[alexwright]

When I attempted a similar thing on a C64 the external 5.25" disk drive was similarly inoperable. Turned out the elastic bands from the motor to the little ring that camped the disk had just gotten too lose with age.

Was a pain in the ass finding one that was tight enough to stay on and not to tight just just stop anything moving but got it eventually.

Might be worth popping the lid off and checking yours?