A question for the brains trust :)

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rubber_jonnie
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A question for the brains trust :)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Afternoon all.

I'm working on getting my Seltron Apple II FDD working again, and am struggling to get drive belts of the correct size.

Dimensions are 288mm (144mm flat) circumference by 3.2mm wide. I can get 4mm easily but struggling to get 3.2mm. Do any of you have any suggestions for sources of drive belts other than the like of Amazon and eBay please?

I'm also considering trying to get hold of a 50Hz strobe light to try and use the strobe wheel on the bottom of the FDD to get the speed set up right, as well as measuring with Locksmith.

Do any of you have any strobe suggestions please, again other than eBay and Amazon.

Thanks in advance.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Tomswork
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Re: A question for the brains trust :)

Post by Tomswork »

A neon voltage probe for the power socket may work if they still make them. I get my belts from console5.com

Tom
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A question for the brains trust :)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Tomswork wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:05 pm A neon voltage probe for the power socket may work if they still make them. I get my belts from console5.com

Tom
Thanks, I'll try console5 :)

I don't currently have a working neon tester sadly, might try and build one, there are a lot of circuit diagrams and I probably have all the parts.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A question for the brains trust :)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Tomswork wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:05 pm A neon voltage probe for the power socket may work if they still make them. I get my belts from console5.com

Tom
Well, console5 certainly have belts, but the prices + shipping to the UK looks quite expensive, and I'd have to verify belt size before ordering because they are drive specific and my Seltron is unusual and has no drive mechanism ID :(

I'll keep looking and come back to them if I come up dry.

Thanks for the tip though.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: A question for the brains trust :)

Post by PhilC »

@rubber_jonnie have you tried trimming down the belts carefully with a sharp knife blade?
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: A question for the brains trust :)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: Sat Sep 18, 2021 12:06 pm @rubber_jonnie have you tried trimming down the belts carefully with a sharp knife blade?
I did, but it didn't work out too well. I'm going to try again this weekend and have some rubber bands coming today.

Will report back later.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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