+DrVenkman Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 21 minutes ago, JagChris said: I'm assuming there are chip pullers to use for these ICs or will they pop in and out by hand? I never use those things. Take a small, flat blade screwdriver, slide the blade under one end and gently lift one side of the chip just enough to break the friction but not all the way. Repeat on the other side. After that the chip should lift easy right out. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StickJock Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Yeah, when I use those U shaped pullers, I usually have to rock the chip back & forth while pulling, and more times than I would like I end up yanking it out at an angle & bending the pins. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Ok does anyone have a link to a pic of a labelled 600XL motherboard so I know whats what? How about where to order the repro Mylar for the keyboard? And name of replacement keyboard chips is 4051s? I want to grab a few of them. In the meantime I'm working up the nerve to take the keyboard deep dive. All this talk of knackering has me spooked. Thanks again everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 send a PM to @Duddie he also sells them here https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/keyboard-membrane-~~-mylar-for-atari-800xl-~~-600xl-38618 and play by Brads rules http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/New XL Keyboard Mylar.htm or here if you spend a minimum of $20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Brad's crazy. I haven't had the run in others have had with him but I tried to buy a Lynx flex circuit from him and he told me he was out but apparently is still selling them to others. Thank you for the link. Am going to try the Mylar clean first because it doesn't require i order and wait for things. It's been 20 years. I miss the 8bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 good luck, hope you are up and running soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Me too. A sidenote digression. Growing up I had an Atari 800XL, my friend had the C64. You know the huge rivalry. He'd get games on his C64 like Conan, Bruce Lee, Raid over Moscow and I'd get their counterparts on my Atari. We'd play the crap out of them and compare versions. Disappointing to see shoddy ports in comparison like Raid over Moscow and games that never made the transition like Raid on Bungeling Bay, Movie Monsters. They were gems. But we had known each other since real young. Way before all that. But we fell out of touch over 20 years ago. And last December i found out he got hit by a car and died. So it's with a bit of feeling when I see these games again that we played so often together. Right now my system is running Gemstone Warrior and hanging right next to the TV is his picture on the memorial card. And I can feel his judgement. A part of us will always be back in his room playing his C64, raiding Bungeling Bay. And I thank you all for your help I really do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Damn dude - that's terrible. I will drink a beer and play a game of Bruce Lee in your friend's honour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+kheller2 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 If the ENTIRE keyboard just stopped, and you replaced it with another that works, that could mean there is a short on the broken keyboard OR the mylar has snapped/cracked in one of the ribbon bends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StickJock Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Before you disassemble your entire keyboard, try the easy stuff first. 1) clean the keyboard connector contacts on the PCB and on the keyboard tail. Pay particular attention to the suspect pins. If that doesn't get it all working, then 2) swap the two 4051s around. Do you have the same bad keys, or did they move to another row or column? If so, then you have a bad 4051. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 I'm going to pull the trigger and buy from best because it's in the US. Wish me luck. Website says there is 1% of Atari XLs this doesn't work on. Is there an easy way to tell which I have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, StickJock said: Before you disassemble your entire keyboard, try the easy stuff first. 1) clean the keyboard connector contacts on the PCB and on the keyboard tail. Pay particular attention to the suspect pins. If that doesn't get it all working, then 2) swap the two 4051s around. Do you have the same bad keys, or did they move to another row or column? If so, then you have a bad 4051. Ok thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 Swapped the 4501s. No change. Removing ribbon cable and reseating seemed to clear up all problems except the 7,8,9,0,<>. So now will concentrate on the slot and first pin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 Problem persists. Cleaned ends of ribbon cable with soft cloth and window cleaner. Used compressed air for electronics to blow out ribbon cable slot. reseated. Rinse repeat. I have nothing small enough to go into the ribbon slot. No obvious pin bends that I could see. Completely dead from 7--> break key. Though yesterday for a brief period(5 minutes maybe) it worked intermittently. Since its that one row connected to that one pin I can't imagine it being dirty Mylar. I see no breaks but tomorrow will go forward with complete Mylar cleaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 not a fan of the window cleaner... but... if you do, no vinegar, no bleach versions please! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 The XL keys do not have the little bumps to let you know by feel when you're on the homerow. Has anyone come up with clever tricks to put some on there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle22 Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 Call Best Electronics. Be nice to Brad. He is my friend. He tends to get annoyed by people that ask stupid questions, so beware. (408) 278-1070 Please! Be NICE to Brad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manterola Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 Another trick that worked for me was to cut about half centimeter from the end of the mylar connection with scissors. I drew line first with pencil and then tried to do the cut straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 Ok I have left a message with Brad I hope I didn't annoy him I tried to be on my best behavior. Hope he calls back. I will try the snip snip suggestion after I try cleaning the Mylar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 No call back from Brad so I must have upset him in some way. Is there another reseller for these stateside? If not I'll have to get it from buy my retro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 with the order/min.order etc etc... maybe it's best people start doing group orders from Brad, using an accepted friend of Brad to do so... that way everyone wins... including Brad as he will get a sale that would otherwise be lost... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 1 hour ago, _The Doctor__ said: with the order/min.order etc etc... maybe it's best people start doing group orders from Brad, using an accepted friend of Brad to do so... that way everyone wins... including Brad as he will get a sale that would otherwise be lost... Last time I tried to order for someone else, the douche threatened to ban me as well. Good luck with that. I'm too old and grumpy to deal with this kind of shit from people for silly 40 year old junk (according to the rest of the world, nobody of which cares about or knows about this stuff). Let him take his stash to the grave - that's what this kid of attitude unfortunately begets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 WTF? seriously? wonder how he knew anybody was ordering for anyone else... I really wonder what's going on with our long time suppliers and retailers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 16 hours ago, JagChris said: No call back from Brad so I must have upset him in some way. Is there another reseller for these stateside? If not I'll have to get it from buy my retro Not sure if Bruce at myatari has any, but he's selling a keyboard for not much more https://www.ebay.com/itm/Keyboard-for-Atari-800XL-Computer-MYLAR-Condition-A-/133144481008 Although I would try and avoid a mylar keyboard if you can, other than that buy the one from retronics, great quality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 Soo.... what am I going to do? I haven't tried Mylar cleaning yet but am going to try cutting off the 1cm of the ribbon cable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.