Retro Gamer Japan Blog

FDS Belt Replacement Tip #1: How to remove the triangular piece

July 15, 2012 – 6:34 am

This is the first tip in a series of FDS belt replacement tips. This is step #6 of the excellent FDS belt replacement instructions at http://www.famicomdisksystem.com/tutorials/fds-repair-mod/belt-replacement-adjustment/  The instructions are the best on the net.  If you are replacing your FDS belt, go print out a copy! –Dave

The first few times I replaced the belt on an FDS, I had difficulty getting the triangular piece out, but after fixing a few FDS drives since then, I can do it much faster with less chance of damaging the drive.  Here’s a quick how to:

 

1. Free up the wires

Starting with a bare drive, flip the drive over and make sure the wiring is free from the drive case.  You’ll have to pry up the small metal arms so the wire can slide off.  It’s important the wires are clear so later you can move the board clear of the case.  See image below.

2. Remove the screws

Once the three wires are clear, make sure to remove the screws holding the board and the three screws holding the triangular arm.  See image below.

 

3. Clear the board (carefully!)

Once the screws are removed, now clear the board out of the way.  Gently lift up from the bottom (the end near the triangular piece).  Make sure the wires are free or the board won’t move clear of the drive casing.  The black wire tends to get caught, so make sure it isn’t slowing things down.  Sometimes I’ll pull it up a little so I’ve got a little extra play.  The image below shows the way it should look when the board is completely out of the way, yet still connected.  One more thing: make sure not to gouge the delicate board on the edge of the drive case!

 

 4. Remove the triangular piece

Now, we are ready to attack the little triangular piece that used to give me fits!  First, lift up on the triangular piece a little and rotate clockwise.  That is the easy part.  Getting the darn thing out was the tough part for me, until I learned one little trick.  Lift up on the bottom part to clear the spindle in the center.  Once you are clear of the spindle, then if you push the whole thing forward, it should come out.

Here’s a vid outlining the process.

I hope that helps if you were stuck at the remove-the-triangular-piece step like I was.  Make sure the board is out of the way, then clear the triangular piece from the spindle and it should come free.