Replacement drive belt for SF354?

[RSwipeCA]

Hi all.

 

I recently acquired a great condition 520ST setup. It came with a SF354 external floppy drive. The previous owner said there was a problem with the drive, so I opened it up to take a look. The drive responds to a disk when its inserted and tries to spin up, but there is no belt connecting the motor to the disc drive mechanism flywheel. I am guessing that the belt fell off and somebody removed it from the case.

 

What's the chances of getting a replacement belt for this drive? I've searched on the net but it doesn't look too promising. Alternatively, is there another drive that I can put inside the case of this drive, if I cannot get a replacement belt?

 

The drive is a Chinon F-353AT RevA

 

Thanks guys.

[tjlazer]

I would just get a PC drive and put it in there that way you have a double-sided drive. You'll have to trim the case a bit. But well worth it!

[RSwipeCA]

I would just get a PC drive and put it in there that way you have a double-sided drive. You'll have to trim the case a bit. But well worth it!

Oh ok that's great info. May I ask what type of drive you recommend? Just a standard every day PC floppy drive?

[Zogging Hell]

You can get the belt from ebay - I think the seller is something like coolnovelties - they also have a website..(see below) As tjlazer suggests though it might be better to get a replacement. The 354 is single sided, and as such is a bit limited in the disks it can access (should be ok for a lot of games before about 1989 though)

 

http://coolnovelties.co.uk/coolnovelties/69-atari-st-parts-and-accessories

[tjlazer]

Epson SMD 300/340 and Chinon FZ357 works, not sure what other drives do.

Edited November 22, 2016 by tjlazer

[tjlazer]

Here is what mine looks like after the mod:

 

I'm using a Chinon FZ357.

 

Edited November 22, 2016 by tjlazer

[RSwipeCA]

Ah that's great info guys. Thanks very much to all of you.