some tips

[mark]

if alchol doesn't work use very fine sandpaper (600+grit) on the contacts. works everytime for me.

 

the round spongy things that protect the switches, use spares you got layin around to also cover them on the outside.

 

take the power supply out after you play so it will last longer.

 

if you don't have a dust cover use a plastic sheet to cover your 2600.

 

anyone else have miscellaneous tips you want to share

[Nukey Shay]

Take the power supply out? For drinks?? j/k

 

And covering the woody with plastic right after play might be harmful (anyone?). Personally, plastic doesn't do anything for me

[Happy_Dude]

"do not submerge in water"

 

- funny story -

 

I actually dissasembled my 6 switch an took out all the electrical

components and washed the case under running water.

The only way I'v found that effectively removes that "cacked on"

dust from the groves on the 6 and 4 switch modles

 

- Switch tip

 

If you're switches are gummy and don't click, de-solder them and

take them apart using a flat screwdrived, then use a hole punch or

another screwdriver and "Gently" tap on the back of the contact.

then reasemble and you're switches should be like new

[badbrad]

when I worked for a local arcade vendor, we would put the pcb's in a dishwasher and dried them in an oven on the lowest setting.

Never had one get ruined.

[Brad2600]

I find it very useful to use tissue to get to the nooks and crannies on 2600s...so it's not so hard to clean the surfaces of them.

 

I'm not prone to taking apart 2600s and I do try and clean carts as well.

[Witchfynde]

when I worked for a local arcade vendor, we would put the pcb's in a dishwasher and dried them in an oven on the lowest setting.

Never had one get ruined.

 

Wow, that's amazing, an arcade vendor that actually CARED! I hate those that let their machines go to hell and have crappy joysticks and all, the slobs.

 

In regards to topic

 

Yeah, make sure your Atari doesn't feel warm anymore before putting the plastic over it when you're done playing so it doesn't overheat.

 

And a tip for any Vectrex owners: you can use a spare pillowcase as a dust cover.

 

I'll tell ya one funny thing, a buddy of mine had been over a lot during the summer we graduated from high school, playing video games, and then FINALLY one day he said "what IS that underneath that cover?" I told him it was a Vectrex. He didn't even know what one was. Look dude, more games to play!