Atari 2600 cartridge cleaning slot

[Wolf9545]

I know that the slot that you insert the games in is dirty. The only problem is that the opening is small and I don't know an easy way of cleaing the contacts inside the Atari 2600. Anyone have any suggestions?

[keilbaca]

Easy. Clean an atari 2600 cart with rubbing alcohol and a q-tip, clean it good, then insert the game in and out about 10 times, then repeat until you feel that the cartridge slot is clean. Use a game where there is no protective plastic. (Activision games work best)

[Wolf9545]

Thanks, I will have to give that a try. I never thought that a q-tip would fit in the slot.

[bjk7382]

I never thought that a q-tip would fit in the slot.

 

He didn't suggest that (because a qtip won't fit in the slot)

[Wolf9545]

Oh, I'm sorry. I guess that is what I get for reading the respose early in the morning. Is there something I can do to actually clean the contacts on the system without using a cartridge to clean them? I think that the contacts on the system might be really dirty. This is my orignal system and I have not used it for the past 8 years.

[Mindfield]

Oh, I'm sorry.  I guess that is what I get for reading the respose early in the morning.  Is there something I can do to actually clean the contacts on the system without using a cartridge to clean them?  I think that the contacts on the system might be really dirty.  This is my orignal system and I have not used it for the past 8 years.

 

One way (the "cleanest" way) to get at the contacts is to open the unit up, remove the RF shielding, and remove the plastic cover from the cartridge slot. Then you'll be able to get at the contacts directly with a Q-Tip. It's a little tricky, but fairly easily accomplished if you're comfortable rummaging around the innards of electronic devices.

 

Another alternative is to use extremely fine grit sandpaper (500 grit or greater) and wedge it folded up into the slot a few times. If you want, add some isopropyl alcohol to the sandpaper when doing this. If you don't want to use sandpaper, you can go the "extremely gentle" route and use a CD cleaning chamois doused in alcohol the same way. The only problem with that is it's more difficult to manoever, since it's very soft and pliable.

[bjk7382]

You could always try what I suggested in this thread.

[Wolf9545]

I will have to give both of those a try. They sound like it sound be fairly easy.

 

Do you know where I can find schematics for the 2600? I would like to be able to test the different resistors/caps but if I had the schematic it would tell me what they should be. I can tell you the model of the 2600 tomorrow if that matters.

[Doran]

http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/schematics/

[PAH]

I strongly suggest not using sandpaper. It wears the gold plating off the contacts and leaves little scratches. These scratches then really like to grab dust and the contacts will oxidize much faster. The more you do it, the worse they will oxidize each time. Granted, inserting and removing cartridges over time will cause abrasion to the contacts from dust anyway, but even 2000 grit sand paper will trash contacts very quickly.

 

What I've done is take apart a duplicate cartridge to get the PCB. Then take a Stridex medicated acne pad. Rinse it thouroughly with water. Let it dry thouroughly. Put a *little* bit of isopropyl alcohol on the pad. Fold it over the edge of the cartridge PCB. Insert and remove that a few times in the cartridge slot.

 

Pete

[D.Yancey]

If its just full of accumulated dust from sitting out in the open so long, you may want to just take compressed air first and blow out all the debris. See then how it looks and take additional measures if necessary.