Atari Light sixer - cap mod/av mod - no video but sound

[Ocelo]

Hello fellow Atarians,

I did an AV mod on my original light-sixer 2600 about a year ago and it was successful. The video quality seemed a little "static-y" so I bought a replacement cap kit. I also cleaned the switches with electronic cleaner spray.

I followed the diagram for the cap replacement kit on the atari age forums here and when I tested the system, I had sound but no video. I then replaced each new cap component with the original to see what part might be incorrect and now all the original caps and parts are back and I still don't have video. UGH!

 

What could be wrong? I have the polarity on the caps correctly matching the diagrams from this thread:

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/262206-cap-and-vr-kit-specifications-replacement-locations-for-the-2600-variants/

 

Here are some pictures of my work:

 

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks!

Edited December 30, 2019 by Ocelo

[Ocelo]

Small, sad update. I put all the new cap kit parts back in and now I have no video and no sound

 

Maybe the RIOT chip has died?

[0078265317]

If it aint broke don't fix it.

[Ocelo]

I found a "Vader" Atari 2600 at the local pawn shop today for $32. Considering this is a somewhat 'rarer' version of the original Atari 2600 VCS (and my original 2600 is now non-functional), I snapped it up. I cleaned off 40 years of dust and It works!

I might AV-mod this one for composite video eventually, but for now I'm just gonna enjoy a working Atari VCS again.

 

My new replacement chips for my light-sixer came today and swapping them in didn't fix the black screen. I don't know what's wrong with it at this point and I don't have the patience to find out, especially now that I have a working "Vader" 2600.

The moral of the story is, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by Ocelo

[Ocelo]

Problem solved!

It was a broken trace from where I had originally pulled power from the board on my AV mod. Jumpered it with a wire and that fixed it. Also the sound wire had been pinched and broken by the RF shield going on and off multiple times in my work. Fixed that also!

I had some help from an electronics guy where I work. I'm gonna donate a Suncom Slik Stik that I found at Goodwill recently for all his help. He wanted a new joystick since his old Atari's were broken.

[EpikalPuppy]

20 hours ago, Ocelo said:

Problem solved!

It was a broken trace from where I had originally pulled power from the board on my AV mod. Jumpered it with a wire and that fixed it. Also the sound wire had been pinched and broken by the RF shield going on and off multiple times in my work. Fixed that also!

I had some help from an electronics guy where I work. I'm gonna donate a Suncom Slik Stik that I found at Goodwill recently for all his help. He wanted a new joystick since his old Atari's were broken.

As for your Vader unit, just know that in those, all of the chips were not socketed, they were actually soldered directly to the board. This makes repairing them a real pain. They do look very cool though.

[Trellot]

On 1/9/2020 at 9:22 AM, EpikalPuppy said:

As for your Vader unit, just know that in those, all of the chips were not socketed, they were actually soldered directly to the board. This makes repairing them a real pain. They do look very cool though.

Ah yes, like the one I ended up fully socketing....with iron and wick....since the bad IC wasn't found until the very last!