on an old MFM Seagate (!)
You want the platters to spin << 'Dropping gently' isn't Torque!. ('Course dropping with long thin-side parallel to floor, so that an edge hits a convenient fulcrum just over the pillow: Would impart some torque of the right vector!)
Might try holding drive in hand; about it's disc axis - spin your hand as fast as possible. Dunno how many times is a test, or - if you'll "feel" that your angular accel. broke-free a glued head, but you might get that feedback too (I can't recall re the Seagate..)
Luck
Ashton