about to open my 800, anything i should know?

[VicViper]

About to open up an Atari 800, is there anything I should know before I do? For example, I know the PS2 had a "booby trapped" ribbon cable that you would pull out if you weren't careful when you opened it. any precautions i should take?

[Rybags]

This is 400 stuff but should apply - keyboard cable and PS board are mounted to tall pin rows which will easily bend and could be oxidized making removal tricky.

 

The 400/800 are much more complex construction than the later machines (XE comes apart practically in seconds), so remember the order of removal and where each screw type came from.

 

Also, an easy pitfall is to forget to put the cartridge power activator switch back on, it's a plastic part that pushes the second power switch.

 

Additional, if the machine's been modified in the past with switches for alternate OSes or the like, then the wiring and switch mountings will often be delicate and sort of a booby trap in their own right.

 

 

Extra - they also have internal power supply board, so those capacitors would probably have a potential bit of kick if you touched them.

Edited December 9, 2011 by Rybags

[Gunstar]

About to open up an Atari 800, is there anything I should know before I do? For example, I know the PS2 had a "booby trapped" ribbon cable that you would pull out if you weren't careful when you opened it. any precautions i should take?

 

Don't let any of the sprites escape, they'll try and jump out on you when you open the case! They'll say their "play-uhs", but don't believe them, they're sprites!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprite (spri^-t) 1. an elf, pixie, fairy or goblin. 2. a ghost. 3. freely roming computer object.

 

Player (play-uh, play-ur) 1. a punk that treats women like objects and never commits. 2. video gaming junky. 3. Atari's version of the computer sprite.

Edited December 9, 2011 by Gunstar

[Bryan]

The entire circuit board is wrapped in razor blades and asbestos... other than that, not much.

 

Take the RAM lid off first. Make sure the latches (if yours has them) are turned so that they don't interfere with separating the top plastic from the aluminum housing. Take the bottom off, unplug the keyboard and speaker. I think there's a couple more screws before the top comes off and then you're left with the metal housing and mainboard.

 

When you're putting it back together, there's a trick to getting the joystick ports back through their openings properly.

[VicViper]

Hmmm, this sounds like it will prove more adventurous then i anticipated. for starters, how do I get the lid off the ram slots?

[Vandal968]

Pay attention to how the RF cable is routed and also how the speaker is mounted. Atari 800 interconnects are tinned, not gold plated, so they often fail. If it were me I'd gently wipe all of the male terminals with a light oil to remove existing corrosion and hopefully delay future corrosion. I like Breakfree CLP for this. When reassembling, tighten the screws just enough, they strip easily especially in 30 year-old plastics.

 

cheers,

c

[Bryan]

Hmmm, this sounds like it will prove more adventurous then i anticipated. for starters, how do I get the lid off the ram slots?

Open the cartridge door. If there are two latches on the left and right sides of the cartridge area, turn them to release the edge of the lid's metal plate. If not, there will be screws and washers that need to be removed. Then lift up the front of the lid and I believe it slides forward and comes up. It's a little tricky.

[mimo]

I think it slides backwards

[Bryan]

I'm at work, and strangely there's no 800's here for me to check.

[mimo]

I'm at work, and strangely there's no 800's here for me to check.

[hitchcock4]

I'm at work, and strangely there's no 800's here for me to check.

Let me check...... Nope, no Atari at my work place either.

[Joey Z]

If you haven't yet opened it (really to late to go back into it now, just for this) use a nice soft pink eraser to clean off all of the contacts on RAM and CPU boards. also, don't touch the knob on the CPU board or your color is screwed...

EDIT: remember how the CPU and RAM boards go in. I have never blown the one's in my 400 by putting them in backwards, but still, be careful

Edited December 11, 2011 by Joey Z

[VicViper]

Yeah, I never even got the thing open. you all made it sound pretty daunting:smile: I'll probably just throw it up in the marketplace as is and see if anyone is interested. it plays games, and the vertical row of buttons (start, option, etc.) all work, just don't expect anything from the keyboard.

[stevem00]

Chances are that the keyboard is the mylar type similar to the 1200XL. I fix these all the time by taking the keyboard apart and cleaning the contacts on the mylar.

[+remowilliams]

About to open up an Atari 800, is there anything I should know before I do?

 

Don't let the awesome leak out!!