Date   : Wed, 26 Mar 1986 18:09:45 GMT
From   : Tom Gillispie <tom%pedsgo.uucp@BRL.ARPA>
Subject: Re: Shugart Disk Drive Alignment

Organization : Concurrent Computer Corp. (a P-E company), Tinton Falls, NJ
Keywords: Shugart, Lubrication

In article <813@well.UUCP>, tyger@well.UUCP (Richard A Childers) writes:
> 
> Hello, all, a question for those with knowledge and a willingness towards
> sharing it :
>
> -------- Description of Shugart 801 problems, alignment disks, etc -----

One thing discussed in the original posting concerns me.  I, too, have
received suggestions about LIGHTLY oiling BOTH the guide rods and the
lead screw itself.  However, when I dug out my Shugart  Associates
Maintenance Manual, it clearly states that NO lubrication of the drive
should be done, as the lubrication "allows dust and dirt to accumulate".
I once read a tale about someone who 'lubricated' the lead screw in his
drive with WD-40.  Unfortunately, it disolved something which must have
coated the lead screw into a goopy mess!  Is there anyone who can 
contribute pro or con points of view about guide rod and/or lead screw
lubrication?  

I have one other suggestion for ailing Shugart drives (and perhaps others,
too).  I found that the little plastic and cloth button which pushes
against the back side of the floppy disk in order to ensure good read/write
head contact with the disk may need attention.  It is called the R/W Head
Load Button.  These are present ONLY on single-sided drives, obviously.
The buttons on my Shugart drives had a very glossy appearance, I suspect
from some bad disks which caused excessive oxide build-up.  The maintenance
procedure in the Shugart manual describes rotating the head load button
to improve the amplitude of the read/write head signal. 

Finally, (sorry for the length), Shugart's part number for their 'Alignment
Diskette' is SA120-1.  This was obtained from an OLD manual, there may be
a newer revision.

-- 
NAME:   Tom Gillispie 
UUCP:   ...{pesnta|prcrs|princeton|topaz|hjuxa|vax135}!petsd!pedsgo!tom
USnail: CONCURRENT Computer Corporation (a Perkin-Elmer Company)
       M/S 307, 106 Apple St., Tinton Falls, NJ  07724
MA BELL:(201) 758-7321