Renovating the attic and getting rid of decades of junk. Ah, nostalgic joy, our once beloved Atari Woody (with 6 switches) saw the light of day for the first time in 25 years! It was the first console (of many) I gifted my hubby when we first dated. I have fond memories of playing that and they are still vivid in my mind. Fun times! Found your video and am looking forward to bringing this dusty delight back to its former glory (I feel some Toy Story quotes coming on, LOL). Plus, we've still got 14 games. Win!! I'm super excited to get this 'tank' as you say, running again. Fab video. Thank You 😄👍👏
Yes, I love the Genesis. I need to get my hands on a Mega Drive at some point. I have a bunch of Genesis games, but no where near that many. Congratulations.
AdamKoralik I followed your instructions to clean and restore my Darth Vader 2600, and my 2600 Jr. My original plans were to sell the Darth Vader, but now it looks so nice I just want to keep it. Thing looks brand new. I also did this process on a Model 1 Genesis, which also worked wonders. Thanks for the video!
I grew up at a bowling alley from the 70s to the 80s they had a bad ass arcade got to play every game that came out. The owner spared no expense. At the time I in 1981 I held the record for playing mousetrap on one quarter for 7 hours 20 minutes. Highlight of my gaming.
I came back to watch the video again. Was trying to remember your last step which was with non moisturizing pledge. Will try that as never did before. I dug out my Atari 2600's from the closet to clean up and sell. Did it years ago and then just collected and stored them along with so much other stuff. Anyways I have 12 systems to test. I cleaned them all up but not as good as you do. Will try that next. I tested 4 so far. Some 4 switch and some 6 switch. Again thanks for a great video. Best I saw of course.
Depends on your tastes and needs. An original woody looks nice and screams Atari. The Vader model is cool if you're a Star Wars fan. Tele-Games is cool if you're in to the obscure. The Jr is nice because of its compact size. I connect them to that smaller TV you saw because it works. My primary TV refuses to work with RF.
Fantastic! I found an Atari at a garage sale and I'm going to give this a try. Outside of all the dust and grime the only major problem I see is the cord going to the tv is damaged.
A lot of older systems had infared wireless controllers. But that's VASTLY different technology than what say the PS3 and 360 use. It's like comparing a modern day military jet engine plane to the Wright Brothers plane and saying "they're both planes, they're exactly the same."
I remember once cleaning my nintendo with one of those cleaning kits. There was nothing wrong with my nintendo, it worked perfectly, but my friend kept telling me that I should clean the system once every 6 months. After cleaning it, about a day or two later, I had to do the blowing into the cart thing, for like ten different games. Never had to before that.
I just got an atari 2600 Darth vadar version for 45 with 8 games and two were boxed. It didn't have controllers but had an av mod for it. Great video mine is pretty clean but doesn't hurt to clean it.
Thanks! I'm only just starting a Dreamcast collection after watching you talk about them in Keep Dreaming for ages aha, and it's an honour to chat to my favourite UA-camr c:
Back when I was a kid and everyone had a Nintendo 64 I had an NES like that story. I missed out on the SNES until I was older but I loved my NES and eventually got the N64 for Christmas. Best Christmas ever!
Again, do not use Windex on any plastics. Use a light dish detergent with water, or use rubbing alcohol straight, or mixed with a bit of water. For cleaning the contacts, just use straight rubbing alcohol on a Q Tip.
I was playin them Atari games ten years before you were even born and I still love the system! Great childhood memories. Games were simple and innocent. Not like all the violent crap today. Had to scrimp for a cartridge or get it for Birthday or Christmas. I begged my parents for one and finally got it for Christmas in 1979! Thank God I grew up when I did. Got a heavy sixer off ebay and it still works fine! Good old RF connection! 😆😆
You should not use windex for cleaning the copper pins that read games, dude. That leaves a coating on the pins which reduces the chance of reading the games for the system properly.
Brasso works great (used with a rag and credit card method) to get the Cartridge port clean. If it is really bad, use a small bit of sandpaper to get the crap off the connectors. Use air to blow out the port directly afterwards.
