atari 2600 4 switch has broken switches?

[Coolcrab]

I have some issues with my 4 switch, basically the reset and select button don't work unless you toggle them 1000x

I wrote a small switch test program to see how well or not well they work. It basically changes the bg color when pressing each of the switches.

 

Here is a video showing the problem. Code and Program below for others who would like to use it.

How does one fix the switches? do I have to replace them or could it be dirt etc? They clearly still work but not as good as they should.

 COLUBK = 0
__main
 
 drawscreen
 if switchreset then COLUBK = $46
 if switchbw then COLUBK = $1E
 if switchselect then COLUBK = $0E
 if switchleftb then COLUBK = $CA
 if switchrightb then COLUBK = $5A
 if joy0fire then COLUBK = 0
 

 goto __main

tester.bas.bin

[NISMOPC]

Spray them with de-ox cleaner spray. Several of the 2600's I've rcvd over the years have had similar issues and just needed a good cleaning to work.

 

Spray the switches, then flip them back and forth several times. Spray again. Usually will clean them pretty good and get them working again.

 

Good luck!

[+-^CrossBow^-]

And after you have them working well, put some die-electric grease in there to keep them switching smoothly and help keep corrosion at bay.

[Osgeld]

Usually what I find is the contacts are reasonable but the silly grease is so full of dust and junk

 

Either way contact cleaner

[Coolcrab]

Got a can of wd40 contact cleaner and it worked like a charm!