… or even quicker
Intro
As usual, I’ve bought two VICkies on a bidding portal the other day and I’ve decided to test a flash ROM adapter on them and repair/refurbish both units afterward. I rarely buy working computers because that takes away the fun of repairing 😉
The flashrom adapter itself was originally created by Nicolas Welte and here is its description.
Here is how the machines looked once arrived.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/C8Ps3VO.jpg)
Funnily enough, VICs had slightly different cases. Looks like Commodore guys had a good sense of humor back in the day and created several VICkys 😉
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/0rs67c5.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/wULavDa.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Fu3sOeo.png)
Disassembly and fixes
Nearly all of the plastic screw studs were broken. I’ve used a hotair gun to shrink them a bit and prepare for a further fix with a copper wire as I’ve described in my previous blog post here.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/iadAb8A.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/4o6qTGo.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/No7gBr2.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/yBuRPdV.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/k61tFlv.png)
Standard dirt overview
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Vm5pJik.jpg)
Believe it or not, but that thingy was in that exact place when I opened the case :O
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/qXcd6uz.png)
The other VIC-20 was way tidier.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TgndBM5.jpg)
After general cleaning and fixing some minor issues, I was ready to burn a flash W27c512 and test an adapter.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/k9hkdh6.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/hCvaHd2.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9WCsmC1.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WWAxTvG.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CwCQ9ag.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MddxDU8.png)
Do I have to repeat myself and remind you that you should get a license for JiffyDOS from RETRO Innovations?
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/bCLsd0X.png)
With both boards cleaned and fixed and with JiffyDOS on a flash ROM, I’ve started to fix the rest.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/zexKQmP.jpg)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZMQwZfY.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/fQQlWL6.jpg)
I also had to fix a Datasette recorder. That was rather a typical job like belt replacement or adding fresh lubricant on gears and … fixing a flywheel …
It turned out that the flywheel was extremely weirdly broken. I’ve no idea how this could happen. My best guess is that it broke due to some sort of material stress-strain. I’ve fixed it by lightly sanding off the bottom part to make it even. It worked like a charm.
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LCjgJSX.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1uoOaC1.jpg)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/iiVv05J.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ohhABRR.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/dLAJsdQ.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Up9ocdE.jpg)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/M18hHVD.jpg)
The end
That’s it, another two machines brought back to life 🙂
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ScQAA2x.png)
![](https://retrohax.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mWRecxp.png)
Outro
If you want to get retro gear or hardware modules, please visit our shop -> https://retrohax.net/shop/
Please support our work by commenting here and on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
If you want to donate a dead computer then drop me an email. Extreme cases are welcome.
Nobody donates anything so don’t bother 😉
Perfect job, like always!
Nice Refurb mate 10/10 😊👍
Thank you sir 😀