ST mouse, floppy, and SCCM124 monitor repair questions

[CommodoreDecker]

Hi!  I recently got a sweet 10240STFM. Main unit works great, but neither mouse button works, and the floppy won't read disks. 

 

The mouse - is it just a matter of using a meter to check resistance for the buttons?  I looked up the pin-outs and saw a +5v pin, making me think that just connecting ground and the button pins may not be appropriate for confirming, as pressing either button on the mouse doesn't cause changes on the meter. Ditto for +5 and button pin in question. The good news is that the scrolling up/down/left/right directions do work, so I used alt-ins to simulate the button for operability. 

 

The monochrome monitor works and is sharp, but the lower right edge starts to extend at an angle - instead of a full rectangle, it skews slightly. Is there an easy fix if I were to pop off the cover? Would degaussing help? It's minor, but if nothing else it's due to capacitor replacement...

 

What's the lifespan of the floppy drive mechanism? I will be buying some GoTek units regardless and swapping out the floppy drives, but otherwise still want a working floppy, if it's even practical to have. If nothing else, the noise induces ASMR and who doesn't like that?

 

Thanks!

 

 

[TGB1718]

I've generally found a really good clean of floppy units will bring them back to life, I know they are

a bit fiddly and you have to be really careful not to damage anything while cleaning.

 

Pay particular attention to the heads, I've thought in the past I did a good clean only to find

they didn't work, however a second clean did the job.

[Zogging Hell]

With the monitor, has it been tampered with to show a full screen display or is it still sporting the black border? Depending on the monitor type and presuming they are Atari monitors.. the SM144 has full control of the screen size on the back and the SM125 has vertical length so you might want to try reducing the screen size a touch as they can get a little iffy round the edges when stretched. The SM124 needs to be opened up to do the same and isn't really viable for screen stretching without replacing some parts (it can cause the monitor to fail, but the big screen meant lots of people did it) so you may want to check that. 

 

The button switches inside the mouse can go, but it is usually only the left one. It sounds more to me like there is a problem either in the cable, or, more likely with ports on the ST itself. These often break due to their location and may require you to strip the keyboard and resolder them in.

The right mouse button is wired up to be the same as a fire button on a joystick in port 1 in the ST internally, so you can check whether it is the mouse quickly if you have a joystick handy.

[CommodoreDecker]

On 9/9/2023 at 10:55 AM, TGB1718 said:

I've generally found a really good clean of floppy units will bring them back to life, I know they are

a bit fiddly and you have to be really careful not to damage anything while cleaning.

 

Pay particular attention to the heads, I've thought in the past I did a good clean only to find

they didn't work, however a second clean did the job.

 

Thanks! I did whip out my old trusty disk cleaning kit (the fuzzy felt platter with alcohol), but that hadn't done much. Will go in with a cotton swab... I've a Gotek on order if all else fails.

 

 

23 hours ago, Zogging Hell said:

With the monitor, has it been tampered with to show a full screen display or is it still sporting the black border? Depending on the monitor type and presuming they are Atari monitors.. the SM144 has full control of the screen size on the back and the SM125 has vertical length so you might want to try reducing the screen size a touch as they can get a little iffy round the edges when stretched. The SM124 needs to be opened up to do the same and isn't really viable for screen stretching without replacing some parts (it can cause the monitor to fail, but the big screen meant lots of people did it) so you may want to check that. 

 

The button switches inside the mouse can go, but it is usually only the left one. It sounds more to me like there is a problem either in the cable, or, more likely with ports on the ST itself. These often break due to their location and may require you to strip the keyboard and resolder them in.

The right mouse button is wired up to be the same as a fire button on a joystick in port 1 in the ST internally, so you can check whether it is the mouse quickly if you have a joystick handy.

 

Thanks!  Am new to the ST (only took me 3.5 decades to get there)

 

The SCM124 shows a black border (overscan area?). It sounds like I might be better off not tinkering on the monitor and leaving it be. I bought the unit for a working monitor and it's not terribly bad by any measure.

 

About the mouse, thanks especially for the heads-up on the ports' fragility. I'll be careful...  I did find out it's got to be the cable.  The other ST I purchased arrived on Saturday; testing the mouse on it and had the same results. Will look up a replacement cable, for the sake of having a working unit.  At least, if there is a broken port socket, those are easy enough to fix.

[djglish]

There are some adapters that you can buy to allow the use of a PS2 type of mouse with the Atari.  Not the same look or feel of the original (usually better feel actually).  That might help until you can get a good working Atari mouse.  Or you can see about making a new cable.  they take a standard male DB9 plug at the computer end.  I believe the cable plug into the mouse innards, so making that end shouldn't be too difficult.  I like the idea of checking the computer connection using a joystick.

 

 

[CommodoreDecker]

On 9/10/2023 at 8:43 PM, djglish said:

There are some adapters that you can buy to allow the use of a PS2 type of mouse with the Atari.  Not the same look or feel of the original (usually better feel actually).  That might help until you can get a good working Atari mouse.  Or you can see about making a new cable.  they take a standard male DB9 plug at the computer end.  I believe the cable plug into the mouse innards, so making that end shouldn't be too difficult.  I like the idea of checking the computer connection using a joystick.

 

 

 

Cool info, thanks!

 

I know Best Electronics, whom I ordered a replacement mouse cord from lately (great place), has some trackballs that are PC-based -- I wish there was a simple adapter to get any PC serial/PS2 trackball or mouse to work...  

 

I sorta like the feel of the ST mouse. Like the angles as well.  Nicer than the Amiga mouse, certainly...

Edited September 15, 2023 by CommodoreDecker

[Chri O.]

On 9/15/2023 at 1:34 PM, CommodoreDecker said:

I wish there was a simple adapter to get any PC serial/PS2 trackball or mouse to work...  

Here is one: http://trumouse.com/product/atari-st-usb-mouse-adapter/ 

 

[CommodoreDecker]

On 9/16/2023 at 10:30 PM, Chri O. said:

Here is one: http://trumouse.com/product/atari-st-usb-mouse-adapter/ 

 

 

USB - sweet.  Thanks for the link!

[Atari8man2004]

I took my 1040ST out of storage got eveything working but my 2 ST mouse are messed up - 1 mouse horizontal movement left only and the other mouse vertical movement only up.  I cleaned the 9pins ports on the ST with alcohol and wd40 and the mouse conector but the problem remain.  I order a PS/2 Mouse to ST adapter from the Brewing Academy but is there a way to fix my 2 Atari ST mice?   My ST was in storage for over 20 years

Edited September 27, 2023 by Atari8man2004

[Chri O.]

On 9/27/2023 at 5:51 PM, Atari8man2004 said:

but is there a way to fix my 2 Atari ST mice?

Sure 😁

I fix one Mouse by replacing IR emitter on the encoder wheel.

You can use your cell phone camera to see if the IR emitter works properly.

NOTE: some iPhones has a filter on the (back) lens. But front camera should work.

EDIT: Atari STM1 mouse problem

Edited October 2, 2023 by Chri O.