Fixing crooked carts?

[T.A.P.]

After weeks of searching, I finally find a new copy of a game I really wanted. I open it up, and the damn thing is messed up.

 

Is there any way to fix a crooked pcb that wont destroy the cartridge?

[_The Doctor__]

since you opened it, what did you see?

Normally the cart's pcb has specific guides and pins and pinch points.

You might just have it miss aligned or have something sheered off.

does the pcb move or float? Many did, and leveled out on insert, but if a catch point is broken might be angled when removed.

 

Edited March 16, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[T.A.P.]

I didn't open the cartridge, just the box it came in (it was a sealed copy). I tried to wiggle the pcb but it wont move.

[_The Doctor__]

ah misunderstood, you opened the package not the cartridge.

[_The Doctor__]

sometimes they put a dab of hot glue in that run of carts, the pcb would wiggle around without it. If you forced the pcb straight, the glue peels off and sounds like something is broken inside the cartridge.

very warm conditions and moderate pressure over time might let it move back to a normal position, but that's slow and might still pop the hot glue loose.

Edited March 16, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[Rybags]

Supposedly some of these later carts can be opened by clamping half the shell in a vice which will help the clips to release.

Unsure which types it will work on, there's at least 2 later light grey types from Atari.

[_The Doctor__]

in case I wasn't clear the dab of glue moving around makes the sound, everything else is normally fine. if you open the cart you can pull out the hot glue dab/chunk that may rattle about.

Edited March 17, 2023 by _The Doctor__

[T.A.P.]

Does anyone on here have experience fixing carts with this issue? I'd pay to have an expert repair them, because I know I'll just damage the cart trying to force it open.

Edited March 17, 2023 by T.A.P.

[T.A.P.]

47 minutes ago, Rybags said:

Supposedly some of these later carts can be opened by clamping half the shell in a vice which will help the clips to release.

Unsure which types it will work on, there's at least 2 later light grey types from Atari.

According to Best Electronics, this is the type you have force open:

"So on the XE carts with the undersized game
PCB’s that float and can cock side ways.
To  correct this floating side to side PCB
problem Atari would put some hot melt on
the left / right and top sides of the PCB inside
the XE case to prevent it from moving.
 
On the one XE version in your picture
you can open up the XE cart   But note
it has locking latches (no center cartridge
screw) right / left and top insides of the XE
cart casing.    In most cases if you try to
pry apart this version XE cartridges half's.
you will break / snap off many of the
internal XE locking latches Taylor  
 
The other version XE Cartridge with
back side cart lip, has a screw under
the label."

[+kheller2]