Atari 800 Computer (Not XL) Top Cover needed

[Dread Pirate Lucky]

I have owned my original Atari 800 home computer since the early 80s. I never got rid of it and have continued to play it over the years. Sadly, the plastic on the top cover seems to have worn out. I'm talking about the cover that goes over the game carts and rom/ram carts and locks down. Where the springs attach to it the plastic broke so there is no way to lock it down now and have the system boot up without putting something heavy on top to keep the door latched.

 

If anyone has a top cover for an 800 they could work something out with me on I would appreciate it. I don't want to buy another Atari over this when mine still works so well and it's my original. I was almost in tears over this because out of my 19 game systems this is the one I had before NES and grew up on more. I want my kids to be able to play it as well.

 

 

Thanks in advance,

 

 

[COBRAIP]

There is a guy on E-bay who has that part along with other 800 parts for sale and he may be able to be convinced to part with it on the side.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-SET-OF-7-ATARI-800-COMPUTER-BOARDS-CARTRIDGE-DOOR-COVER-/322182886281?hash=item4b0398b389:g:7CoAAOSwEjFXfCy0

 

At least it is worth a try....

[Dread Pirate Lucky]

That's awesome. Only bad thing is that it is lacking all of the Atari 800 stickers and no way for me to remove the ones I have safely to transfer to a new top. I am trying to find one intact but I will message him and see. Thank you for the tip. I checked ebay the other day and there was nothing

[flashjazzcat]

That's awesome. Only bad thing is that it is lacking all of the Atari 800 stickers and no way for me to remove the ones I have safely to transfer to a new top. I am trying to find one intact but I will message him and see. Thank you for the tip. I checked ebay the other day and there was nothing

If the old door is scrap anyway, you have little to lose by heating it up in order to try and dislodge the glue holding the labels in place.

[Dread Pirate Lucky]

Flash,

 

Would I just do that with a blowdryer? what would be the best way to adhere the stickers back to the new cover?

[flashjazzcat]

I tend to favour solvent-free, water-based adhesives, but in any case the choice of glue is a leisurely decision once they're off the old door. I've had success removing the badges on XL and XE machines by heating up the metal (and indeed the plastic) with a fairly powerful hair dryer, but it's one of those jobs at which you don't get any second attempts. Patience is the key. Recently I was working on an 800XL which needed an aluminium trim transplant (the short section at the front edge, right below the console keys). I got the replacement part off the donor machine by heating it up and then using lateral movement (pushing against the edge of the strip with a plectrum). The metal trim pinged off and landed on the other side of the kitchen. But it was undamaged and went on the other case with a dab of glue.

[+mytek]

WD-40 is also a fairly safe way to breakdown adhesives.

 

- Michael

[Dread Pirate Lucky]

These are all good suggestions. Flash, I owe you one buddy. That ebayer broke up the lot for me and sold me the top cover with shipping for $17 total. I told my wife I was probably not going to locate another case cover anytime soon and she agreed with me on the purchase. I will give the sticker thing a try. I think before I do though, I am going to take a high quality photo of them so in case I ruin them, my wife who is a graphic designer, can print me off new ones on sticker paper. I prefer to keep original though but am not a collector so not at worried. I just want it to look the way it did when I got it.

[gozar]

These are all good suggestions. Flash, I owe you one buddy. That ebayer broke up the lot for me and sold me the top cover with shipping for $17 total. I told my wife I was probably not going to locate another case cover anytime soon and she agreed with me on the purchase. I will give the sticker thing a try. I think before I do though, I am going to take a high quality photo of them so in case I ruin them, my wife who is a graphic designer, can print me off new ones on sticker paper. I prefer to keep original though but am not a collector so not at worried. I just want it to look the way it did when I got it.

 

You might want to make the modification to bypass the switch on the door, then you don't have to have it closed for the 800 to power on. I did this on my Incognito 800, along with removing the internal speaker.

[Dread Pirate Lucky]

just my luck. i get a new front cover in and turns out the back cover is brittle as hell and when i put on the new, it crumbles. back to the internet to find the back half of the top. i'm thinking maybe i should just invest in another machines for the parts. thoughts?

[DavidMil]

_{I added a bypass switch on my old 800 after I retired and got it down from the attic. The door opened and closed but the plastic piece that pushed the switch on the power board down was missing. I drilled a 1/4 in hole in the top to the right of the cartridge door and added a SPST switch and soldered the wires into a couple of via holes beside the switch on the power board. It took longer to take the 800 apart and reassemble it then to do the mod. Now I just leave the door up all the time and don't worry about wearing out the latch to keep the door closed. If anyone is interested I could put something together to show how to do this.}

 

_David

 

 

[retrocanada76]

You just need to reach under the board and put a tiny amount of solder between the two legs of the door switch. This will short it as closed and you can leave the A800 with the cover up. Good to use the MyIDE or MyIDE-II (needs another modication on the RAS signal for PHI2)

[retrocanada76]

Opening the A800 makes me fell I'm disassembling a nuclear device from the 70's....

[Dread Pirate Lucky]

yeah i dont want to try and go opening this thing up....... i'd rather just replace the broken top so it works correctly. i think the answer might be to just buy another atari and keep one on hand for parts.

[Dread Pirate Lucky]

does anyone know anything about this website? Legit or not? Had dealings with for parts? http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/

[BillC]

does anyone know anything about this website? Legit or not? Had dealings with for parts? http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/

That's one of the recommended sites for getting parts for most models of Atari computers, they've been in business since the early 80's. I haven't had any dealings with them for over 20 years, but have seen posts that Brad can be a bit touchy to deal with at times.

 

From what I have read in those posts, don't ask for a quote on a bunch of stuff and then change your mind and ask for another quote, as this can cause him to ban you from ordering for a period of time.

 

That said, Brad has had new parts made for items that original parts aren't available for, and the new parts are better quality(longer expected life) than the originals.

 

Examples:

 

CX40 joystick: http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/joystick.htm#PCB

CX30 paddle: http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/S5%20Super%20Pot.htm

130XE/65XE: Improved mylar for Mitsumi made XE keyboard

1200XL keyboard: Improved mylar for 1200XL keyboard(also made by Mitsumi)

http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/1200XL%20keyboard%20Mylar.htm

Edited August 8, 2017 by BillC