UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Slothie · 11th Dec 2018, 9:31 pm

If its not resetting properly I would look for:
1) Bad solder joints around the IC's
2) Replace any electrolytic capacitors, in particular C201 (4.7uF) that connects to pin 1 of the 6507 - if this cap goes bad and shorts it will hold the processor in reset. But any of these capacitors can cause problems - the electrolytics in most 70s 2600s are well past their best before date... My 2600 had terrible video until I broke open the modulator casing and replaced the electrolytics. If I was doing it today I would just remove the modulator and make one of the composite mods that are found online because analog TV's are getting rarer.
3) As others have said, use a piece of folded up stiff paper soaked in contact cleaner to give the cartridge contacts a good clean, check there aren't pieces of debris stuck in there.

Failing the above I'd also recommend posting your question on the AtariAge forum because there's a lot of very knowledgeable people on their who are actively keeping the Atari community alive!

11th Dec 2018, 9:31 pm	#14
Slothie Octode Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 1,287	Re: Atari 2600 R.I.P. If its not resetting properly I would look for: 1) Bad solder joints around the IC's 2) Replace any electrolytic capacitors, in particular C201 (4.7uF) that connects to pin 1 of the 6507 - if this cap goes bad and shorts it will hold the processor in reset. But any of these capacitors can cause problems - the electrolytics in most 70s 2600s are well past their best before date... My 2600 had terrible video until I broke open the modulator casing and replaced the electrolytics. If I was doing it today I would just remove the modulator and make one of the composite mods that are found online because analog TV's are getting rarer. 3) As others have said, use a piece of folded up stiff paper soaked in contact cleaner to give the cartridge contacts a good clean, check there aren't pieces of debris stuck in there. Failing the above I'd also recommend posting your question on the AtariAge forum because there's a lot of very knowledgeable people on their who are actively keeping the Atari community alive!