Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I had a few hours on the bench to try and speed-run some Commodore 64 repairs before returning a batch of machines to Paul. Out of the stack, I focused on diagnosing several black screen faults using dignostic test cartridges, an oscilloscope, and a retro DRAM chip tester.
The session involved working through a mix of longboards, tracking down missing clock signals, replacing dead 8701 generator chips, and swapping out faulty PLAs. I also tackled a Silver Label C64 with a bad colour RAM chip and a slightly misaligned cartridge port, preferring to solder the replacement chip directly to the board to preserve its original lines. I managed to get a few of these classic machines back up and running, leaving the more stubborn boards for a future session.
─────────────────────────────
If you'd like to help keep the lights on (and the tools plugged in),
my Patreon is the best way to do it. Patrons get ad-free early access
to videos, behind-the-scenes updates, and entry to a super secret
Discord channel — plus my sincere gratitude, which is worth roughly
what you'd expect.
▸ Patreon: patreon.morefunretro.co.uk
─────────────────────────────
There's also the Retro Hardware Discord, where people who enjoy this
sort of thing gather to talk about it. It's better than it has any
right to be.
▸ Retro Hardware Discord: discord.gg/tsAbuAfqf9
─────────────────────────────
Second Channel: @morefunretro2
#Commodore64 #C64Repair #RetroComputing
I had a few hours on the bench to try and speed-run some Commodore 64 repairs before returning a batch of machines to Paul. Out of the stack, I focused on diagnosing several black screen faults using dignostic test cartridges, an oscilloscope, and a retro DRAM chip tester.
The session involved working through a mix of longboards, tracking down missing clock signals, replacing dead 8701 generator chips, and swapping out faulty PLAs. I also tackled a Silver Label C64 with a bad colour RAM chip and a slightly misaligned cartridge port, preferring to solder the replacement chip directly to the board to preserve its original lines. I managed to get a few of these classic machines back up and running, leaving the more stubborn boards for a future session.
─────────────────────────────
If you'd like to help keep the lights on (and the tools plugged in),
my Patreon is the best way to do it. Patrons get ad-free early access
to videos, behind-the-scenes updates, and entry to a super secret
Discord channel — plus my sincere gratitude, which is worth roughly
what you'd expect.
▸ Patreon: patreon.morefunretro.co.uk
─────────────────────────────
There's also the Retro Hardware Discord, where people who enjoy this
sort of thing gather to talk about it. It's better than it has any
right to be.
▸ Retro Hardware Discord: discord.gg/tsAbuAfqf9
─────────────────────────────
Second Channel: @morefunretro2
#Commodore64 #C64Repair #RetroComputing
