PlutoniumPasta Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 (edited) I have recently purchased a 4 switch woody Atari 2600 and it just came in last Friday. I'm quite familiar with the 2600 and have studied the system before I purchased one, so more technical answers are fine. I'm not sure how long this has been going on, but I began to notice some sort of smokey smell coming from my 2600's cartridge port. Is this normal after using a 2600 for a few hours? I haven't had any issues with playing games on it. Is this normal after using a 2600 for a few hours? I believe this might just be because the system is old. Edited May 30, 2023 by PlutoniumPasta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cebus Capucinis Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 The magic smoke is getting out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 Smoke smell is not good, if the 2600 was in a smokers environment or the owner had a wood stove etc. as the machine warms up it might release those smells from the plastics and internals. You may need to give the 2600 a serious cleaning, if the smell is a hot electronics smell... you better get to it before the magic smoke all escapes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhd Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 When I used to actively collect console hardware, the very first thing that I would do was open the case and give it a good wash in the sink. I would also brush-off the motherboard. Some of these were very filthy. After 40+ years these cases will accumulate dust, dead bugs, and who knows what else inside. This process also provides an opportunity to inspect the hardware for burnt traces, bulging capacitors, and other hardware defects. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 11 hours ago, Cebus Capucinis said: The magic smoke is getting out! Hopefully the refill kits are available again soon: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/10622 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlutoniumPasta Posted May 30, 2023 Author Share Posted May 30, 2023 (edited) I'm going to take a look on the inside of my 2600 soon. I'll check for hardware defects and any dust or debris that might be inside. I'll do some cleaning as well. Edited May 30, 2023 by PlutoniumPasta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atarian7 Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 LOL I first read this as "strange MONKEY smell coming from 2600". One of those rare dyslexic moments I guess. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roots.genoa Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 16 hours ago, Cebus Capucinis said: The magic smoke is getting out! Yeah it's weird, I thought it was a Jaguar thing only. 🤔 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cebus Capucinis Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 4 hours ago, Atarian7 said: LOL I first read this as "strange MONKEY smell coming from 2600". Wasn't me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddlepaddle Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 I saw "monkey" also! It seemed strange to me so I looked it up and "Smokey" is actually a persons name (Smokey Robinson, Smokey the Bear), whereas "smoky" refers to lots of smoke. The brain sees lots of similarities between the two words "smokey" and "monkey". They are both six letters, with only one letter removed and inserted, similar to and only slightly more complex than a simple transposition (s)mo(n)key 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlutoniumPasta Posted May 31, 2023 Author Share Posted May 31, 2023 If my Atari had a strange monkey smell, it would probably be better for me to throw the whole thing out. It's not worth keeping a console that smells like that LOL. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIO2 Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 Get with the times. Replace the smoke cartridge with a vape cartridge. Seriously though, it is probably just a big ole bug roasting on the voltage regulator. Well, that is my guess. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roots.genoa Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 I guess I'm not a retrogaming specialist like you guys but I've never had the opportunity to smell any monkey, so I wouldn't be able to identify a strange one. 😔 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jgkspsx Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 Aren’t we all, each of us, strange monkeys? 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlutoniumPasta Posted May 31, 2023 Author Share Posted May 31, 2023 Thanks to all of this talk about the title saying strange monkey smell, I keep reading it as strange monkey smell. 😂 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeatari1 Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 Was is mesquite? Hickory? Perhaps cherry? I do love me some mesquite. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 I smelled this while it was playing but it just smelled like MacBook. Am I doing it right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 Upload the smell file so we can tell you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 OK, done! monkey.jpg.smell 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 Did you mean to post this? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+GoldLeader Posted May 31, 2023 Share Posted May 31, 2023 I farted in there earlier after eating some woodchips. Sorry about that. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlutoniumPasta Posted June 1, 2023 Author Share Posted June 1, 2023 56 minutes ago, GoldLeader said: I farted in there earlier after eating some woodchips. Sorry about that. Well, looks like I'm gonna have to bleach the inside of my 2600 now. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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