On 06/29/2016 12:33 AM, B00ze wrote:   
      
   > The Vorpal tool reads the alignment disk (it moves the head back and   
   > forth over about 2 tracks, constantly) and reports an alignment number.   
   > You can then unscrew the 2 screws holding the step motor and rotate it   
   > slightly in one direction or the other. Screw it back and repeat the   
   > test. It's coarse but it works, I did it several times (you can tell   
   > you're ok when other people can read your disks again). The problem is   
   > you'd need to use glue on those screws once you've played with them,   
   > otherwise alignment drifts over time (unless you are able to screw those   
   > screws really really tight).   
   >   
   > Regards,   
   >   
      
   Hello, and while I'm unfamiliar with Vorpal tool, the Cardinal Software   
   package I previously referenced displays a simple picket fence on the   
   monitor.  The procedure is to get the asterisks displayed for several   
   tracks inside the fence using the supplied alignment disk while   
   carefully manipulating the drive head stepper motor mount back and forth   
   in very tiny increments.  Then, if required, you adjust the spindle   
   motor potentiometer for 300 rpm (You don't need an alignment utility to   
   adjust spindle motor speed - just a fluorescent lamp to shine on the   
   strobe disk on the bottom of the spindle motor.)   
      
   I wouldn't recommend gluing down any screws as you mentioned.  It'll   
   just create more work to do if you have to align the drive in the   
   future.  I never had a problem with any screws coming loose on a 1541   
   stepper motor bracket.  Granted, even with tight screws I can't say for   
   sure that the stepper motor bracket won't change position slightly over   
   a period of time.  Knock out the head alignment a mere .001 inch and   
   you've got a problem.  On the earlier 1541s a seek to track 1 (needed   
   for example when formatting a new disk) caused a pulley that was pressed   
   fitted on its shaft to slip over a period of time as the track 1 hard   
   metal stop was encountered.  This was that banging noise that 1541 users   
   dreaded.  Sincerely,   
      
      
   --   
   J. B. Wood	            e-mail: arl_123234@hotmail.com   
      
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