Atari 2600 6 switch light console- reset switch has broken spring

The switch does not pop up to top position when you depress it to start game. I have to manually slide the switch back up. I have tried to repair it but there's huge amount of 30 year old solder holding that switch down. I've tried vacuum desoldering and desoldering braid but neither seems to do anything. I tried to mix in fresh solder, it seems to refuse to mix in. I've tried 45w solder iron (normally I use 25w for electronics) and I still can't get anything done to remove the old switch.

I have 4 switch console that is dead (scorch mark on back of board, possibly lightning strike while the system was plugged in) that I could take the working switch but I too have a hard time desoldering the switch out. :suspicion:

Any suggestion? My 6 switch console is working fine and has longhorn AV board + pause kit + power LED mod and the only other working console is an ancient 6 switch Sears heavy console that I'd prefer to leave it intact.

 

Try using desoldering braid.

 

Sometimes you just have to hold the iron there for a while to get the whole blob heated up to melting point. Try using a pistol grip soldering gun. They have bigger tips that speed up the heat transfer to the target solder. Works for me every time I get something stubborn like that.

 

You can diss-assemble the switch in situ. It's a bitch, but maybe the spring has become un-seated. You have to bend the tabs away with small pliers.