Awesome memories iam old enough to remember this system i got it for Christmas in 83 it was my 1st system sadly once the Nes came out i stopped playing the 2600
When I bought my first Atari 2600, (about 6 months ago) I had to go buy maybe 4 of them before I finally found one that worked. It's interesting that you've never found one that was broken when I couldn't find one that worked for so long
I have a woody I cleaned it all up..... I'm unsure on if my power supply works but can't get it to work... Need to invest in new power!! Great vid Adam
Hey Adam great video, after watching this I decided to clean mine up. I opened it up for the first time since I purchased it on eBay and what I saw inside was horrifying! The silver/grey box in the center was completely rusted along with other metallic parts and parts of the board had water damage. I did my best to clean up what I could but man was it a wreck, but it works and looks good from the outside!
sodadew The new and improved, amphibious Atari 2600! Built to last 50+ years, this can take water damage and even become completely submerged in any liquid without any negative effects! Buy it now! My Atari had what looked like soda all over the board, on the bottom of the board, on the sides of the board, a lot of places. I took it apart, and, soaked it in soap and water, the thing was still dirt! I took it, got about 20 q-tips, still failing to do anything but take off more dirt! these are tanks though.
Probably jammed with soda or something. Take it apart, try cleaning around them with a q-tip and Windex and seeing if they'll come lose. If they do, you'll be able to get in there better and really clean them out.
I really doubt I could do anything. If it's not getting power there is a good chance it's just the PSU. Plus, PAL RF and NTSC RF are completely different, I'd have no way of hooking it up.
I'd have to have a friend mod it. Just haven't seen enough of the point...yet... Might get the Atari 2600 Flashback 2 and get a cart slot put in that.
Can't you just pull the TV cable off of the board? I remember doing that with my 2600. Didn't need to pull the whole cable through the slot. That might be different for the Sears system, though, but it looks like it's connected the same way.
Now I have to convince my grandma to let me do this to her four button telegames console. It has pretty much just been in it's box/case thing in her basement for 30 years, so it probably needs it.
I noticed you cleaned the contacts on the main console, but then went ahead and proceeded to insert a 33 year old cartridge into the slot, which the contacts of the cartridge (and cartridge game itself, in general) presumably haven't been cleaned. Doesn't this sort of defeat the purpose of cleaning console contacts? In my humble opinion, I find it would make the most sense to go ahead and clean the cartridge contacts as well (if at all possible), to prevent cross-contamination of decades of grime and oxidation from cartridge to console. Definitely not bitching here though, great little video of cleaning these old consoles up. I plan on digging my original 2600 out of the closet and giving it a makeover. Thanks for the great cleaning tips!
I did the same for mine I have the Vader model I found at a garage sale and I also took it apart and cleaned it nice but I didn't use Windex I used ivory liquid soap for the plastic parts then I used Armour all for the shine mine was bad it had spider webs in it and everything as for the contacts on the system I used a mild rubbing alcohol and rubbed them gently u do that and ur system will be fine
Alright thanks! mine really needs a cleaning. I really have a soft spot for my PS2, I've played it alot since I was really young. That all changed when I bought my Dreamcast. :D
I was just cleaning out my parents basement. I found our old Atari 2600 Vader model, it's been down there since the early '90's. The slots of the grid were full of mouse turds, and it was covered with dust. I know it used to have some issues with where the power cord plugs in to the back of the unit, but maybe I can fix that. All the parts are there, the only thing I need is the adapter to plug it into the TV antenna jack, and I hear Radio Shack has them for a few bucks. Now I'm going to go clean it up like you showed in the video, wish me luck.
I used your compressed air trick for restoring consoles on a faulty VMU I bought for £2 today, the case needs cleaning but before I blew some air through it half the screen didn't work. :D
Our family Atari quit working, before I was old enough to play it, so they can definitely stop working. I don't think this one had anything happen to it either. From what I recall, it just stopped working one day.
I'm no pro but I heard using rubbing alcohol on electronics isn't your best option. Something about oxidizing the metal and it leaves behind residue. Streak free windex is the recommended cleaner. What do I know though, perhaps a quick google to see for yourself.
Now all I need is a guide on fixing specific issues like loose switches. (Got a Tele-Games six switch model and one switch can be rotated almost 360° which I doubt is factory standard)
Question, I'm planing on getting a new HD Samsung camera along with a tripod. what exact angle do you use to film your unboxing videos along with your restoration videos as well?
you know what works well for cleaning the cartridges ports. Get coffee filters, take a game, and a peice of the filter and wrap the game with the filter and insert into the slot.
Thanks. I've been waiting a surprisingly long time for someone to call that out.
I'm honored, thanks for watching man. How's your collection going so far?
Found my mother’s old Atari from way back when and this video was very thorough
Great breakdown, thanks for the info. A friend gave me an original Atari 2600 today. Now I know what to do thanks to you
Thanks, hope it helps.
