Popular Post mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Hi all, found this forum, read a few posts and had to join. This is only the second Atari forum I've participated in last ones were BBS's, so it's been awhile I started out in the early days as an Atari authorized service center tech and repaired/refurbished more consoles than you could shake a stick at. Looks like Atari never left and I've still played it all of these years. I'm an IT admin now, but I started out as a lowly bench tech. If you were good, they called you a "gunslinger" back then - which seems kind of silly, but it was considered high praise at the time. It was a name reserved for the high end guys who took care of the issues no body else had any luck with, or the ones that were considered to difficult for field personal. Not necessarily related to Atari, just in general. We took contracts with any manufacturer who needed depot style repair where we could get decent money and secure a steady parts chain and factory level service material. I've professionally repaired everything from Bang & Olufsen, Macintosh (not the computer), Apple (the computer), Commodore, Nakamichi, Data South, Unisys, Daisy Tech, Atari (many models), Marantz and more. Nothing was thrown away back then - if it was of quality & had value, it was all repaired. The Atari was no exception - the 2600's were extremely well made units, and made to be repaired. Actually... they were made to be repaired by folks who knew how to use o-scopes and logic probes. The manuals are geared to flow chart troubleshooting , but the real repair happened at the end of a scope probe. The flow charts were for the new guys and ones destined for field repair. Anyway, a friend asked me to do a repair on a 2600, so I got into the loft looking for a few parts and would up finding all of my service gear, parts and manuals that I had packed away for who knows why (but I'm glad I did) - and it turns out... I can still repair them like nobody's business. Atari Creep, TrekMD, StormSurge and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Fantastic to have a repair expert here. I know I could always use help and advice. Welcome! Rowsdower70, mojoatomic, DCG and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Thanks for the welcome! Hope I can add to the discussions and be of use to folks. DCG, Justin, Lost Dragon and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 I've got a nice little project to work on. A 2600 4 switch board that needs one of the joystick ports replaced. I've got a new port. But not the confidence to de-solder and remove the old part. What do you use as a de-solder tool? I've got both copper braid, and one of those clicky thumb sucker tools (it's never been opened -- never used it). No rush or anything, I was just curious which would be the better bet. My plan was just to try both and see with works best. After all, there are 9 pins to experiment on. Lost Dragon, Justin, DCG and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjustin6 Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Wow great to have you here. I know you could help out people here with your knowledge DCG, Lost Dragon, Rowsdower70 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Creep Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Hi all, found this forum, read a few posts and had to join. This is only the second Atari forum I've participated in :-) last ones were BBS's, so it's been awhile :-) I started out in the early days as an Atari authorized service center tech and repaired/refurbished more consoles than you could shake a stick at. Looks like Atari never left and I've still played it all of these years. I'm an IT admin now, but I started out as a lowly bench tech. If you were good, they called you a "gunslinger" back then - which seems kind of silly, but it was considered high praise at the time. It was a name reserved for the high end guys who took care of the issues no body else had any luck with, or the ones that were considered to difficult for field personal. Not necessarily related to Atari, just in general. We took contracts with any manufacturer who needed depot style repair where we could get decent money and secure a steady parts chain and factory level service material. I've professionally repaired everything from Bang & Olufsen, Macintosh (not the computer), Apple (the computer), Commodore, Nakamichi, Data South, Unisys, Daisy Tech, Atari (many models), Marantz and more. Nothing was thrown away back then - if it was of quality & had value, it was all repaired. The Atari was no exception - the 2600's were extremely well made units, and made to be repaired. Actually... they were made to be repaired by folks who knew how to use o-scopes and logic probes. The manuals are geared to flow chart troubleshooting , but the real repair happened at the end of a scope probe. The flow charts were for the new guys and ones destined for field repair. Anyway, a friend asked me to do a repair on a 2600, so I got into the loft looking for a few parts and would up finding all of my service gear, parts and manuals that I had packed away for who knows why (but I'm glad I did) - and it turns out... I can still repair them like nobody's business. :-) Welcome yo!!!!! Always amazing to have knowledgeable techs here. I know I might pick your brain from time to time. DCG, Lost Dragon and Justin 3 Quote Don't just watch TV, PLAY IT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCG Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome to Atari.io! Rowsdower70, Justin and Lost Dragon 3 Quote https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp_iJmaoVpbqFDcewhi_aqA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 I've got a nice little project to work on. A 2600 4 switch board that needs one of the joystick ports replaced. I've got a new port. But not the confidence to de-solder and remove the old part. What do you use as a de-solder tool? I've got both copper braid, and one of those clicky thumb sucker tools (it's never been opened -- never used it). No rush or anything, I was just curious which would be the better bet. My plan was just to try both and see with works best. After all, there are 9 pins to experiment on. Well, I like most things Hakko