact location, you can not swap these drives over as the 720K drive (the 'B' drive and bottom one) will not boot the machine.
In case it is not obvious refitting is a reversal of removal.
NB. Owners of the US/German 8256 or 8512 models will find little difference when dismantling their machines, other than the need to remove an earth lead connected to the drive cage and that the clips fitted to the printer and expansion ports will need to be folded in, prior to refitting the rear casing.

AMSTRAD PCW9512.

Although it has been found on most occasions that replacing the belt in the 9512 disc drive does not cure the drive fault but let us assume that it will.
Firstly you must switch off the machine, disconnect it from the mains and then unplug both the Keyboard and Printer.
Remove the six screws as shown in Fig.3 (the two on either side could be hidden under plastic covers, but usually these have fallen off) and most importantly the brightness and contrast knobs -- yours truly has only once forgotten to remove these and snapped off the the control spindles when removing the back half of the casing -- costly!. Facing the back of the machine gently ease the back half of the casing straight towards you and then place it out of harms way.
As can be seen in Figure 4, you need first to part two plugs and sockets (you will need to part these plugs from their sockets by inserting a finger nail, a very small screw driver or knife blade between the plastic locking arm on the socket and the plug - sometime the sockets do not have a locking arm) and do not pull on the wires to remove the plugs! , then unscrew the earth lead (coloured black) which comes from the bottom printed circuit board and bolts to the top printed circuit board next the where the earth wire from the mains lead bolts on. Free the mains lead and feed a little of it into the machine, then remove the four screws holding the tube assembly to the bottom half of the case. If you want to completely separate the two sections, although there is no need to, then it is best to remove the mains plug from the mains lead.
To remove the disc drive, undo the screw on top of the drive (the one with an earth lead running to it and do not forget to put this lead back when reassembling) and slide the metal cover upwards, then remove the four retaining screws and lift up the drive, you can then pull off the power and data cables and remember do not pull on the wires to remove the connectors! .
Place the drive on a flat surface and remove the three or four small bolts from either side (if only three bolts mark the hole that does not have one), the drive will now slide out of it's case. Now check the illustrations and instructions above for details of how to fit the new belt. Owners of the type 1 PCW9512 disc drive should look to my Drive Reference 2 for dismantling details. Owners of the type 2 PCW9512 disc drive should look to my Drive Reference 3 for dismantling details.
When the new belt has been fitted, reverse what you have just undertaken and with luck your machine should be as good as new.
NB. There is a German version of the PCW9512 but I have only encountered one of these machines so can not offer any real help but if I recall correctly there was little difference other than a few more earth lead connections that require undoing and the need to ensure that the clips either side of the expansion port are folded in, prior to refitting the rear casing.

AMSTRAD PcW9256, PcW9512+ AND PcW10.
These three machines all have a Citizen 3.5 inch 720K belt driven drive and like the 3 inch disc drives, the belt will need replacing sooner or later. The task of removing the drive from the machine and then fitting the belt is though a much more difficult, time consuming and tricky job than it is for the 3 inch disc drive machine, and in my opinion best left to the expert. For those wishing to 'have a go' I have now included a picture of the drive with it's belt location plus details of the Drive 'A' / Drive 'B' jumper positioning.

SEGA SF7000
From information received it would seem that the Sega SF7000 extension unit, as fitted to the Sega SC-300, contains a 3 inch drive similar that as used in the PCW, CPC or +3 and that the belts I supply work fine as a replacement for the original. This extension unit would seem to have only been sold within the Australia / New Zealand area and I assume also Japan. Sorry I can not help with either the removal of the drive or the fitting of the belt.

FITTING THE BELT.
Let me start by saying that there is no significance to the drive numbers allocated below, these are purely for my reference only.
A good point to begin at, is to first remove any foreign bodies from the drive - Pound coins, Paper clips, Badges, Playing Cards and etc. (yes I have met them all) -- them to blow out the dust, hairs, small pieces of paper and anything else that should not be there.
Scroll down the illustrations below and select the drive that is the same as, or most similar to, the example into which you wish to replace the belt. Dismantle the drive following the instructions starting with disconnecting the plugs from their sockets -- Do not lever against the circuit boards when attempting to separate these components, only against the metal casing.
Remove the small retaining bolts and remember to keep the drive with the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) upper most once the bolts have been removed, or the write protection pin, if fitted, will fall out (see the second from bottom disc drive picture below for where it goes) and the hunt will be on to find it!
Gently slide the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) backwards (away from the front fascia) then lift it up but do force it in anyway, otherwise you could damage the print, one of the components or pull a wire off. On most drives you have little room to work but with a pair of long nosed pliers, pair of tweezers or something similar you can remove the old belt. It is worth taking a close look at the small brass pulley prior to fitting the new belt as you could find a build up of rubber or other deposits on it, remove using a cotton bud dipped in Methylated Spirits, or if stubborn, gently scrape with a knife or screwdriver. Fit the new belt by dropping it over the large pulley and then pulling it forward and sliding it over the small brass pulley using tweezers, long nosed pliers, a Crochet or Button hook or as I do use a small long bladed screwdriver but do ensure that none of the tools you use has any shape edges to damage the rubber and also that the belt does not have any twists in it.
Reassemble the drive by reversing what you have just done, clean the Head(s) using a 'Cotton Bud' soaked in Methylated Spirits or some other type of Head cleaner and finally apply a little (and I mean only a little!) light grease (Vaseline or something similar) to the 'Stepper Motor' shaft.
It's that easy!
NOTE:
Never spray any lubricants into the drive!
ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Whilst you have the drive removed from your machine check carefully for dry solder joints on the four pin power socket where it fits into the Printed Circuit Board, as I have encountered a number loose sockets of late and have also received reports from others finding a like defect. You will, of course, need to re-solder the joints or find someone to do it for you!
Drives as normally found fitted only in the Amstrad external units - DDI-1 and FD1. Also fitted to the CPC664.

Having repaired a number of drive type 4 (see below) lately, a common fault has emerged -- a crack in the small circuit board that sits on top of the drive motor (the red arrow is pointing to it). Examine this little board carefully and then solder if required -- much cheaper than trying to find a replacement! (This note added Feb. 2008)

The table below offers pictures of many different 3 inch disc drives as fitted to the Amstrad PCW, CPC and Spectrum +3 machines and a 3.5 inch drive as fitted to various PcW machines, just click on the thumb nail picture to view full size.

Technical and other information as supplied in a leaflet by Panasonic (Matsushita) relating to their 3 inch drives

MORE DRIVES WILL BE ADDED WHEN POSSIBLE.
JUST CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO VIEW FULL SIZE.
	DRIVE TYPE 1.
	DRIVE TYPE 2.
	DRIVE TYPE 3.
	DRIVE TYPE 4.
	DRIVE TYPE 5
	PCW9512 VERSION (Type 1).
	PCW9512 VERSION (Type 2).
	CPC6128+ VERSION.
	180K and 720K DISC DRIVES.
	LOCATION OF BELT, STEPPER MOTOR & WRITE PROTECTION PIN.
	CITIZEN 3.5 INCH DRIVE.