Such micro DC brushed motors could be salvaged from other CD-ROM drives (used in tray mechanisms) or portable CD players "Walkmans", PSX laser assemblies also used such motors for spindles, though always consult datasheets to get a closest match.

Are you sure it's the spindle motor that failed? That drive model is notorious for a small plastic gear that cracks and prevents the laser assembly from moving, and as a result the drive doesn't even attempt to spin up the disc.

If it is indeed the spindle motor that died, you can also try looking for 3DO replacement parts, if I'm not mistaken it's the exact same drive.

TheMobRules wrote on 2025-04-19, 06:45:

Are you sure it's the spindle motor that failed? That drive model is notorious for a small plastic gear that cracks and prevents the laser assembly from moving, and as a result the drive doesn't even attempt to spin up the disc.

If it is indeed the spindle motor that died, you can also try looking for 3DO replacement parts, if I'm not mistaken it's the exact same drive.

I tested the drive by hooking it up to the power supply with the housing off of it. The laser assembly appears to be working fine as far as I can tell? It lifts into position to read the disk when the drive is in the closed position and the worm gear that drives the head seeking appears to be fine since it attempts to seek after it is in position. The motor just won't spin up, so I'm hoping its just a matter of replacing it. I did notice there is a little vent hole on the motor and I haven't tried shooting some deoxit into there yet, but I feel as if it would at least show visible signs of attempting to move if there was any chance of freeing it up, it makes a vague sound I can't quite place when the head is in position but no dice at any sort of visible motor output.

Well, it's a DC motor, so just give it something like 3.3V or 5V and see if it spins up. You can even try that in the CD drive with the motor wires disconnected from the main board and connected to your power source. Have a CD on the spindle and spin it up, then power up the drive to see if the laser assembly moves around and tries to seek. Try some different types of CDs too - i.e. audio, data, and etc.

I also second the notion that you can find such DC motors in other optical drives, particularly from the tray eject mechanism.

That said, I suspect you may find the problem not to be with the motor... at least if the motor does appear to work when you power it from an external source.
I have a more modern LG drive here that also won't try to spin discs at all. But if I spin the disc by hand very fast, eventually the motor "blurps" and tries to spin, then stops and the drive still doesn't want to read. Haven't gotten to the bottom of it yet, but I suspect the laser pickup is likely EOL. Luckily, I have found an identical drive with the PCB missing (long story... but yeah, I know a local scrapper that prefers to pull the PCBs out of optical drives than sell them for reasons unknown.) Just need to find the time to get to it and swap parts around.

Post removed due to violating the VOGONS is no marketplace! rule

VinylCounterattack wrote on 2025-08-02, 15:36:

WTB: Matsushita EME‑263MG 3.5" Floppy Drive (26-Pin Ribbon Type) […]
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Sixray wrote on 2025-04-18, 20:10:

Hey all! […]
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Hey all!

So I'm attempting to source a drive spindle motor for the infamous Creative/Matsushita/Panasonic CR-563-b

I'm mechanically handy enough to take this apart and repair it but know nothing about sourcing highly specific electronics parts. The drive spindle motor is a
Panasonic MDN3Bt3CSAS, however This part number is discontinued and I'm wondering if there is any alternative that might work.

I've considered buying another model of Matsushita 2x drive for the motor and hoping it's the same one but I'd rather not cannibalize functioning vintage hardware for parts.

Picture of part attached

WTB: Matsushita EME‑263MG 3.5" Floppy Drive (26-Pin Ribbon Type)

I'm looking for a tested and working Matsushita EME‑263MG 3.5" 1.44MB floppy disk drive, the type with the 26-pin ribbon cable still factory-attached.

I'm especially interested in drives pulled from non-working Tandy or GRiD laptops, where the floppy drive still booted into DOS (even if the hard drive or display failed).

The drive must meet the following conditions:

Stepper motor must function properly (i.e., head seeks)

Ribbon connector must be intact and undamaged

Drive must have been verified working before removal

I'm refurbishing a Tandy 3800HD laptop, and the original drive has failed due to a dead stepper motor.

If you have one available to sell, please contact me at: REMOVED

P.S.: I can't figure out how to post a new topic on this site, but I noticed that this topic concerned Matsushita motors, which was the closest topic I could find to my issue. You sounded knowledgeable and might be able to steer me the right way. This site is difficult to navigate and post on if you're new here.

Thank you! – Steve

Hello Steve

To create a new topic you click the + icon on the top right corner on the sub forum you want to post in.

Unfortunately VOGONS is not a markedplace so this kind of requests are not allowed here. I suggest to try making a post at VCF and Amibay.

I hope you don't see this as you're not welcome here. I'm pretty sure alot of members would be interested in the refurbishing process of your T3800.

There also might be other compatible drives that fits your T3800, so opening a general thread requesting information is something I'd recommend looking into if I were you.

Thanks for the good advice!