Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Consoles => Topic started by: USSEnterprise on March 10, 2006, 10:56:39 pm

Title: Cleaning Atari 2600 carts, controllers
Post by: USSEnterprise on March 10, 2006, 10:56:39 pm

I was reading something online saying that cleaning the contacts on Atari carts, as well as the switches in the joysticks and the pots in the paddles is a good idea. How would I do this? For the carts, I would lean toward using dry Q-tips. Sandpaper for the joystick switches? How to I clean the potentiometers?

Title: Re: Cleaning Atari 2600 carts, controllers
Post by: missioncontrol on March 11, 2006, 09:07:57 am

a White eraser works well on cleaning the carts....

for the paddles I've used contact cleaner....

I've never really had to clean the joysticks...

Title: Re: Cleaning Atari 2600 carts, controllers
Post by: missioncontrol on March 11, 2006, 09:15:14 am

guts of a 2600 joystick

(http://common.weblogsinc.com/common/images/1524287985352731.JPG?0.8528623941599898)

Title: Re: Cleaning Atari 2600 carts, controllers
Post by: USSEnterprise on March 11, 2006, 05:37:32 pm

The same stuff that I use in my EM pinball machine, which I shouldn't even be using?

Title: Re: Cleaning Atari 2600 carts, controllers
Post by: forbiddenlyrics on March 12, 2006, 07:51:18 am

I really like to use alcohol to clean my cart contacts. I've tried to use erasers but a q-tip can get into places easier than an eraser. Also you might want to check out this site for several cleaning guides:
http://www.atariage.com/howto/index.html (http://www.atariage.com/howto/index.html)