Cleaning Atari 2600 Systems

[JacobZu7zu7]

Hey, is there a way to actually clean the pins inside an Atari?

I know Nintendo they have cleaners. But doesn't seem very easy

to get in those slots of an Atari Consoles. Anyone have info?

[Urchlay]

Hey, is there a way to actually clean the pins inside an Atari?

I know Nintendo they have cleaners. But doesn't seem very easy

to get in those slots of an Atari Consoles. Anyone have info?

 

Use 90% or better isopropyl alcohol, or contact cleaner (from Radio Shack, if you can find one that still carries it, or from Fry's, if there's one nearby). You can also buy cleaning solution from a video game store, but most of the time it's just alcohol (and usually overpriced).

 

Whichever you use, put it on both sides of the card edge connector on a cartridge. Standard Atari carts have a cover over the connector, either use a cart by a different manufacturer (one that has exposed pins), or use a small flathead screwdriver to open the cover on an Atari cart. Clean the cart connector with a q-tip (but be careful not to leave bits of cotton behind), or an old T-shirt you're going to throw away. Then, re-apply the alcohol or contact cleaner to the cart connector.

 

After you've got cleaner on the cartridge, insert and remove it from the console a few times. If the pins in the Atari were really dirty, you may be able to see the junk that comes off them. In that case, clean the cartridge again and repeat the process.

 

If you used alcohol, wait a while (at least an hour, more is better) before you power it up: 90% alcohol is still 10% water...

[Rik]

I use those emery board nail files that you can get at the pharmacy around the cosmetics section to clean the contacts on consoles,They're thin,just the right thickness,and will not bend,just insert and out,and work your way to the other end,of the slot on your console,they do a fantastic job,then squirt with a little contact cleaner,to get any loose dirt residue out.

Edited November 24, 2006 by Rik

[CPUWIZ]

[Uzumaki]

What? No Armor-All?

Armor-All