Broken button on Channel F

[HoshiChiri]

So I learned the other day that the '2' button on my model 1 Channel F has ceased to function. Everything else is fine, just the one button's gone. How easy is it to fix such a thing? I'm very much a system repair novice- and I can't solder- but I'm hoping since it's a mechincal issue it's an easier fix. Anybody have any experience on this issue?

[HoshiChiri]

Just a quick bump, hoping someone has answer- I've tried looking up videos/articles online, but anyone's who opening the system up doesn't show the actual teardown, so I have no idea how to remove/repair the buttons!

[masschamber]

did the spring just break? they should pull off with no issue

[masschamber]

also I have a spare dead unit, I'll check that out for you

[HoshiChiri]

also I have a spare dead unit, I'll check that out for you

 

That would be lovely, I'm deathly afraid of accidentally killing the unit by opening the wrong thing or breaking something trying to get the button off.

 

I'm not sure what broke- the button does stay up/bounce back when pressed, but there's no resistance anymore & nothing happens. It was working last year, so I'm assuming something inside that actually made the connection has gone bad/come loose. Since nothing else is wrong, I doubt it's a circuitry issue.

[masschamber]

they look like they are complete sealed units, so the button needs to by de-soldering it and replacing it, it is an incredibly easy job and the channel f is really easy to take apart, the only issue is finding the correct replacement button, any momentary push button would do, but it wouldn't look good. If you can find someone that will do it locally (I could do the job, but do you really want to spend 50 +dollars shipping it back and forth?) I can pull a few of the buttons and send them to you

[HoshiChiri]

they look like they are complete sealed units, so the button needs to by de-soldering it and replacing it, it is an incredibly easy job and the channel f is really easy to take apart, the only issue is finding the correct replacement button, any momentary push button would do, but it wouldn't look good. If you can find someone that will do it locally (I could do the job, but do you really want to spend 50 +dollars shipping it back and forth?) I can pull a few of the buttons and send them to you

 

I was afraid of that- the only person I know who solders is my fiancé, and he flat-out does not have the time to try and figure out a 40+ year old console, let alone sneaking the gear to do it out of work. I'm probably just going to have to let it be for awhile.

[masschamber]

well if you can find someone that can do the job, I can send the buttons your way

[CatPix]

they look like they are complete sealed units, so the button needs to by de-soldering it and replacing it, it is an incredibly easy job and the channel f is really easy to take apart, the only issue is finding the correct replacement button, any momentary push button would do, but it wouldn't look good. If you can find someone that will do it locally (I could do the job, but do you really want to spend 50 +dollars shipping it back and forth?) I can pull a few of the buttons and send them to you

 

Even the cartridge connector?

On the European Saba Videoplay, the cart connector is wired to the machine with a "ribbon" cable, which is the worst thing I ever seen, as it's literally metallic tracks glued on paperthin cardboard. Touch is and it all fall apart never to be fixed again.

[masschamber]

 

Even the cartridge connector?

On the European Saba Videoplay, the cart connector is wired to the machine with a "ribbon" cable, which is the worst thing I ever seen, as it's literally metallic tracks glued on paperthin cardboard. Touch is and it all fall apart never to be fixed again.

not sure what you mean, this is just the rest and 1234 buttons on the front panel. the cartridge connector on us models also uses a ribbon cable