I recently had to replace the cartridge connector on two Jaguars, which had been damaged by prototype PCBs whose edges weren't beveled enough.
I was originally going to write a guide explaining how to do this, but I found out (afterwards...) that OMF has already written a good one : http://reboot.atari.org/new-reboot/omfreplace.html. To my knowledge, it hasn't been posted here before.
So I'll just add a few comments to the guide :
- usually, it is possible to repair bent pins without needing to replace the connector. Use a piece of solid copper wire, give it a hoop shape, and gently lift the pins back into shape. It's tedious, you'll probably need to try a lot of times before it works, but it's a lot easier (and cheaper) than replacing the connector.
- new Jaguar cartridge connectors are available from Best Electronics ; it's the only place I know that sells them. They're currently (January 2013) $15 each + shipping.
- despite what the Best Electronics site says, you don't need a SMD soldering station. But you do need good quality tools, experience and patience. It is not an easy nor a 15 minutes job; don't attempt this if you're not already familiar with soldering.
- important points in the guide:
* do NOT use a screwdriver to lift the plastic remains of the connector. I made this mistake on the first Jaguar, and it damaged several tracks on the motherboard (I had to repair them with wrapping wire).
* before plugging the new connector, check that each hole is completely clear. The pins bend and break really easily (one of them did ; fortunately, it was a ground pin, and there are several of those).
- variations:
* instead of using a dremel tool, I broke the connector into several pieces using wire cutters. The plastic is quite hard, so you need strong ones. Don't apply too much force either, because you could damage the motherboard.
* I removed the solder using solder wick alone (no drilling); it can be done without damaging tracks, but you have to be very careful. If you can't remove all of the solder from a hole, don't wait for too long or press hard on the soldering iron (you would damage pads or tracks): instead, add fresh solder, heat the joint for a few seconds, and try again.
* when removing pins, you can heat the solder joint from the top instead of the bottom. It works and it's easier to see what you're doing that way.
It was a lot of work, but my two Jaguars are now healthy![:)]()
I was originally going to write a guide explaining how to do this, but I found out (afterwards...) that OMF has already written a good one : http://reboot.atari.org/new-reboot/omfreplace.html. To my knowledge, it hasn't been posted here before.
So I'll just add a few comments to the guide :
- usually, it is possible to repair bent pins without needing to replace the connector. Use a piece of solid copper wire, give it a hoop shape, and gently lift the pins back into shape. It's tedious, you'll probably need to try a lot of times before it works, but it's a lot easier (and cheaper) than replacing the connector.
- new Jaguar cartridge connectors are available from Best Electronics ; it's the only place I know that sells them. They're currently (January 2013) $15 each + shipping.
- despite what the Best Electronics site says, you don't need a SMD soldering station. But you do need good quality tools, experience and patience. It is not an easy nor a 15 minutes job; don't attempt this if you're not already familiar with soldering.
- important points in the guide:
* do NOT use a screwdriver to lift the plastic remains of the connector. I made this mistake on the first Jaguar, and it damaged several tracks on the motherboard (I had to repair them with wrapping wire).
* before plugging the new connector, check that each hole is completely clear. The pins bend and break really easily (one of them did ; fortunately, it was a ground pin, and there are several of those).
- variations:
* instead of using a dremel tool, I broke the connector into several pieces using wire cutters. The plastic is quite hard, so you need strong ones. Don't apply too much force either, because you could damage the motherboard.
* I removed the solder using solder wick alone (no drilling); it can be done without damaging tracks, but you have to be very careful. If you can't remove all of the solder from a hole, don't wait for too long or press hard on the soldering iron (you would damage pads or tracks): instead, add fresh solder, heat the joint for a few seconds, and try again.
* when removing pins, you can heat the solder joint from the top instead of the bottom. It works and it's easier to see what you're doing that way.
It was a lot of work, but my two Jaguars are now healthy
