Cartridge Cleaning: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "=Cleaning Atari 2600 cartridges Atari 2600 cartridges come in many shapes and sizes. Atari had no way of locking out 3rd party developers and thus each publisher seemed to have their own cartridge shell. That should not be an issue as the all clean up the same way. ==Items Needed * cotton swabs * 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (if not go for as high of a percentage as you can get.) * tooth pick or paper clip * Optional eraser * Optional Brasso ==Directions **Step One: **...")
 
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=Cleaning Atari 2600 cartridges
{{Warning|Some sources online encourage the use of Brasso on metal pins. This can potentially remove a layer of the metal, permanently damaging the pins.}}
== Items Needed ==
* Cotton swabs
* 90% or greater Isopropyl Alcohol
* (Optional) Metal Contact Cleaner, such as CRC QD Contact Cleaner
* (Optional) Eraser


Atari 2600 cartridges come in many shapes and sizes. Atari had no way of locking out 3rd party developers and thus each publisher seemed to have their own cartridge shell. That should not be an issue as the all clean up the same way.
== Cartridge Cleaning Directions ==
# Take the alcohol and wet one end of the cotton swab. Apply moderate pressure with the wet end on the exposed pins and move it quickly from side to side then like a toothbrush back and forth quickly on the pins. Flip the cart over and do the same with the pins on the other side. Once done, take the dry end of the cotton swab and do a once over to quickly dry and soak up any excess alcohol on the pins. Then proceed to the next step.
# Test the cartridge. Make sure to test the following factors. If any issues are present, repeat the cleaning process. If repeating the process does not work, proceed to the next step.
#* The game boots right away.
#* The video is present and not glitching.
#* The sound is present and not glitching.
# Spray the pins with metal contact cleaner and scrub them with a cotton swab. Allow it to fully dry before testing.
# Slice half of an eraser sandwich style so you have an flat eraser nub on one end. Place the flat end in between the pins and the cartridge case while applying moderate pressure on the pins move the eraser back and forth and up and down quickly on the pins on each side then take a dry cotton swab and make sure all debris is wiped clean from the cartridge and test it.


==Items Needed
== Connector Cleaning Directions ==  
* cotton swabs
* 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (if not go for as high of a percentage as you can get.)
* tooth pick or paper clip
* Optional eraser
* Optional Brasso
==Directions


**Step One:  ** Check to see if the cart has exposed pins. If they are proceed to step two.  If not the Atari branded or Telegames Cartridges have a plastic dust shield that hides the pins until the are I served into the console.  You need to put slight pressure on the bottom dust protector and wedge the toothpick or paper clip into one of the two slit like holes on either side of the dust protector if done while slight pressure is applied it should depress the dust protector do the other side until you can push the dust protector all the way back. Then hold it there and proceed to step two.
# Spray the pins with metal contact cleaner. If the pins are accessible, gently scrub them with a cotton swab.


**Step Two:  ** Take the alcohol and wet one end of the cotton swab.  Apply moderate pressure with the wet end on the exposed pins and move it quickly from side to side then like a toothbrush back and forth quickly on the pins flip the cart over and do the same with the pins on the other side. Once done take the dry end and do a once over to quickly dry and soak up any excess alcohol on the pins.  Then proceed to the next step.
== Special Considerations ==
=== Atari 2600 ===
Atari 2600 cartridges come in many shapes and sizes. Atari had no way of locking out 3rd party developers and thus each publisher seemed to have their own cartridge shell. That should not be an issue as the all clean up the same way.  


** Step Three:  ** test the cartridge in a 2600 does it start right away and is glitch free then you are done if not repeat step two once it is playable you should be done if not playable more intense and possibly damaging methods can be used as such they should only be used if the first method fails. 
Check to see if the cart has exposed pins. If they are exposed, proceed to the cartridge cleaning directions. If the pins are not exposed, the Atari branded or Telegames Cartridges have a plastic dust shield that hides the pins until the are inserted into the console. You need to put slight pressure on the bottom dust protector and wedge the toothpick or paper clip into one of the two slit like holes on either side of the dust protector. If done while slight pressure is applied, it should depress the dust protector. Repeat for the other side until you can push the dust protector all the way back. Then hold it there and proceed to the cartridge cleaning directions.
 
** Step Four Optional  possibly damaging use at your own risk** you can get an eraser and cut half of one end out sanwich style so you have an flat eraser nub on one end.  Place the flat end in between the pins and the cartridge case while  applying moderatw pressure on the pins move the eraser back and forth and up and down quickly on the pins on each side then take a dry cotton swab and make sure all debree is wiped clean from the cartridge and go to Step Threw

Revision as of 05:11, 29 April 2022

Exclamation-triangle-fill.svgSome sources online encourage the use of Brasso on metal pins. This can potentially remove a layer of the metal, permanently damaging the pins.


Items Needed

  • Cotton swabs
  • 90% or greater Isopropyl Alcohol
  • (Optional) Metal Contact Cleaner, such as CRC QD Contact Cleaner
  • (Optional) Eraser

Cartridge Cleaning Directions

  1. Take the alcohol and wet one end of the cotton swab. Apply moderate pressure with the wet end on the exposed pins and move it quickly from side to side then like a toothbrush back and forth quickly on the pins. Flip the cart over and do the same with the pins on the other side. Once done, take the dry end of the cotton swab and do a once over to quickly dry and soak up any excess alcohol on the pins. Then proceed to the next step.
  2. Test the cartridge. Make sure to test the following factors. If any issues are present, repeat the cleaning process. If repeating the process does not work, proceed to the next step.
    • The game boots right away.
    • The video is present and not glitching.
    • The sound is present and not glitching.
  3. Spray the pins with metal contact cleaner and scrub them with a cotton swab. Allow it to fully dry before testing.
  4. Slice half of an eraser sandwich style so you have an flat eraser nub on one end. Place the flat end in between the pins and the cartridge case while applying moderate pressure on the pins move the eraser back and forth and up and down quickly on the pins on each side then take a dry cotton swab and make sure all debris is wiped clean from the cartridge and test it.

Connector Cleaning Directions

  1. Spray the pins with metal contact cleaner. If the pins are accessible, gently scrub them with a cotton swab.

Special Considerations

Atari 2600

Atari 2600 cartridges come in many shapes and sizes. Atari had no way of locking out 3rd party developers and thus each publisher seemed to have their own cartridge shell. That should not be an issue as the all clean up the same way.

Check to see if the cart has exposed pins. If they are exposed, proceed to the cartridge cleaning directions. If the pins are not exposed, the Atari branded or Telegames Cartridges have a plastic dust shield that hides the pins until the are inserted into the console. You need to put slight pressure on the bottom dust protector and wedge the toothpick or paper clip into one of the two slit like holes on either side of the dust protector. If done while slight pressure is applied, it should depress the dust protector. Repeat for the other side until you can push the dust protector all the way back. Then hold it there and proceed to the cartridge cleaning directions.

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