Yes, we'd like to do New Vegas after the DLCs are done.
Renovating the attic and getting rid of decades of junk. Ah, nostalgic joy, our once beloved Atari Woody (with 6 switches) saw the light of day for the first time in 25 years! It was the first console (of many) I gifted my hubby when we first dated. I have fond memories of playing that and they are still vivid in my mind. Fun times!
Found your video and am looking forward to bringing this dusty delight back to its former glory (I feel some Toy Story quotes coming on, LOL). Plus, we've still got 14 games. Win!! I'm super excited to get this 'tank' as you say, running again.
Fab video. Thank You 😄👍👏
I don't use a specific angle, I just kind of aim and decide what I like. The trick is to do some basic lighting.
It's a classic system for a reason. It appeals to a lot of people.
Happy to, thanks for watching.
I never thought of the credit card trick before. as someone who owns several cartridge based systems, I will find that most helpful. thank you.
Thanks.
The XBox wasn't ahead of it's time, it was right on time.
Yes, I love the Genesis. I need to get my hands on a Mega Drive at some point.
I have a bunch of Genesis games, but no where near that many.
Congratulations.
Thanks for watching.
I've been there actually, a nice place as I recall. But I haven't been there in like...13 years I think.
Awesome, congratulations man. I'm glad I could help you out.
Sure thing, thanks for watching.
AdamKoralik I followed your instructions to clean and restore my Darth Vader 2600, and my 2600 Jr. My original plans were to sell the Darth Vader, but now it looks so nice I just want to keep it. Thing looks brand new. I also did this process on a Model 1 Genesis, which also worked wonders. Thanks for the video!
Yeah man, thank you.
How did you end up with so many of those things?
I grew up at a bowling alley from the 70s to the 80s they had a bad ass arcade got to play every game that came out. The owner spared no expense. At the time I in 1981 I held the record for playing mousetrap on one quarter for 7 hours 20 minutes. Highlight of my gaming.
Damn, that's dedication!
13:40 The Atari refuses the ET game.
Crocubot lmaooooo
It's probably a survival instinct
I came back to watch the video again. Was trying to remember your last step which was with non moisturizing pledge. Will try that as never did before. I dug out my Atari 2600's from the closet to clean up and sell. Did it years ago and then just collected and stored them along with so much other stuff. Anyways I have 12 systems to test. I cleaned them all up but not as good as you do. Will try that next. I tested 4 so far. Some 4 switch and some 6 switch. Again thanks for a great video. Best I saw of course.
My pleasure, thanks for watching.
No problem man, thanks for watching.
I don't even own a 2600 and I must have watched this about 10 times
Depends on your tastes and needs. An original woody looks nice and screams Atari. The Vader model is cool if you're a Star Wars fan. Tele-Games is cool if you're in to the obscure. The Jr is nice because of its compact size.
I connect them to that smaller TV you saw because it works. My primary TV refuses to work with RF.
Well I'm glad the video may help you.
The Post Office cut saturdays so it won't arrive until monday at the earliest. I really don't mind waiting, I'm patient.
Fantastic! I found an Atari at a garage sale and I'm going to give this a try. Outside of all the dust and grime the only major problem I see is the cord going to the tv is damaged.
Thanks, this was very helpful. I have my moms Atari that got REALLY dusty since it was in a basement for a long time.
Happy to help.
+AdamKoralik also around the switches if the sticky aluminum stuff isn't connected together will it still work fine?
At that age I had never heard of those.
That would have been an impressive request though.
A lot of older systems had infared wireless controllers. But that's VASTLY different technology than what say the PS3 and 360 use.
It's like comparing a modern day military jet engine plane to the Wright Brothers plane and saying "they're both planes, they're exactly the same."
If you have a second Colecovision, or have access to one, you could test the PSU on that.
I remember once cleaning my nintendo with one of those cleaning kits. There was nothing wrong with my nintendo, it worked perfectly, but my friend kept telling me that I should clean the system once every 6 months. After cleaning it, about a day or two later, I had to do the blowing into the cart thing, for like ten different games. Never had to before that.
Happy birthday.
I just got an atari 2600 Darth vadar version for 45 with 8 games and two were boxed. It didn't have controllers but had an av mod for it. Great video mine is pretty clean but doesn't hurt to clean it.
Thanks! I'm only just starting a Dreamcast collection after watching you talk about them in Keep Dreaming for ages aha, and it's an honour to chat to my favourite UA-camr c:
Back when I was a kid and everyone had a Nintendo 64 I had an NES like that story. I missed out on the SNES until I was older but I loved my NES and eventually got the N64 for Christmas. Best Christmas ever!
