Dead CBS Electronics cart

[Recycled]

Just got a copy of Mountain King. To my chagrin, it does not work. Just colorful squiqley lines. I've tried alcohol and q-tip---no dice. Any other ideas before I take the thing apart (which is what I want to avoid)?

[Tempest]

I don't have an answer for you, but I can remember I had two CBS Ram Plus carts die on me back in the day. I think that the Ram Plus chip is more sensitive to power spikes or static electicity or something. It may very well be dead.

 

Tempest

[Recycled]

I don't have an answer for you, but I can remember I had two CBS Ram Plus carts die on me back in the day.  I think that the Ram Plus chip is more sensitive to power spikes or static electicity or something.  It may very well be dead.

 

Tempest

976758[/snapback]

 

 

aw f**k.

 

[8th lutz]

I think it not just the CBS Electronic carts. I purchased a bump' n' jump cart about 4 months ago and didn't work, There was some lines on the screen. .

Edited December 5, 2005 by 8th lutz

[+Omegamatrix]

All I can say is try it on another 2600. I've had that happen a few times with Imagic carts, particularly Demon Attack & No Escape! While my primary 2600 played hundreds of other carts fine it hated these for some reason. After much cleaning, wiggling, and turning the power on and off I could get them to work maybe 1 out of 3 times. On my secondary 2600 they work fine everytime. These are both four switch woodys. Then on my secondary 2600 Asteroids doesn't display correctly. The middle of the screen is moved over one tab width to the right. Every other game works fine, and I've never seen another game do that. I tried several Asteroid carts as well. They all play fine on my primary system. In the end I just use two systems to play all my games.

[Recycled]

All I can say is try it on another 2600.

976812[/snapback]

 

 

Ok. I'll do that. I've got my light sixer hooked up now.....I'll use my vader tonight.

[galaxy warrior]

All I can say is try it on another 2600. I've had that happen a few times with Imagic carts, particularly Demon Attack & No Escape! While my primary 2600 played hundreds of other carts fine it hated these for some reason. After much cleaning, wiggling, and turning the power on and off I could get them to work maybe 1 out of 3 times. On my secondary 2600 they work fine everytime. These are both four switch woodys. Then on my secondary 2600 Asteroids doesn't display correctly. The middle of the screen is moved over one tab width to the right. Every other game works fine, and I've never seen another game do that. I tried several Asteroid carts as well. They all play fine on my primary system. In the end I just use two systems to play all my games.

976812[/snapback]

 

 

i have to do the same things. only i tend to use my gemini for game testing. some games just refuse to work unless youre dedicated to trying it over and over. funny though i just came across a smurf cart that looks like it watched a fire or fell asleep at the beach but works perfectly everytime. cant say the same for many of the other carts ive owned.

[shadow460]

I'd try using a box knife blade to gently scrape the contacts clean. Just slide the edge gently down the length of the contacts on both sides of the connector. You should have the edge of the blade pointed toward the cart's end label, and the blade almost parallel to the connector to avoid lifting the contacts off of the board.

 

If that doesn't work, maybe you could try retouching the solder joints on the circuit card. Use a grounded 15 to 25 watt iron, though, especially on Mountain King.

I've done this, I've sanded a couple of cart's contacts, modded the console, and done a slew of alchohol cleaning.

 

My Zaxxon and Submarine Commander carts looked like they were shot out of a torpedo tube when I got them, and now they work great. I've got other titles that I have to fight a little, though.

I use a third generation 7800 with no evidence of the expansion port.

 

There's a Mountain King cart in for sale near my home. I need an excuse to get it since its label is better than the one on mine. I'll get it, and if you want mine, Recycled, send me a PM.

Edited December 5, 2005 by shadow460

[silverpoodleman]

Before prying anything open, you might want to substitute WD-4o for the alcohol. Since I've switched, I have a much better success rate AND it is apparently better for the carts.

[shadow460]

Before prying anything open, you might want to substitute WD-4o for the alcohol. Since I've switched, I have a much better success rate AND it is apparently better for the carts.

977111[/snapback]

 

So what exactly is WD-40? From what I've read, its sole purpose in life is to remove water and possibly rust.

It sounds like it's worth a shot, and it might save scraping or sanding the contacts.

[+Omegamatrix]

I don't think I'd ever use something like WD40. The smell is too harsh, and it's too runny and greasy. I couldn't stand that getting all over my carts and in my machine.

 

But there's always ArmourAll!

[A.J. Franzman]

I don't think I'd ever use something like WD40. The smell is too harsh, and it's too runny and greasy. I couldn't stand that getting all over my carts and in my machine.

 

But there's always ArmourAll! 

977156[/snapback]

If you just spray some WD40 on a cotton swab (or lint-free swab if you have any), blot any excess on a paper towel, then wipe only the contacts in the cart, it won't make a huge mess of the carts or console.

 

But WD40 would not be my first, second, or third choice either.

[Voch]

Did you try cleaning the cartridge contacts with a pink eraser?

 

Voch

[Recycled]

Did you try cleaning the cartridge contacts with a pink eraser?

 

Voch

978034[/snapback]

 

 

no, I haven't. I'll try it. (although I'm getting another copy.)

[[d2f]Iggy*SJB]

Did you try cleaning the cartridge contacts with a pink eraser?

 

Voch

978034[/snapback]

 

 

no, I haven't. I'll try it. (although I'm getting another copy.)

978079[/snapback]

 

Do that. It works better than alcohol, and I'd NEVER recommend using an abrasive on those contacts. A clean pencil eraser will do the job of cleaning them up without doing any damage to the cart or the contacts.

[HP Atari King of Michigan]

I just so happen to have Mountain King and it works fine. Using an eraser? I might have to try that on Sssnake which doesn't work right now (even though Sssnake not working might actually be a benefit! LOL).

[shadow460]

I was testing a Mountain King cart myself last week. That one worked.

Then I took my own personal one and tested it, the one I'd cleaned up for myself, and it wanted to be cleaned again.

So I did.

 

All I used on either one of them was alcohol.

I'll have to remember the eraser trick, though. I used them occasionally on slot racers. Most of the time, though, I filed down or replaced the pickup shoes.

Pickup shoes on a slot racer are a consumeable item. They wear out faster than the tires, actually.

Cartridge contacts are not comsumeable.

[tillenterprises]

I've had similar problems with CBS' Omega Race for the 2600. Bought 2 of them, both of them non-working even after cleaning. The third one I bought worked fine.

[MoonlightKnight]

I get batches of games quite frequently and every once in a while I'll get a dead one... no rhyme or reason as to which ones or why either... last one that came in was a copy of Gopher... won't fire up no matter what I try...

 

I'm usually try alcohol myself, but I've never heard of using WD-40 before. Interesting idea though.

[+Omegamatrix]

I generally find every cart I get works, or will work after a little cleaning. I'm always surprised when I do get a truly dead cart. The worst of all is finding a cart with a nice label that is dead. I guess they all have their time to go whether it is from bit rot or the soldering coming loose though.

 

@Recycled: I hope you get your new copy of Mountain King soon. It really is a good game.

[Recycled]

@Recycled: I hope you get your new copy of Mountain King soon. It really is a good game.

981279[/snapback]

 

 

Thanks. It's on it's way from shadow460.

 

 

Update. I used the pink eraser. It didn't work. Alot of dirt came off though.

[shadow460]

Can't be any dirtier than the Water Ski I just got. That thing turned half a dozen cotton swabs pitch black.

 

If it turns out that the ROM chip is bad, that cart you have now would be a good candidate for a Wings repro.