Mulbin Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Hi all, I've had a missing pin for ages in the data port at the side of my Atari 400 (where the disk drive or cassette plugs in) and it still worked...but now another has dropped off through wear and it no longer functions! Is there; A. An off the shelf replacement for these sockets. B. A tutorial in making and soldering new pins. I really don't want to spend the next year looking for a donor computer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 The pins I'm reasonably sure are likely some sort of stainless steel, which in itself can be somewhat resistant to being soldered. In every application I've seen (computer, perpipheral) they go through a 90 degree angle behind the plug then are attached to the motherboard. A possible fix I can think of (assuming the break took place somewhere after the bend could be to find some donor pins and trim to size then just solder onto the stub that remains. Then maybe reinforce the whole thing with a bit of hot-snot silicone glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 theyre probably made of stainless to resist bending. i would suggest looking into PCB pin headers as they are designed to be 'handled' to some extent. if you can find a similar gauge one, maybe it can be trimmed/formed to fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 The pins are .040 with .025 square tails, designed to withstand 25lb of axial force. If you can find a supplier of a pair of pins that will work (there are two lengths before the bend) there would be 3D printed sockets available by the end of the week! Here's the relevant snippet from the SIO specs 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulbin Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 Just now, Mr Robot said: there would be 3D printed sockets available by the end of the week! I have a 3D printer too, I'll keep en eye out for the right gauge pins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 You can buy sockets from Best but last I checked there was a limit per customer. It's also common to replace the connector with a DB15 but you'd still need some db15 to sio adapter thing. Maybe fit a db15 to a lotharek sio 4way breakout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle22 Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 I believe that the DB15 only complicates the matter. Look around. SIO sockets are out there, and soon will be printed when the pins are found. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulbin Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 I’ve just bought a dead 1010 on eBay for £9 which has 2 good sockets on it! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Almost Rice Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 My off the shelf replacement was paper clip. cut into shape of 90 degree bend and put it back in place and solder the in just the pin that broke. Fast and I didnt need to get a replacement SIO port. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddtmw Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 On 9/25/2019 at 10:02 AM, Mr Robot said: The pins are .040 with .025 square tails, designed to withstand 25lb of axial force. If you can find a supplier of a pair of pins that will work (there are two lengths before the bend) there would be 3D printed sockets available by the end of the week! Here's the relevant snippet from the SIO specs I’ve designed a socket, but cannot find pins, so haven’t posted it. Do you have an idea on where to get pins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 from you local stationers by all accounts! ? i know you can get some heavier duty paperclips, hopefully theyre up to the task Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 48 minutes ago, toddtmw said: Do you have an idea on where to get pins? If I did I'd be making sockets myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 it would appear steve at atarimax has his own pins and they are solid ... clearly there is a way to obtain suitable pins... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle22 Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 5 hours ago, Almost Rice said: My off the shelf replacement was paper clip. cut into shape of 90 degree bend and put it back in place and solder the in just the pin that broke. Fast and I didnt need to get a replacement SIO port. A paper clip will NOT stand up to the many plug / unplug cycles. This is a TERRIBLE idea. We must find proper solutions. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Worley Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) On 9/27/2019 at 11:14 PM, Kyle22 said: A paper clip will NOT stand up to the many plug / unplug cycles. This is a TERRIBLE idea. We must find proper solutions. As horrible as it seems, a large type paperclip does make useable pins. I never put one in a male jack before, merely headed wires with bits of paperclip to plug into a female sio cable without having to cannibalize the cable to get what I wanted. I think it is probably ok in the mid-run, but a fix like that in the actual 400's socket isn't the best bet. I'd replace the sio connector with one from something less crucial, swap the two. I'm kinda curious how you got the pin to stay in the socket firmly. Did you clip out the old broken pin and run it through and solder it down to the remaining pin inside the machine? Remove the pin from the socket entirely and replace it with a paperclip? I'd wipe the clip down with some wd40 to keep it from rusting.... Jeff Edited October 3, 2019 by Technoid Mutant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle22 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Plugging in straight, by hand, individually is VERY different from a pin in an SIO connector mounted on a board. There must be a 90 degree bend, and there is where you lose all the strength. If you use a paperclip as a pin it will most likely get pushed back into the SIO connector and the 90 degree angle will be reduced by bending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Why not buy one from Best? If you can't find a SIO connector at all, I have a couple of extras. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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