2600 Jr. Start and Reset Buttons Broken--Tips for Repair?

[phaxda]

Just bought this one "untested" on eBay. Tried all my usual tricks but the membrane ribbon/circuit thing appears busted. Rest of the console works fine. Anyone have any experience in this repair? I was thinking about some sort of mechanical switch but that is probably over my head. Just asking before I junk it. Grrr, eBay.

[A.J. Franzman]

Although it's possible for the printed circuit tracks on the flexible mylar to become cracked or scratched, I found that often the problem is the hard plastic buttons cause the contact areas to wear out in just one or two tiny spots where they always meet first. Putting a bit of soft material on the back side of the buttons (such as a couple of layers of electrical tape, or a suitably sized piece of the vinyl sheet material that fills the spaces between some of the self-adhesive rubber bumpers you can buy at a hardware store) will often make them work better than when they were new.

[zylon]

Replacing it isn't that hard either, as long as you don't break any of the side-tabs on the buttons. I have a spare one that did work.

[Benzman66]

Use a flat edge screwdriver and push CAREFULLY on the side tab underneath the console top to release each of the "push" buttons. As Zylon and A.J. said, it's a piece of cake after that to change the mylar strip. Just pull the old one out and slide the new one in.

[phaxda]

Oh, I have already popped out the buttons and tried to revive the mylar strip (thanks for the correct terminology). But is it actually possible to purchase a new mylar strip thing? I have like $20 into this already and that's about all I am wiling to spend.

[zylon]

If I find the one I had in my parts stash, you could have it for a dollar.

[zylon]

Found it!

[tremoloman2006]

Best Electronics would be your best bet to find replacement strips.

[Benzman66]

Oh, I have already popped out the buttons and tried to revive the mylar strip (thanks for the correct terminology). But is it actually possible to purchase a new mylar strip thing? I have like $20 into this already and that's about all I am wiling to spend.

 

There you go! Zylon found the strip for a dollar, which is a bargain! Now you can fix it and only have $21 wrapped up in the system.

 

Another Atari will be SAVED!

[phaxda]

Zylon is the man! It is saved and working great. Thank you so much for sending the strip. Now for a public apology--your payment went in the mail a little late, but it's on the way--sorry for the delay. I threw in some interest.

[zylon]

Cool! I was pretty sure that strip worked ok when I pulled it.