chromizone Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 i own a 2600cx-a u know the 4 switch wood grain any way i just cleaned all of my games (if took FOREVER!!!) and want to clean my system but i dont think i have the guts to actuly take it apart to do so ( i mainly only wanna clean the spot where the cartridge goes in) <--so the connecters are cleaner u know... any one know how to do so? thanks alot -chromizone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromizone Posted August 6, 2002 Author Share Posted August 6, 2002 awww COME ON!!! does know one hear know how to clean a freaking atari? any way maybe theres a website where i could find info on this? or maybe some of u guys know? thanks - chromizone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Atarian Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 Do you need step by step instructions or just tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snider-man Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 See that label on the bottom of it? Says right there: "Dishwasher safe." Just be sure to use lots of Jet Dry too. You're welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Atarian Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 Would you feel bad if he actually put it in the dishwasher? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromizone Posted August 6, 2002 Author Share Posted August 6, 2002 yea i kinda need a step by step it would be an awesome help if u could do that thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Atarian Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 I will write up a little cleaning you atari guide tonight in microsift word format and shoot it to you be email. is that okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snider-man Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 Would you feel bad if he actually put it in the dishwasher? Not particularly. It's that whole "If I told him to jump off a cliff..." argument. The Atari 2600 is a pretty hardy little machine and you'd really have to do something grotesque to break/ruin it (like put it in the dishwasher). techniques vary, but here's mine. I'm certain someone will pipe up and disagree with something in here. If you're just worried about the outside casing and exposed slots, just use a slightly dampened cloth to wash the plastic housing off (use a QTip to get in the crevaces). Do NOT get water down in the cart slot. To clean the cart slot, there are several ways. I use a QTip with alcohol on it. Take care to keep the "fuzzing" of the QTip to a minimum. You're just trying to dissolve, dislodge, and remove the dirt built-up in there. The alcohol evaporates instantly, so there's little worry of moisture damage. Or, if you want to play it *really* safe, get a can of compressed air from an electronics store, and "blow out" all the dust and dirt you can. If you're wondering about how to clean the *insides* of your Atari, take out the screws, dissassemble, and place in the dishwasher top rack. Use lots of Jet Dry. <--(obligatory "I'm only kidding...don't do it" smilie.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Atarian Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 I prefer to use the liitle dishwashing soap cube with the jet dry built into the center...LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Atarian Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 I prefer to use the liitle dishwashing soap cube with the jet dry built into the center...LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmi Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 i try and find something the same size as the cart chips and i wrap them with a thin piece of cloth ( an old bed sheet or pillow case works great ) i wrap it around the piece of Cardboard (thats what i use sometimes, pizza boxes are good and i dampen it with either alcohol or just plain warm water and i move it up and down in the slot Its kinda like the old NES cleaning kits system cleaners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRetroGamer Posted August 6, 2002 Share Posted August 6, 2002 I just recently got a few 2600 systems that were gunked up with lots of dirt and dust. What I did was remove the 6 screws on the bottom and take the top half off. I used some dish soap and a scrub brush and washed the thing off in the kitchen sink (top half ONLY!). Then just drip dry. I finished it off with some vinyl protectant called Vinyl-X (NOT Armor-All) that I use for my car interior. Reassemble and presto, the thing looks like it just came out of the box - brand new! Also, I seem to remember reading somewhere once that they actually did wash the circuit boards at some point during the manufacture of the VCS. I'm not sure where I saw that, perhaps in an old magazine article or the book ZAP? Can anyone confirm or deny that? However, I would not suggest doing this now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Atarian Posted August 7, 2002 Share Posted August 7, 2002 Chromizone, Check your hot mail. -GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvigor Posted August 7, 2002 Share Posted August 7, 2002 Some others have asked this question: http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ight=dishwasher http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ight=dishwasher http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ight=dishwasher http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ight=dishwasher http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ight=clean+2600 http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ight=clean+2600 http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.p...ight=clean+2600 But surprisingly it does not seem to be covered in the FAQs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcfrick2112 Posted August 8, 2002 Share Posted August 8, 2002 Hello all, Would you permit a new member to offer a tip for cleaning really dirty/dusty Atari's? Tuner Cleaner; not the junk that Radio Shack sells, the REAL stuff that techs. use. One brand (I use) is called 'Tun-O-Wash' made by Chemtronics. It's available from Newark Electronics and Hosfelt Elec. OK, the fine print, it may not be safe for all plastics (tho I DOUSED a near-death 7800 with it, and it works fine) You don't want to drink the stuff, or spray your cat...but if you're afraid to take something apart, or you have tried everything else, it's worth a shot. For areas like cartridge slots, it's an easy way to do it... (No Q-Tip fuzz) BTW, this stuff has actually saved a number of my systems, most of then off-topic. Just an idea, people. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvigor Posted August 8, 2002 Share Posted August 8, 2002 You don't want to spray your cat...but :wink: Well then count me out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari_Never_Dies Posted August 9, 2002 Share Posted August 9, 2002 why are people so afaraid to take their atari apart, ive been taking stuff apart since about 4, its all about expirementing, and seeing what works, you wont break an atari by cracking it open to blow some dust off, my advice is to just draw out a paper of where everything was before you rip away, plus an atari isnt that comples, everything is actuially quite simple, test some cleaners and see what works... i actuially found that some of my sisters biolage hair shiner puts a nice shiny coat on your systems and joysticks, it really works good, they look brand new. just dont be afaraid of breaking it, be careful, and keep track of everything, i recommend doing it on a white even, and clean surface with some containers for parts and screws, so you dont loose track of all your stuff. if you keep it organized, its quite easy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RichG1972 Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Back in 1994 I was told that most video stores will have a cleaning system designed specifically for the Atari 2600 systems, it's called "Doc's Power Up" and consists of a long yellow flat rectangular piece of plastic with a special cleaning cloth on it plus special lint free swabs for cleaning the cartridges. it already contains the neccessary cleaning elements you need within the package so if you want a sure-fire system to clean ALL the contacts inside the cartridge slot AND clean the PCB's of all your cartridges, get "Doc's Power Up", you can't go wrong with it because I certainly haven't....any other Atari users in or near the Mechanicsburg PA area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromizone Posted August 20, 2002 Author Share Posted August 20, 2002 cool il see if i can find it around hey do u have a trade list man? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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