Any great tips for repairing Ataris?

[Dr. Dib]

Here's the deal. I purchased a few Ataris at different times and none of them have ever worked.

The first one I got was an 2600 Vader unit, whenever I put in a game the console would display various colors as if a cartridge was not inserted. I tried messing with the color switch to no avail.

The next one is a Sears Telegames 2600. It was from a smoker's home and I don't believe I could ever get a flicker on it, though I may have gotten the no cartridge inserted color mess. Tried sanding the pins to no avail.

Final one is an Atari 7800. The 7800 had a broken top and had some plastic inside of it rolling around, but I can't remember what it exactly was. It had some problems showing anything on the TV, so I thought it was the RF cords. Using my NES's RF cord on it did nothing to help. Tried sanding the pins to no avail.

I made this topic to see if anyone had any tips for the console as I was planning on selling them for parts if anyone wanted them, but would like to get them working if possible.

[Tekforce]

Your experience is unusual. I've aquired about 20 (or more) Atari 2600/7800 machines, and at most I may have had 1 or 2 that didn't work when I first got them. For the most part, these old Atari machines take a licking and keep on ticking!

[InsaneDavid]

Clean the cartridge slots on the 2600's with some rubbing alcohol, that would be the next simplest step.

[Steve W]

Your experience is unusual. I've aquired about 20 (or more) Atari 2600/7800 machines, and at most I may have had 1 or 2 that didn't work when I first got them. For the most part, these old Atari machines take a licking and keep on ticking!
I have to agree with him, I've had five various models of 2600s and five 7800s, and they all worked first time, other than having dirty cartridge slots.

Come to think of it, my original childhood 2600 stopped working in the mid-'80s, which I've come to realize was due to the power supply dying. Besides, the power switch was getting flaky (from 'frying' games too much!) which could also be a problem with your models. If you've got a voltage meter, check the tips on the power supplies to make sure there's electricity flowing through them. If not, you can probably pick up one of those universal power supplies at Radio Shack to get it working. And of course here's a really common tip, make sure that every cartridge you try out has clean pins first.

[Dr. Dib]

I have to agree with him, I've had five various models of 2600s and five 7800s, and they all worked first time, other than having dirty cartridge slots.

Come to think of it, my original childhood 2600 stopped working in the mid-'80s, which I've come to realize was due to the power supply dying. Besides, the power switch was getting flaky (from 'frying' games too much!) which could also be a problem with your models. If you've got a voltage meter, check the tips on the power supplies to make sure there's electricity flowing through them. If not, you can probably pick up one of those universal power supplies at Radio Shack to get it working. And of course here's a really common tip, make sure that every cartridge you try out has clean pins first.

I think the Telegames' and 7800's condition has to be from tobacco staining the pins. Not sure what the vader model went through.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure the A/C adapter works as I use the one from my working 2600. The 7800's may be the problem, so I'll have to take a look at that. All the cartridges I've used worked on my working Atari, but maybe I will try to clean them first.

[apogee_vgc]

In over twenty years of collecting I have never run across a non-working 2600 or 2600 cartridge!