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Coleco Telstar Arcade General Maintenance

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Coleco Telstar Arcade Cartridge 1 and latch
Cartridge No. 1 seated in the top of a Telstar Arcade, beside the latch that holds it down. The contacts between cartridge and console are the Arcade's most common source of trouble.

Routine care for the Coleco Telstar Arcade (model 6175), Coleco's 1977 cartridge console with paddle, driving and pistol controls on its three sides.[1][2] Coleco's guide survives and, unusually for a Telstar, includes a cartridge care procedure.[3] The parts that need attention are the cartridge contacts and latch, the AC adapter and its jack, the controls on all three panels, the pistol and its socket, and the channel selector underneath. Faults are covered in Coleco Telstar Arcade Troubleshooting Guide.

Before you start

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  • Switch off and unplug the adapter from the wall; Coleco's Cartridge No. 4 sheet asks for it to be unplugged whenever the game is not being played.[4]
  • Unplug the pistol from its socket on the Quick Draw panel.[5]
  • Leave a cartridge in the console during storage. Coleco's guide says to keep one fitted at all times to protect the electronic circuits, and not to leave the game contacts exposed.[6]

Cartridge contacts

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The cartridge's edge contacts mate with a row of game contacts in the well on top of the console.[6][3] Coleco's own procedure, for an erratic game or a picture that changes, is:[3]

  1. Remove the cartridge and seat it again, latching it securely.
  2. If that does not cure it, rub the protective film off the cartridge's contacts with a pencil eraser and wipe them clean.
  3. Look along the console's game contacts. If any are pushed down, lift them carefully with a pencil, a nail file or a thin blade, then refit the cartridge.

Keep the contacts free of sticky fingers, dirt and foreign matter.[3] Always switch off before removing or fitting a cartridge: Video magazine's 1979 test repeats the warning that changing cartridges with the power on can "blow" one.[6][7] The same test found that cartridges did not always slide in at the first try and sometimes had to be wiggled to seat.[7]

Cartridge latch

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The latch on the top of the console holds the cartridge down; it is pushed away to release the cartridge.[6][8] If a cartridge will not latch, press the latch forward. If the latch has worked loose, Coleco's fix is to wedge an eraser or a small pencil behind it.[3] Coleco sold replacement latches for $1.00.[9]

AC adapter and jack

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The Arcade runs from the Telstar AC adapter Model 6041-200MA, which plugs into the AC ADAPTER jack on the Quick Draw panel; Coleco specifies no other adapter.[10][11] The Model 6041 label reads 9 V DC 200 mA.[12] MOS Technology warns that an AC supply for the MPS 7600 must be well filtered, as sharp transients can disturb the game display.[13]

  • Measure an old adapter off load before use, and check its lead for breaks near the plug.
  • The plug polarity is not printed; check any substitute against a working 6041 before connecting it.
  • If the game cuts out when the plug is moved, clean the jack with contact cleaner.

Tennis panel controls

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The tennis panel has two paddle knobs, two SLAM buttons, RESET, the game selector knob, the SKILL switch and the ON-OFF switch.[5][14]

  1. With the adapter unplugged, work contact cleaner into the SKILL and ON-OFF switches and run each through its positions.
  2. Turn the game selector knob through positions 1 to 4 several times. Video magazine noted that the knob's pointer never lined up with the numerals on the tested console, so check which game appears rather than relying on the pointer.[7]
  3. Turn each paddle knob end to end. MOS Technology's specification notes that the player controls are potentiometers which "receive considerable abuse".[13]
  4. Press RESET and both SLAM buttons repeatedly.

Road Race controls

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The steering wheel snaps onto a post on the left of the Road Race panel, its long slot lined up with the post, and the shift lever snaps onto a post on the right.[10] Check that both are tight on their posts, that the shift lever moves cleanly between 1 (low) and 2 (high), and that the wheel turns smoothly through its range.[5][15]

Pistol, holster and sockets

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The pistol's connector plugs into the PISTOL socket on the Quick Draw panel and must be lined up with its key; Coleco's instruction is never to force it.[16][17] The holster is held by two pins and two screws.[10]

  • Inspect the pistol's cable at the grip and at the connector, and the connector's pins.
  • Clean the PISTOL and REMOTE sockets with contact cleaner. The REMOTE socket is used only with the extra controllers that came with Cartridge No. 2.[5][18]
  • Do not cock the pistol's hammer: Coleco's instruction is to fire with the trigger only.[16]
  • Coleco sold replacement pistols by mail.[9]

