• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Help wanted with an IBM 8" FDD

R

richo132

Member
Joined
May 19, 2007
Messages
35
I bought one of the "dbit FDADAP" boards a few months ago and have been looking out for an 8” FDD.

Recently I was given an IBM unit (p/n 4240513) that I believe was a spare for IBM M/F equip – possibly a 3274 comms controller.

Probably not relevant, but the drive is marked “Assembled in the Netherlands”.

I cannot see any date markings but the drive is in good shape and spins up quietly with 230V AC applied to the motor.

Problem for me is that the data/control cable header has 36pins whereas I was expecting to see 50....

One pin is missing from this header - unmarked but must be either 3/4 or 15/16.

Can anyone offer advice on how to get this to work with a PC ? Cheers.
 
That would be the 51TD floppy drive, used on a lot of older IBM equipment, including S/36 and (I believe) S/370. I've never seen a technical reference document on it, though I imagine that they exist.
 
Custom floppy controllers like the Catweasel can be made to run 8" disks, I made a thread asking a similar question a few months back, try searching for it.
 
Raven said:
Custom floppy controllers like the Catweasel can be made to run 8" disks, I made a thread asking a similar question a few months back, try searching for it.
Click to expand...

Not all 8" floppy drives are the same. For example, I defy you to hook a Memorex 651 up to a Catweasel.

So, nicho, you're saying that the header on the naked drive (not on the cable coming from it, is 36 pins? I thought that IBM used a lot of Shugart 850s and before that, 901s.
 
Chuck(G) said:
Not all 8" floppy drives are the same. For example, I defy you to hook a Memorex 651 up to a Catweasel.

So, nicho, you're saying that the header on the naked drive (not on the cable coming from it, is 36 pins? I thought that IBM used a lot of Shugart 850s and before that, 901s.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the responses.
Yes, the data/control cable header has 36pins.
I don't know anything about Catweasels, but unless they explicitIy support my drive they'd need to support mapping the drive header pins to match the controller input. This would still need a pinout diagram for the drive header - which I don't have. Anyone know where I could source this ? Cheers.
 
PM me with your email--a CCLIST-er has kindly furnished some scans of the connector and test point pinouts for your drive. I'll pass them on to you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top