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Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Michael Corgan
I have had a call from a prospective member - she has a MacPlus and a floppy disk is stuck in its' drive. It hasn't responded to attack by paper-clip. Apart from dismantling the Mac is there anything that she can try - or is there anyone happy to help her? - she lives just outside Beaminster.

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Eleanor Spenceley
Nope, I think the paper clip in the right hole, with enough force is the best solution.

If she wants some help I am happy for her to bring the machine to me. I have the right long torx to crack open the machine.

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Tony Still
If memory serves, the disk lifts a little as it comes out. Could perhaps *gently* try to give it a helping lift using something flat and thin (like a butter knife perhaps?). In my experience, jams were most often caused by the disk labels becoming unstuck and they could sometimes be pushed back in place like this. In reality, it's probably a screwdriver to the case issue.

Ah, I loved my MacPlus - talk about paradigm shifts! Except when it got into a dither about floppy disks and wanted something from disk 2, but then went back to disk 1 to get the code to get something from disk 2 but then needed more code from disk 1 ...

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Euan Williams
Hi Mike, great to hear of another working MacPlus. Tony's memories are accurate, good advice.

Apart from Martin's ubiquitous paperclip of legend, for disassembly you will need his long handled TORX screwdriver.

A chat with him about CRT discharge is STRONGLY advised: the warnings about CRT discharge are very serious particularly if your CRT has been used relatively recently. Take care and do it properly. A mis-step here can screw up your CRT etc., or might possibly “Terminate with extreme prejudice”, as they say in spy novels.

References for Armchair Repairers:
MacPlus Case Removal video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB91y0QJ_pI

Service Manual (see p.17 for Floppy Drive.)
http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/legacy/macintosh_plus.pdf
(Apple has removed these manuals from their website “on legal advice”).

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Ann Simon
Hi,

I am Ann Simon, the proud owner of a (recently) working Mac Plus.
I have tried the paper clip a lot, and have also tried nervously to winkle the disc out, it still does not want to come out.
I cannot get the case off and now I have read Euan's awful warnings about CRT discharge I am not sure I want to try! but I will look up the references.

Thanks all for your advice, I will report back in due course, and hope to meet you at one of the Beaminster meetings soon.

Ann

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Mick Burrell
Having never seen a Mac Plus let alone opened one up, if you open the case and remove the floppy drive, would that not be a self contained unit and therefore not give you any better access to the stuck disc? Or does it give you better access the the "paper clip hole"?

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Euan Williams
Hi Ann. I used a MacPlus for many years (mine was - is - a 128k Mac upgraded by Apple) and my fingers are still sensitive to the vagaries of that floppy disk drive. Mike Corgan can give you my 'phone number and we'll see what we can do. If not perhaps Martin's torx driver and CRT skills will be needed.

Meantime look up that service manual I referenced earlier:
(see p.17 for Floppy Drive.)
http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/legacy/macintosh_plus.pdf.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Drew McFarlane
Hi all,

Can someone please supply me with the dimensions of an Apple Torx Screwdriver, i.e. size - length - and diameter of the shaft.

Thank you.

Drew

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Eleanor Spenceley
You'll need something as thin and as long as this: https://www.ifixit.com/tools/t15-torx-screwdriver/if145-084
The shaft itself needs to be around 6? inch long though the longer the better.

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Drew McFarlane
Thank you Martin.

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Ann Simon
Re: Mac Plus stuck floppy disc

Oh dear, I can see that fixing this is going to be beyond me, and certainly very complicated and time consuming. My feeling is that the drive may be jammed with dust or old lubricant, I can see no sign of detached paper labels when I shine a torch and peer through the opening. Applying the paper clip does lift the disc, but no amount of tweaking will bring it out. May be something broken inside perhaps. Well, nothing lasts for ever, I cannot help feeling that a dignified retirement may be called for. Thank you all for your suggestions.

Ann

Re: Problem with a MacPlus (!)

Avatar Drew McFarlane
Hi Ann,

I'm a retired ex Radar Tech. living in Bridport and prepared to give it a go, Michael will give you my number if you want to have a chat.

Drew
 
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