[soldering] gun for hire?

[gjd.link]

Hi folks - 

Last September, I purchased a modded Atari 2600 from an eBay seller with a 100% positive rating and 3K+ reviews.  The mods installed included both RCA/component (Cleancomp A/V mod from Retrosix) and S-Video video out ports.  All went fine until I was removing the cable from the red audio RCA connector - the connector came out of the console as if it hadn't been securely attached (see pictures).  I didn't yank on it or pull hard; this shouldn't happen after only three uses in 9 months.

I messaged the seller and he told me the ports had been secured by a threaded nut on metal threads.  He said the detached one looked broken and not the way it was sent (though I hadn’t altered it, yanked on an attached cable nor have I opened the console).  He said it’s an easy fix, simply get another RCA connector, unsolder the connection, pop the new one in thread the nut on and resolder the wire to it.

Here’s the rub:  I don’t own a soldering iron nor have I soldered anything since high school shop class (remember those?).

Does anyone on the list own soldering equipment and like to make a little cash?  Happy to pay and bring the 2600 to a future SRCS meeting or wherever you are.  We’d just need to be careful opening the 2600, as it also has wiring for LED illuminated console switches (the seller indicated the wires going from the lights on the lid will have a connector that can be unplugged from the VR on the switchboard so that the lid can be set aside).

Please let me know at your convenience…  thanks!

George

[gjd.link]

Rick, Ronald, Jeff and Gia -

Thanks for the lightning fast responses and suggestions.  I think I’m going to first follow the advice given and see if the seller can send me the replacement port(s) so I don’t have to buy them myself.  Then I’ll circle back with one of you to follow up on the soldering.  

Thanks!

George

On Aug 3, 2025, at 6:11 PM, gjd.link <gjd....@frontier.com> wrote:



<Vintage Arcading modded 2600 rear view 2.jpg>

<2600 RCA port detached 1.jpg>

[Jeff Keyzer]

Hard to tell what happened from the photo. Need to take it apart. Might need a new connector. Perhaps the seller can send a replacement?

I agree that shouldn't have broken. May be poor quality parts or poor workmanship. Hard to say without taking it apart. 

I have lots of solder and experience. I'm in Seattle. 

Regards,

Jeff (lurker)

On Aug 3, 2025, at 6:11 PM, gjd.link <gjd....@frontier.com> wrote:



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[Gia Ferrari]

Howdy George, happy to bring my soldering iron to the next meetup - or if you're somewhere around SeaTac, we can meet up somewhere convenient. Do you have a replacement port? If not, perhaps the seller can provide one or a part number?

--
Gia Ferrari (she/her)
https://giferrari.net

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