and have for years, but when you buy it... you'll know it. My wife got me one of these 2 weeks ago for my birthday - and I LOVE it. I've had the Hakko version for awhile, but wanted another one wasn't prepared to drop another $1200 on another Hakko. I'd put the desoldering braid up, it's just gonna lift the pads and make you mad. I'd use the manual pump for sure. Just make sure to flow fresh solder (60/40 tin/lead) into the joint first, then use the pump. Lost Dragon, Rowsdower70, RickR and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome to Atari.io! Thanks! Rowsdower70, DCG, Justin and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome yo!!!!! Always amazing to have knowledgeable techs here. I know I might pick your brain from time to time. Thanks! Happy to help however I can - Rowsdower70, Justin, Lost Dragon and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Wow great to have you here. I know you could help out people here with your knowledge Thanks for the welcome! Justin, Lost Dragon and DCG 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome to the forums mojoatomic! Great to have you here!! Rowsdower70 and Lost Dragon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome to the forums mojoatomic! Great to have you here!! Thank you! Rowsdower70 and Lost Dragon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowsdower70 Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome mojo! Hope you stick around and have a great time. We have a great community! Lost Dragon 1 Quote "For you - Rowsdower from the 70 - have been appointed Omnivisioner of the Game Grid." ~ Atari Adventure Square Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome mojo! Hope you stick around and have a great time. We have a great community! Thanks! Lost Dragon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosweargamer Posted March 1, 2017 Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome! Nice to have someone with your background around these here parts! Lost Dragon 1 Quote The No Swear Gamer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtJuo040EOCTVziObIgVcg Host of The Atari 7800 Game by Game Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2017 Welcome! Nice to have someone with your background around these here parts! Thank you, like your videos BTW. Lost Dragon and nosweargamer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Welcome aboard! Lost Dragon 1 Quote 🖖 Going to the final frontier, gaming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosweargamer Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Thank you, like your videos BTW. Thanks! And just like that you get 30 bonus points* on your first day! Way to go!!!! *points have no value whatsoever Lost Dragon 1 Quote The No Swear Gamer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtJuo040EOCTVziObIgVcg Host of The Atari 7800 Game by Game Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas10e Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Well, I like most things Hakko and have for years, but when you buy it... you'll know it. My wife got me one of these 2 weeks ago for my birthday - and I LOVE it. I've had the Hakko version for awhile, but wanted another one wasn't prepared to drop another $1200 on another Hakko. I'd put the desoldering braid up, it's just gonna lift the pads and make you mad. I'd use the manual pump for sure. Just make sure to flow fresh solder (60/40 tin/lead) into the joint first, then use the pump. I got this fellow for Christmas ... https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Contained-Desoldering-Internal-Carrying/dp/B00PGFAJWS/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1488422825&sr=1-1&keywords=aoyue+8800 first thing I used it on was the hex buffer chip on a heavy sixer. I was putting off doing it for a very long time cause of damage I did to other cadavers I was working on. I was getting pretty good at using the bulb iron. https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-45-watt-desoldering-iron?gclid=CPeHkebnttICFQZYDQodUwMH4g but the vacuum pump was a real pleasure to use. I am still unsure how the manufacturers name is pronounced welcome to the site Lost Dragon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjustin6 Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Thanks! And just like that you get 30 bonus points* on your first day! Way to go!!!! *points have no value whatsoever Haha points? Lost Dragon and nosweargamer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 I got this fellow for Christmas ... https://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Contained-Desoldering-Internal-Carrying/dp/B00PGFAJWS/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1488422825&sr=1-1&keywords=aoyue+8800 first thing I used it on was the hex buffer chip on a heavy sixer. I was putting off doing it for a very long time cause of damage I did to other cadavers I was working on. I was getting pretty good at using the bulb iron. https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-45-watt-desoldering-iron?gclid=CPeHkebnttICFQZYDQodUwMH4g but the vacuum pump was a real pleasure to use. I am still unsure how the manufacturers name is pronounced welcome to the site Wondered how you did without it for so long didn't you? :-) It really is the only way to preserve these boards for the future - the desoldering vacuum pump guns don't lift pads and you only keep heat on the board for a brief period of time. Best to flow fresh solder into the joints beforehand, though - makes the joint let go much more easily. Lost Dragon and chas10e 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Welcome aboard! Thanks! Lost Dragon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoatomic Posted March 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Welcome to the good ship Atari I.O, mojoatomic I can see yours is a Skill Set a lot of folks are going to appreciate. Thanks for being part of the community here. Thanks for the welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballblaɀer Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Looks like I was late to this welcome wagon -- glad to have you here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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