Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Update your old 720k to a 1.44 drive etc.
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DoG
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Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Post by DoG »

Values and sizes:

C3 = THT 56uF, 6,3mmx7mm, 2,54mm pitch 16V
C4 = THT 10uF, 4mmx7mm, 1,5mm pitch, 16V
C05 = THT 10uF, 4mmx7mm, 1,5mm pitch, 16V
C08 = SMD 10uF, 4,5x5mm, 16V
C09 = SMD 10uF, 4,5x5mm, 16V
C10 = SMD 10uF, 4,5x5mm, 16V
C11 = SMD 10uF, 4,5x5mm, 16V

You can use higher values on voltage if you want and physical sizes on the caps can differ a little. The pitch are the dimension between the legs on the cap. Capacitor C05 needs to have the legs bent a bit to get it in the correct location. I used a tweezer that clamp when you not holding it and placed that in a helping hand. You can also use blue tack. But you don't need to be that neat about it to get all working. It's just for your own satisfaction (and to get great picture for a tutorial). You can also use through hole for all the SMD capacitors if you lay them flat and bend the legs down on the SMD pads. Be careful to get the + on the capacitor on the correct pad.

Clean the contacts under the springy blue pins by spraying some contact cleaner. It's the write enable and disc detect unit. You can take the white bit off if you are having problems with this bit. I didn't bother since mine worked fine. Also clean top and bottom read/write header with a lent free swab while you have the case opened. It's under the copper plate in the middle. Gently lift up the plate and don't bend it to much.



Capacitor locations
Capacitor locations
EPSON SMD-400_cap_placement.jpg (258.23 KiB) Viewed 5137 times
Capacitor locations
Capacitor locations
EPSON SMD-400_cap_placement2.jpg (213.82 KiB) Viewed 5137 times
Capacitor locations - Close up
Capacitor locations - Close up
EPSON SMD-400_cap_close_up.jpg (351.76 KiB) Viewed 5137 times


Here is some reference pics:

Old capacitor C08, C09 and C10
Old capacitor C08, C09 and C10
old_C08_C09_C10.jpg (204.94 KiB) Viewed 5137 times
Old capacitor C4
Old capacitor C4
old_C4.jpg (224.69 KiB) Viewed 5137 times
Old capacitor C3
Old capacitor C3
old_C3.jpg (240.04 KiB) Viewed 5137 times
Sled and spring attachments
Sled and spring attachments
sled_and_springs.jpg (347.73 KiB) Viewed 5137 times
Write enable and disc inserted pins
Write enable and disc inserted pins
detect_write_and_disc .jpg (271.24 KiB) Viewed 5137 times
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exxos
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Re: Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Post by exxos »

Very good article! :thumbup:
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JezC
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Re: Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Post by JezC »

:coolpics: :goodpost: :thumbup:
Excellent info!
lilwashu
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Re: Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Post by lilwashu »

This is a great article (and would have been very useful when I recently did the same thing!), info on these drives was really hard to find and the recap fixed my issue with the motor sounding too fast and disks not reading.

When doing mine a very tiny spring fell out of the drive when turned upside down with the case off - about 3mm long, not either of the sled springs but similar style. I didn't put it back in as I don't know what it's for, but the drive seems to work fine.

Did you encounter anything like this on the drive when taking it apart - I can't see anything that looks similar on your photos?
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DoG
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Re: Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Post by DoG »

lilwashu wrote: Sat Jul 25, 2020 12:12 pm...When doing mine a very tiny spring fell out of the drive when turned upside down with the case off - about 3mm long, not either of the sled springs but similar style. I didn't put it back in as I don't know what it's for, but the drive seems to work fine...


Yes, I lost mine during the reassembly so I had to make a new one. So mine is slightly larger then original spring. Picture below is the new spring I made. Spring hooks is on the left side, towards the back corner of the drive if you have the floppy input hole in front of you. It's attached to the top sled/carriage so the floppy pulls down to the bottom read head I guess. Maybe if you mount the drive in a vertical position the spring is more in use. Otherwise gravity will do the job for you. I'm just guessing here since I don't actually know.

Spring and sled.jpg
Spring and sled.jpg (157.53 KiB) Viewed 5066 times
Small spring attached.jpg
Small spring attached.jpg (192.67 KiB) Viewed 5066 times
lilwashu
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Re: Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Post by lilwashu »

Great, thanks for that - I have reattached it and finally have no spare bits left over from my ST!
Methanoid
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Re: Recap Epson SMD-400/SMD480L

Post by Methanoid »

Great guide.,.. would love similar for SMD-380 ;) ;)
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