atariaction Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 (edited) Just testing a heavy sixer. Without a joystick even plugged in the player 1 (left port) moves the player to the right. As in the right direction is locked on. I have taken the machine apart and tested all the caps on the board right by the joystick port and none seem shorted. All pins on the port seem intact. Any suggestions? Thanks, Mike Edited October 11, 2018 by atariaction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason_Atari Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 I had a light sixer with a similar issue, left joystick had fire button constantly on. Replacing the TIA solved the problem for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 tia chip is most likely the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 OK thanks guys! Do you have a go to place to buy them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 (edited) Best Electronics carries the TIA chips. Best to call them or send them an email and inquire about this: Atari NTSC/US "TIA" Custom Chip CO10444D $19.95 http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/2600_Tech_Tips.htm Another option, and the one I do, is I try and find junker 2600s just for parts to have on hand. So if you can find a cheap junker it might be worth that as well. I know I picked up a lot of 5 2600s recently in various states of non-working for $5 each locally. The ICs alone in them are worth more than that these days. Edited October 16, 2018 by -^Cro§Bow^- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 Excellent thanks. I think I have a couple machines I can use for parts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 I swapped TIA's with one from another Atari 2600 and issue not resolved. So swap joystick port next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick3092 Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 (edited) It's a H6, so could the hex buffer on the port be bad? I think the normal failure mode of the hex buffer is rapid fire though. So it might not be the case. Edited October 16, 2018 by nick3092 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_79 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Joystick directions are connected to the RIOT (6532), not the TIA. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 17, 2018 Author Share Posted October 17, 2018 Ok ill swap the 6532 and see what happens thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 17, 2018 Author Share Posted October 17, 2018 Swapped 6532's and we are in business (sort of)...I put the system back together and not getting any power now. That heavy aluminum shield on the heavy sixers actually touches the circuit board....weird or intentional for grounding?. I will have to take it all apart again and see what happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 it touches around the edges and near the cart slot for grounding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 17, 2018 Author Share Posted October 17, 2018 (edited) Ahh ok so it IS grounding! It turned out to be the ribbon cable so game powers on again and the player 1 locked moving to the right is resolved! I think I may need to replace player 1 joystick port now though. Sometimes if you move the controller plug a bit the fire button stops working (testing with driving paddles for the moment) or at least reflow the solder. Edited October 17, 2018 by atariaction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Ahh ok so it IS grounding! It turned out to be the ribbon cable so game powers on again and the player 1 locked moving to the right is resolved! I think I may need to replace player 1 joystick port now though. Sometimes if you move the controller plug a bit the fire button stops working (testing with driving paddles for the moment) or at least reflow the solder. Holy shit Mike! Been a long time! If you need a DB9 port I'll send you one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 17, 2018 Author Share Posted October 17, 2018 Holy shit Mike! Been a long time! If you need a DB9 port I'll send you one. Haha yes indeed! I'm still kicking around but have gone hardcore into the pinball hobby so you will see me in those forums these days Learned a lot about repairing pins over the years so can use that for this kind of stuff now Thanks so much for the offer man. I will let you know. I may try to reflow the solder 1st. Will see if that works! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polish.Gasoline Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) Check and see if the DB9 port is missing a piece (pin) where it connects to the controller you'll know then. Edited October 18, 2018 by Polish.Gasoline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atariaction Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share Posted October 19, 2018 Check and see if the DB9 port is missing a piece (pin) where it connects to the controller you'll know then. Likely not the case but good call. A joystick controller will move in all directions and button works no problem until you move the joystick plug in the port around a bit. Then some function is lost. Move it around again and function regained. It could also possibly be the joystick I am using. When I plugged it in it did not seem very tight at all. Pretty loose actually. I will have to test another joystick with a better plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari-dna Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Possibly bad solder joints on the pcb where the joy connectors are. If they were handled roughly there may be cracks, intermittent connections. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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