Its amazing how much plastics involved for such a small board.
Again, do not use Windex on any plastics. Use a light dish detergent with water, or use rubbing alcohol straight, or mixed with a bit of water. For cleaning the contacts, just use straight rubbing alcohol on a Q Tip.
been cleaning all my systems with windex for years without any issues.
I was playin them Atari games ten years before you were even born and I still love the system! Great childhood memories. Games were simple and innocent. Not like all the violent crap today. Had to scrimp for a cartridge or get it for Birthday or Christmas. I begged my parents for one and finally got it for Christmas in 1979! Thank God I grew up when I did. Got a heavy sixer off ebay and it still works fine! Good old RF connection! 😆😆
I didn't think to do that, I think it's soldered on there.
My pleasure.
Thanks man.
See you later.
Happy to help.
This video pushed me to get a Woody, picking it up tomorrow and cleaning the hell out of it, Thank You!
Not yet, I'll check when I get home.
Jill, you'd be surprised how many people still collect these things. They are quite fun.
It's amazing what gets in those things.
Thanks for watching.
You should not use windex for cleaning the copper pins that read games, dude. That leaves a coating on the pins which reduces the chance of reading the games for the system properly.
I was getting ready to post the exact same thing some glass cleaners contain silicone, Windex probably does too. he should have used alcohol.
Windex has ammonia, I dunno if that makes a difference, I assume it would point out silicone instead if it had that.
I use brasso to polish the contacts on game cartridges and alcohol on pins. Never glass cleaner.
what a bunch of BS
Good to know, thanks.
Brasso works great (used with a rag and credit card method) to get the Cartridge port clean. If it is really bad, use a small bit of sandpaper to get the crap off the connectors. Use air to blow out the port directly afterwards.
It's cool to have one at least.
Sega Genesis controllers will work, if that helps.
Hey Adam, would you consider doing a video on restoring a 2600 joystick? I found one and it is pretty nasty.
Definitely a good collection there.
Whole documentaries about that exist that would be far more interesting than me writing it.
Have any 5200s or odd 2600 variants?
Awesome memories iam old enough to remember this system i got it for Christmas in 83 it was my 1st system sadly once the Nes came out i stopped playing the 2600
When I bought my first Atari 2600, (about 6 months ago) I had to go buy maybe 4 of them before I finally found one that worked. It's interesting that you've never found one that was broken when I couldn't find one that worked for so long
Did you try them out with a different power plug?
+nerdyneedsalife yeah I did. We tried just about everything.
chochi4567 That sucks. I remember when I got my Atari the power plug didn't work but I replaced it and it worked beautifully
I have a woody I cleaned it all up..... I'm unsure on if my power supply works but can't get it to work... Need to invest in new power!! Great vid Adam
Oh I definitely can't beat that.
Probably just the nasty dead spider colony I found in one of these systems. Can't even remember which.
Hey Adam great video, after watching this I decided to clean mine up. I opened it up for the first time since I purchased it on eBay and what I saw inside was horrifying! The silver/grey box in the center was completely rusted along with other metallic parts and parts of the board had water damage. I did my best to clean up what I could but man was it a wreck, but it works and looks good from the outside!
sodadew Did you get it running?
AdamKoralik Oh yea it works perfectly!
sodadew The new and improved, amphibious Atari 2600! Built to last 50+ years, this can take water damage and even become completely submerged in any liquid without any negative effects! Buy it now! My Atari had what looked like soda all over the board, on the bottom of the board, on the sides of the board, a lot of places. I took it apart, and, soaked it in soap and water, the thing was still dirt! I took it, got about 20 q-tips, still failing to do anything but take off more dirt! these are tanks though.
The Nokia of gaming consoles.
i am 17 and i like the 2600 a lot and i bought it 2 years with 36 games and 2 pairs of 8 diferent controllers
Probably jammed with soda or something.
Take it apart, try cleaning around them with a q-tip and Windex and seeing if they'll come lose.
If they do, you'll be able to get in there better and really clean them out.
The Logitec ones?
They were released in late 2002, so that makes sense.
And now it works?
I really doubt I could do anything. If it's not getting power there is a good chance it's just the PSU.
Plus, PAL RF and NTSC RF are completely different, I'd have no way of hooking it up.
I'd have to have a friend mod it. Just haven't seen enough of the point...yet...
Might get the Atari 2600 Flashback 2 and get a cart slot put in that.
