How do you unstick a sticky Atari cone start button (w/light)?

pookdolie

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How do you unstick a sticky Atari cone start button (w/light)?

It's not totally stuck, but it takes forever to "rebound" once pressed, and sometimes sticks in the "on" position.

I know these things are small and delicate, so I want to be careful. What should I do?
 
Turn the game off, squirt a little WD40 on it from the top, push it a bunch of times until it's nice, let it dry, turn the game back on and play. That will probably work...
 
Don't use WD40. It will eventually melt the plastic parts. You can use a non-graphite dry silicon lubricant spray.

Or you can carefully disassemble the switch and see why it is binding.

ken
 
Probably has some plastic dust in it or someone spilled some soda on it.

RJ
 
Silicon

Don't use WD40. It will eventually melt the plastic parts. You can use a non-graphite dry silicon lubricant spray.

Or you can carefully disassemble the switch and see why it is binding.

ken

This has worked well for me. The silicon spray lasts for a long time also.
 
Or you can carefully disassemble the switch and see why it is binding.

I disassembled a few switches because the LED burned out, it's not that hard. Just have to drill out the rivets and the whole thing comes apart.

Put it back together with 4-40 screws & nuts. Radio shack has them in their parts drawers or your local "small box" hardware store should have them.
 
On my Asteroids, I unscrewed the cone from the switch. Gently pull off the translucent RED cylinder, the one that covers the LED. Clean it up and re-install.

There is probably years of grime and finger dirt on the cylinder, preventing it from traveling up and down properly.

I would do this before you disassemble the switch.
 
Don't use WD40. It will eventually melt the plastic parts.
ken

From the WD-40 website:

What surfaces or materials are OK to use WD-40 on?

WD-40 can be used on just about everything. It is safe for metal, rubber, wood and plastic. WD-40 can be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint. Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40.

I've used it on plastic many times with no problems....
 
I wouldn't squirt anything in there. I'd disassemble it and clean it out. Takes just a few minutes.

What's the best way to "unscrew the cone"? It's kind of hard to get a grip on...
 
From the WD-40 website:
...
I've used it on plastic many times with no problems....

Yes it works, and yes it won't cause any immediate problems, but using a petroleum based chemical to lubricate a different petroleum based compound (the plastic parts) will most likely have some effect over time. No lubricant is totally inert but WD40 would be my last choice for lubricating plastic parts.
 
I'm messing with the button part (red lens) just by doing a lot of wiggling and pulling. It's starting to free up. Nice.
 
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