[comp.sys.amiga.hardware] Whistling Hard Drive

hoffmann@acl.kodak.com (marty hoffmann) (02/06/91)

I've owned an ST296N for about a year now.  Tonight, it acquired a singing
voice.  Actually, it has started whistling -- very loud -- very high
pitched -- very annoying.

I don't usually power it down, but I'm going to have to tonight.  I
suspect that its just the spindle.  Are there any kinds of lubricants
that one can apply to a disk to keep it spinning smoothly and
flawlessly?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

						Marty Hoffmann 

ben@epmooch.UUCP (Rev. Ben A. Mesander) (02/07/91)

>In article <1991Feb6.052300.8338@ssd.kodak.com> hoffmann@acl.kodak.com (marty hoffmann) writes:
>I've owned an ST296N for about a year now.  Tonight, it acquired a singing
>voice.  Actually, it has started whistling -- very loud -- very high
>pitched -- very annoying.
>
>I don't usually power it down, but I'm going to have to tonight.  I
>suspect that its just the spindle.  Are there any kinds of lubricants
>that one can apply to a disk to keep it spinning smoothly and
>flawlessly?
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
>						Marty Hoffmann 

Usually, this is caused by a small copper grounding spring that touches
the spindle. I have always removed them from my drives (even when I worked
for CDC/Seagate), because the high-pitched noise gives me severe headaches.
The spring prevents static buildup on the spindle. I have never had any
ill effects from removing the little piece of copper, however your mileage
may vary.

I'm not responsible for you breaking your drive, etc. etc.

--
ben@epmooch.UUCP            ben%servalan.UUCP@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu
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dtiberio@csserv2.ic.sunysb.edu (David Tiberio) (02/07/91)

In article <1991Feb6.052300.8338@ssd.kodak.com> hoffmann@acl.kodak.com (marty hoffmann) writes:
>I've owned an ST296N for about a year now.  Tonight, it acquired a singing
>voice.  Actually, it has started whistling -- very loud -- very high
>pitched -- very annoying.
>
>I don't usually power it down, but I'm going to have to tonight.  I
>suspect that its just the spindle.  Are there any kinds of lubricants
>that one can apply to a disk to keep it spinning smoothly and
>flawlessly?
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
>						Marty Hoffmann 

  Don't mess with hard drives; they are sealed in dust proof labs. If you
make one slight mistake your drive will be damaged. Wait for professional 
advice on how to repair it before you attempt to do anything.

DavidTiberio SUNYStonyBrook2-3605 AMIGA TotoProductions DDDMEN