Can't you just pull the TV cable off of the board? I remember doing that with my 2600. Didn't need to pull the whole cable through the slot. That might be different for the Sears system, though, but it looks like it's connected the same way.
Now I have to convince my grandma to let me do this to her four button telegames console. It has pretty much just been in it's box/case thing in her basement for 30 years, so it probably needs it.
Damn you're right, that would be cool looking.
Nothing beats the real thing.
Except an Atari Flashback 2 modded for a cartridge slot.
That beats everything.
Adam Koralik could you message me
Well if you want to get it, go for it man.
No worries bud. I responded to your message.
I noticed you cleaned the contacts on the main console, but then went ahead and proceeded to insert a 33 year old cartridge into the slot, which the contacts of the cartridge (and cartridge game itself, in general) presumably haven't been cleaned. Doesn't this sort of defeat the purpose of cleaning console contacts? In my humble opinion, I find it would make the most sense to go ahead and clean the cartridge contacts as well (if at all possible), to prevent cross-contamination of decades of grime and oxidation from cartridge to console. Definitely not bitching here though, great little video of cleaning these old consoles up. I plan on digging my original 2600 out of the closet and giving it a makeover. Thanks for the great cleaning tips!
I did the same for mine I have the Vader model I found at a garage sale and I also took it apart and cleaned it nice but I didn't use Windex I used ivory liquid soap for the plastic parts then I used Armour all for the shine mine was bad it had spider webs in it and everything as for the contacts on the system I used a mild rubbing alcohol and rubbed them gently u do that and ur system will be fine
That's what it was originally designed for if you ever see my Keep Dreaming series.
I think the 19 28 numbers on the cart part of the system is for the 19th day of the 28th week of what ever year that particular 2600 was manufactured
Mentally, yes. I need to own all the games!
Physically, no.
Yai, a new Gamerade, what a great night c:
I haven't really played that, but I've been told that's like the Legend of Zelda for the 2600.
Very common issue with that model. The PS2 uses two lasers. The DVD laser in yours is dead.
More like I walked in to a store, wanted the Tele-Games 2600, needed to clean it, and figured I'd make a video.
But if you want credit, sure.
Alright thanks! mine really needs a cleaning. I really have a soft spot for my PS2, I've played it alot since I was really young.
That all changed when I bought my Dreamcast. :D
Of course you can clean it, just not the same way I cleaned the standard model.
I was just cleaning out my parents basement. I found our old Atari 2600 Vader model, it's been down there since the early '90's. The slots of the grid were full of mouse turds, and it was covered with dust. I know it used to have some issues with where the power cord plugs in to the back of the unit, but maybe I can fix that. All the parts are there, the only thing I need is the adapter to plug it into the TV antenna jack, and I hear Radio Shack has them for a few bucks. Now I'm going to go clean it up like you showed in the video, wish me luck.
Good luck Marcus.
Just because it looks good on the outside doesn't mean it isn't toasted on the inside.
I used your compressed air trick for restoring consoles on a faulty VMU I bought for £2 today, the case needs cleaning but before I blew some air through it half the screen didn't work. :D
Our family Atari quit working, before I was old enough to play it, so they can definitely stop working. I don't think this one had anything happen to it either. From what I recall, it just stopped working one day.
Yes, of course. But I haven't personally done that.
Oh yes, I do. Pretty neat fact.
Could you use a nes cleaning kit for the cartridge slot
Very true.
Armorall work great to shine it up. Makes my Vader version look mint! Most of the time I use rubbing alcohol for the electrical parts.
That's a good suggestion actually.
I'm no pro but I heard using rubbing alcohol on electronics isn't your best option. Something about oxidizing the metal and it leaves behind residue. Streak free windex is the recommended cleaner. What do I know though, perhaps a quick google to see for yourself.
Can you send me a link? I'd like to see this.
My personal favorite is combat. Or perhaps Space Invaders.
Now all I need is a guide on fixing specific issues like loose switches. (Got a Tele-Games six switch model and one switch can be rotated almost 360° which I doubt is factory standard)
Question, I'm planing on getting a new HD Samsung camera along with a tripod. what exact angle do you use to film your unboxing videos along with your restoration videos as well?
you know what works well for cleaning the cartridges ports. Get coffee filters, take a game, and a peice of the filter and wrap the game with the filter and insert into the slot.
Is that a heavy sixer..has a heavy metal shield on the inside.was made in california?
That's pretty normal, so get them if you want them.
Thanks.