How to open a Commodore VIC-20 cartridge

[ianoid]

I decided to post these pictures of the inside of a Commodore VIC cart since I couldn't find any on the web. If I was modern, I would post a youtube video.

 

To open a VIC-20 cartridge:

1) Unscrew the back screw. It does not hold the cartridge together, but rather serves to hold the circuit board in place.

2) Use a flat head screwdriver to push the tab on the back of the cartridge towards the top end of the cartridge. That is, push away from the cartridge connector end. Use gentle pressure to separate the cartridge top end (non-connector end) as you push on the tab. Push too hard on the tab and it may break.

note: Some cartridges are glued together and may not be accessible without breaking the tabs.

3) Repeat for the other tab on the back of the cartridge.

4) The cartridge will not come apart immediately. There is another pair of tabs that you can typically separate by twisting the two sides of the cartridge shell carefully in opposite directions. They are located right next to the cartridge connector. See pictures.

 

To get an idea of which direction to push with your screwdriver, take a look at the pictures for assistance. The side of the cartridge with the 4 spaces is the back side of a VIC metal cartridge label and therefore the front of the cartridge.

 

This may not work for third party cartridges which may have a different design.

 

Good luck not breaking your cartridge!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[billysastard]

thanks for that unfortunately my vixen switchable ram cart has no screws and i need to open it as something has broken fee inside and is rattling around so i dont want to risk plugging it into the vic.

 

this is the unit and cart in question http://www.nightfallcrew.com/18/05/2010/vixen-switchable-16k-ram-for-commodore-vic-20/(photos of the open cart included)

Edited July 16, 2015 by billysastard

[carlsson]

Based on the pics, it looks like you should go straight to step #2 in the description above. That means if you carefully pry the plastic tabs, it would open. But be careful so you don't snap off the tabs, then you need to come up with another way to close it afterwards.

[billysastard]

Based on the pics, it looks like you should go straight to step #2 in the description above. That means if you carefully pry the plastic tabs, it would open. But be careful so you don't snap off the tabs, then you need to come up with another way to close it afterwards.

thanks, i'll give it a go tomorrow (gently) hopefully it'll come apart without breaking but it's something i have to do as i've only just got my vic repaired and it wants to play properly with my sd2iec

[billysastard]

Based on the pics, it looks like you should go straight to step #2 in the description above. That means if you carefully pry the plastic tabs, it would open. But be careful so you don't snap off the tabs, then you need to come up with another way to close it afterwards.

nothing wanted to play nicely so i jammed a screwdriver in and twisted it, plastic got a little gouged but it'll sand, it opened without any tabs breaking, turns out the rattle was two blobs of glue used instead of posts through the rear holes in the circuit board (looks the same as in the pics), anyway the board seems to fit firmly into place withing the housing but i'll give the card a test run naked first (with appropriate anti static measures) and check all is ok prior to snapping it all shut again.

[motrucker]

thanks for that unfortunately my vixen switchable ram cart has no screws and i need to open it as something has broken fee inside and is rattling around so i dont want to risk plugging it into the vic.

 

this is the unit and cart in question http://www.nightfallcrew.com/18/05/2010/vixen-switchable-16k-ram-for-commodore-vic-20/(photos of the open cart included)

I a couple of Vic 20 cartridges, one with a screw and one without, so obviously these things are all created equal. The one with the screw was dead easy to open up, the one without a screw was like a chinese puzzle trying to open it up. I'm glad Commodore had a better idea for the C-64 cartridges.

http://rr.c64.org/wiki/Final_Cartridge

[billysastard]

just to add, having opened the cart i finally got around to testing it in the vic, it still worked perfectly so i was able to simply reseat it in the cart case and clip it all back together without any fuss.