68kMLA Classic Interface

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Floppy Drive Spring Replacement

Posted by: Anonymous on 2026-05-22 15:53:39 I was cleaning a floppy drive when I seemingly bent a spring out of place. Could anyone measure the spring (its position is marked in red) so I can find a McMaster replacement? Thanks!

Posted by: Byrd on 2026-05-23 00:23:13 You could probably bend that back in position pushing it through a rod or something, pliers to push back and reset. It's not a particularly imperative part with broad tolerance to slide back either the shutter or position the floppy housing to push down when activated by a floppy.

Posted by: SpocksBeer on 2026-05-23 03:18:37 Looks to be 9mm of spring, or 15mm including both hooks. I'm sure there's more technical terms for both those things. Diameter looks to be somewhere around 2.5 to 3mm You should have a crack at making your own, plenty of good guides like this one.

Posted by: Anonymous on 2026-06-10 09:51:15 The spring making went well, but the spring may be a little tight. The right side of the floppy disk sticks out of the drive just a tad bit more than the left side due to the spring, and this question may be pedantic but does the floppy disk have to be completely centered inside the drive?

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