Atari 2600 joystick issue

[Atari2008]

I recently got a brand new Atari 2600 joystick that was modified for left hand use, and after a few days the fire button stopped working. I opened it up and nothing looks amiss although I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for since I'm not very handy. The silver disk underneath the fire button seems fine as well as does the spring underneath the fire button. Any suggestions on anything I could do to possibly repair it?

 

Thanks!

[bah]

The atari needs a complete path for current to flow from the console through the button and back to the console. Lots of problems can occur.

 

First, take the controller apart and see if the button works when you press on the fire button silver contact itself. If it does, the button itself might be at fault.

 

Try playing a game and using the fire button while wiggling the wire both near the console and near the joystick. If the controller works with its wire an a certain position, then you have a bad cable and it needs replacing.

 

In a few rare cases, I have had to replace/clean the snap disc by peeling back the clear film over it. Any dirt or corrosion is bad but a new stick should not have this problem.

 

One other problem I have found is that the pins in the joystick socket can either push in or break free from the solder pads inside the atari console. Look to see that all 9 pins are out at the same distance and check function with a known good controller.

 

Good luck

 

bah

[dangeraaron]

My joystick did that to me a few times. I just simply rotated it clockwise with my thumb for a bit and and it works fine now.

[Atari2008]

The atari needs a complete path for current to flow from the console through the button and back to the console. Lots of problems can occur.

 

First, take the controller apart and see if the button works when you press on the fire button silver contact itself. If it does, the button itself might be at fault.

 

Try playing a game and using the fire button while wiggling the wire both near the console and near the joystick. If the controller works with its wire an a certain position, then you have a bad cable and it needs replacing.

 

In a few rare cases, I have had to replace/clean the snap disc by peeling back the clear film over it. Any dirt or corrosion is bad but a new stick should not have this problem.

 

One other problem I have found is that the pins in the joystick socket can either push in or break free from the solder pads inside the atari console. Look to see that all 9 pins are out at the same distance and check function with a known good controller.

 

Good luck

 

bah

 

Thank you for your suggestions! I opened up the joystick and I pressed on the fire silver contact several times and nothing happened. I pressed on the joystick contacts for comparison and they responded perfectly fine.

 

I also tried wiggling the cable to no avail.

 

I don't think the contact needs cleaning since it is a brand new aftermarket controller and everything looks perfectly fine inside. I also tested a working joystick and it worked fine on that controller port.

 

I'm assuming my next option would be to replace the board inside the joystick?

[zylon]

I would suspect the cable next. If the console is a 6er, then possible chip failure. I'd try a different controller first.

[bah]

"I also tried wiggling the cable to no avail."

 

This test can confirm a bad cable but cannot confirm a good cable. The next thing to do is to go to the point where the wires are connected to the board. If they attach with little slide on connectors, try sliding them off and then on to re-seat them. loose connections can be a problem.

Two of the wire connectors will attach to traces that lead to the silver fire button snap contact. Take one of these two slide connectors off and try touching it to the other connector while playing a game. If the game responds like the fire button was pushed, the problem in on the board. If the game does not respond, the problem is in your cable.

If your wires are soldered on, try taking a wire or paper clip and bridging from one solder point to the other to see if the game reacts.

 

Good luck

 

bah