Difference between revisions of "Atari 7800 Teardown"

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(Step 3 - Remove the RF shield)
(Step 3 - Remove the RF shield)
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Once all the tabs are as straight as you can get them, try to lift off the top half of the RF shield. It will probably take a bit of force since it's difficult to make the tabs perfectly straight. If it just won't come off, figure out which tab is causing problems, straighten it again, and continue. It will come off eventually.
 
Once all the tabs are as straight as you can get them, try to lift off the top half of the RF shield. It will probably take a bit of force since it's difficult to make the tabs perfectly straight. If it just won't come off, figure out which tab is causing problems, straighten it again, and continue. It will come off eventually.
 
| [[File:Atari_7800_teardown07.jpg|200px|right]]
 
| [[File:Atari_7800_teardown07.jpg|200px|right]]
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|-
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| Here's what the board looks like with only the top half of the RF shield removed.
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| [[File:Atari_7800_teardown08.jpg|200px|right]]
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|-
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| Now flip the board over to remove the bottom half. The metal tabs are still sticking through the motherboard itself, so carefully pull the RF shield straight up and off the board. You may need to go back and restraighten any metal tabs that got bent when taking off the top half. Once the bottom half is off, you should take this opportunity to use your pliers to flatten the 2 tabs that sit behind the cartridge slot.
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| [[File:Atari_7800_teardown09.jpg|200px|right]]
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 19:56, 25 January 2014

This guide is currently being written.

This is a guide for completely disassembling an Atari 7800.

You will need the following tools:

  • A large Phillips-head screwdriver
  • A small pair of pliers
  • A small, sturdy (i.e. difficult to bend) flathead screwdriver for bending hard-to-reach metal tabs
Atari 7800 teardown01.jpg

Step 1 - Open the case

Flip the console over and remove the 5 screws on the bottom, which are circled in the picture. Turn it back over and lift the top off. The top should come off effortlessly.
Atari 7800 teardown02.jpg
Here is the underside of the top of the case. The buttons can be removed easily by pushing the small plastic tabs inward and down.
Atari 7800 teardown13.jpg

Step 2 - Remove the motherboard from the case

The motherboard is not physically attached to the case, so there are no screws to remove for this step. To take the motherboard out of the case, lift up the back end first so you can slide the controller ports out of the holes in the case. You may damage the controller ports if you attempt to lift the front end first.
Atari 7800 teardown03.jpg
Here is the inside of the bottom half of the case. You can see the revision number for the 7800, which in this case is C024536. Note that this number is different from the revision numbers on the motherboard.
Atari 7800 teardown12.jpg

Step 3 - Remove the RF shield

Fully exposing the motherboard can be somewhat time consuming. The board is partially encased by an RF shield consisting of top and bottom halves that interlock using several metal tabs, which are bent to prevent the halves from detaching. There are 14 metal tabs, and you'll have to straighten each one to remove the shield. There are 4 tabs on each side except for the back near the cartridge slot where there are only 2 (see pictures). Save the 2 in the back for last.

To straighten the metal tabs, you need to use a small pair of pliers. If a tab is bent down too far to get the pliers around it at first, use a small flat head screwdriver to pry the tab up and then use the pliers. First use the pliers to make the tabs stick up, an then use the pliers to clamp down on the tabs to make them as straight and flat as possible; just one slightly misshapen tab will prevent the RF shield from coming off. In the pictures, I've already straightened most of the tabs, so use that as a guide to see how the tabs need to be positioned.

Atari 7800 teardown04.jpg
Atari 7800 teardown05.jpg
Atari 7800 teardown06.jpg
The 2 tabs behind the cartridge slot require some special care. These are not exposed like the other 12 tabs because the heat sink on the voltage regulator gets in the way, making it difficult to reach them with pliers. If your pliers won't fit, you'll have to make do with the small flat head screwdriver. The RF shield and the heat sink can be bent some without damage, so you can carefully shove in a pair of pliers that's slightly too big.

Once all the tabs are as straight as you can get them, try to lift off the top half of the RF shield. It will probably take a bit of force since it's difficult to make the tabs perfectly straight. If it just won't come off, figure out which tab is causing problems, straighten it again, and continue. It will come off eventually.

Atari 7800 teardown07.jpg
Here's what the board looks like with only the top half of the RF shield removed.
Atari 7800 teardown08.jpg
Now flip the board over to remove the bottom half. The metal tabs are still sticking through the motherboard itself, so carefully pull the RF shield straight up and off the board. You may need to go back and restraighten any metal tabs that got bent when taking off the top half. Once the bottom half is off, you should take this opportunity to use your pliers to flatten the 2 tabs that sit behind the cartridge slot.
Atari 7800 teardown09.jpg

Step 4 - Remove the plastic cartridge slot enclosure

With the RF shield off, you can finally remove the final piece, which is the black plastic piece which surrounds the cartridge slot. It's easy to remove: first, remove the two screws holding the piece in place. These screws are smaller than those on the outer case, so you'll need a different screwdriver. Next, push the tabs inward and down through the holes, and the plastic piece should pop out easily.
Atari 7800 teardown10.jpg
And there you have it! The motherboard is now fully exposed.
Atari 7800 teardown11.jpg

Reassembly