Hobbyist or repairer
Fixing a Commodore 1541 Disk Drive
Out comes the oscilloscope for a dead Commodore 1541 disk drive, a short board model with an Alps mechanism, which the maker sets out to fix.
Topic
Commodore 64
22 videos.
A black screen on a Commodore 64 and a screen of random colours point to different parts of the machine, so the symptom decides where to look first. The power supply and the chips on the board are common suspects.
Jan Beta's random colours video has timestamps for each suspect, from the voltages and power switch to the VIC-II. For a machine in unknown condition, part one of a Tony359 repair is a first look rather than a planned fix. The disk drive is a separate job, and Adrian's 1541 repair needs an oscilloscope. Wider fault finding sits under diagnostics.
The old power supply has mains voltage inside, with capacitors that hold a charge after unplugging. Chip swaps and board work call for a hot iron, which burns and gives off fumes, and old joints contain lead.
Publication or museum
Commodore SX-64 Restoration Finale | Trash to Treasure (pt3)
Power supply faults in a Commodore SX-64 are the last hurdle in part three, after which the machine is put back together.
Hobbyist or repairer
I Tested 7 Unknown Commodore 64s. How Many Still Work?
Seven Commodore 64s of unknown condition are put to the test, after the maker builds and calibrates an OpenC64Saver to guard them against a failed 5V supply.
Publication or museum
Commodore SX-64 Restoration - Keys and CRTs | Trash to Treasure (pt2)
The Commodore SX-64's built-in CRT and its keyboard are tackled in part two of The Retro Collective's Trash to Treasure restoration series, with part three still to come.
Hobbyist or repairer
C64 ASSY 250407 shows random Colors on Startup
A C64 ASSY 250407 showing random colours at startup is worked through by Jan Beta, who checks the voltages, a suspect power switch and the VIC-II in turn.
Hobbyist or repairer
One More Commodore 1531 Datasette Repair
Another Commodore 1531 Datasette turns up and needs mending, alongside a faulty 1531 adapter plug. Timestamps split the adapter repair from the Datasette refurbishment.
Hobbyist or repairer
This C64 Mod Makes a Fantastic Tool for Testing Chips
A ZIF 64 diagnostic tool is built from spare Commodore 64 parts, then used to test some old Commodore chips for faults.
Hobbyist or repairer
COMMODORE 64 repair video - Part 1
A Commodore 64 bought locally in an unknown state is the subject of part one, with the maker asking whether it will work at all.
Hobbyist or repairer
HDMI For The Commodore 64 --OR-- Add HDMI To Your Vintage Computers! Part 6
Commodore 64 HDMI output comes from a component board by C0pperdragon feeding an RGBtoHDMI adaptor, after the maker rules out composite and compares other options.
Hobbyist or repairer
Disgusting Commodore 64 Restoration. Will It Work? (Part 1)
Will a badly weathered Commodore 64 work again? Part 1 opens it up, inspects and washes it, then moves on to the keyboard, retrobright treatment, springs and chip testing.
Hobbyist or repairer
Rebuilding A Commodore 64 Power Supply
Rebuilding a Commodore 64 power supply means removing the potting, rewiring around a modern 5V module, testing, and tracing the machine's wires, with alternatives to rebuilding discussed.
Hobbyist or repairer
Commodore 64 troubleshooting part 1 the basics - multimeters and alcohol
Armed with a multimeter, a toothbrush and alcohol, TheRetroChannel compares a healthy Commodore 64 board with a sick one and applies the same checks. It is part one of three.
Hobbyist or repairer
Commodore 64 Repair - Psychedelic Colors
Why does a bread-bin Commodore 64 flash psychedelic characters? The repair goes through a colour RAM swap, a PLA replacement and a sticking shift lock key, then a round of tests.
Hobbyist or repairer
Commodore 1351 Mouse Repair
The Commodore 1351 mouse for the C64 and C128 is worked through in stages: taking it apart, checking the mechanics, cleaning the LEDs and sensors, then testing the cable.
Hobbyist or repairer
Resistance is futile Rejuvenating vintage computer keyboard key contacts
Amiga 500 keys that no longer register are the starting point for a method of reviving key contacts with too high a resistance. The video reports what failed and what worked.
Hobbyist or repairer
Commodore 1541 Disk Drive Repair - Bringing it Back to Life
Several faults turn up in a Commodore 1541 disk drive, and the repair includes mistakes along the way, with DeoxIT D5 and Tri-Flow lubricant among the products the maker mentions.
Hobbyist or repairer
Commodore 64 Case Repair and Full Keyboard Service ⌨
A brittle Commodore 64 case that no longer holds screws is fixed with a case saver kit, before the keyboard is stripped, cleaned and serviced.
Hobbyist or repairer
Don't Let an Old Power Supply Fry Your Commodore 64!
Old power supplies can fail and damage a Commodore 64, according to the maker, who builds a replacement and discusses what goes wrong in the originals and which voltages the machine uses.
Hobbyist or repairer
Surprise C64 Donation & Repair
Jan Beta opens up a Commodore 64 donated unseen, finds a SwinSID nano fitted inside and carries out repair work. A pictorial guide to C64 faults is linked.
Hobbyist or repairer
Troubleshooting a "black screen" C64
A Commodore 64 mainboard (assembly 250407) powers up to a black screen, and the maker troubleshoots it, with links on PLA chips and on how the maker removes chips.
Hobbyist or repairer
Cleaning and fixing a C64C Keyboard
Crusty, unresponsive keys on a Commodore 64C keyboard are tackled by cleaning the keyboard and the contacts of the keys that failed, after an earlier repair of the machine.
Hobbyist or repairer
C64 Keyboard restoration. Revive key response
Why do some Commodore 64 keys stay dead after an isopropyl clean? The maker argues that over-cleaning the rubber pad and contacts does harm, and adds a further step to revive them.