Channel selector

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The channel selector is on the bottom of the console. Coleco sets it to channel 3 and says to move it carefully to channel 4 only if channel 3 reception is too strong.[6] Video magazine found its test console slightly off frequency, needing the television to be re-tuned, so fine-tune the set before suspecting the console.[7]

Television set-up

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  • Turn automatic colour control off and adjust colour, hue or tint for the game colours.[6][19]
  • For Quick Draw, set contrast for a grey background and colour so that the score is pink or white; a brighter target area is easier to hit.[16]
  • On a black-and-white set, keep brightness and contrast below maximum, and switch the game off when it is not in use.[19]

Preventive maintenance checklist

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  1. Clean the cartridge contacts and check the console's game contacts.
  2. Check that the latch holds a cartridge firmly.
  3. Measure the adapter and clean its jack.
  4. Clean the SKILL and ON-OFF switches; exercise the selector knob, the paddles and the SLAM buttons.
  5. Check the wheel and shift lever on their posts.
  6. Inspect the pistol, its cable and connector, and both sockets.
  7. Play all three games on Cartridge No. 1, and any other cartridges you have.
  8. Store with a cartridge fitted and the adapter unplugged.
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References

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  1. ↑ Coleco Industries, Telstar Arcade Installation Instructions and Game Rules, Model No. 6175, Guide No. 58024 C, 1977, p. 1, File:Coleco Telstar Arcade Installation Instructions (Guide 58024C).pdf: three video games; Cartridge No. 1 plays Road Race, Tennis and Quick Draw; each game in colour; automatic digital display scoring; audio sounds; other programmable cartridges available; AC adapter included.
  2. ↑ David Winter, Pong-Story, "Coleco Telstar Arcade" (retrieved 2026-10-18): released in 1977; triangular case with a side each for Pong games, target shooting and car racing, with a wheel and gear box; interchangeable cartridges, each containing a MOS Technology MPS-7600, a frame processor driven by a small program in ROM (512 words for the eight-game Pong chip); silver triangular cartridges that connect horizontally on top of the console; four cartridges, the first sold with the system and the others for $25; photographs of the component and solder sides of a Cartridge No. 1 board with its MPS 7600.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Coleco, Guide No. 58024 C, p. 7: "Telstar - Trouble Shooting Guide" ("Be sure all connections to television and switch box are secure. DO NOT OPEN. THIS DEVICE DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY SERVICEABLE PARTS. Warranty is voided if opened or tampered with."); no game or faint picture: switch box at GAME and cable plugged in, antenna lead attached, AC adapter plugged into the wall (Telstar Model #6041-200MA only), ON-OFF on, channel 3 (or 4 if the game is set to 4), fine tune; stripes or dots: horizontal hold, colour intensity, fine tune and contrast; rolling, flutter, bottom line off screen or buzzing: vertical hold, TV volume down; a line moving across the screen: RESET, contrast; no ball, ball erratic or score not 0-0: do not place the game on top of the TV where it can get hot, disconnect the pistol, paddles must be on the court, press RESET until the score stops blinking; target does not appear when TARGET STARTER is pressed, or Quick Draw appears in all switch positions: wait for the score to go out, press RESET until the score stops blinking, press TARGET STARTER, the pistol should not be cocked, remove and reseat the cartridge and latch it; race car won't start, track outline does not move, or an audible hum accompanies the game sounds: gear lever in 1st gear, RESET until the score stops blinking, disconnect the pistol, remove and reseat the cartridge and latch it; all games appear on screen at the same time: turn the power switch off and back on, remove and reseat the cartridge. "Care of cartridge": if the game is erratic or the picture changes, remove and reseat the cartridge and latch it securely, clean the protective film off the cartridge contacts by rubbing with a pencil eraser and wiping clean, and check whether any game contacts are depressed, lifting them carefully with a pencil, nail file or thin blade; if the cartridge does not latch, press the latch forward, and if the latch loosens, wedge an eraser or small pencil behind it; keep the contacts free of sticky fingers, dirt and foreign substances.
  4. ↑ Coleco Industries, Game Rules and Operation of Telstar Cartridge No. 4, Model No. 6114, Guide No. 76659 A, 1978, File:Coleco Telstar Arcade Cartridge 4 Instructions (Guide 76659A).pdf: Naval Battle, Speed Ball and Blast-Away, each for two players; "Always be sure ON-OFF switch is in OFF position before changing cartridges. Always keep a cartridge securely in console to protect electronic circuits."; Blast-Away: do not cock the pistol, keep the gun in its holster when pressing TARGET START, set contrast for a grey background and colour so that the score is pink or white, and the space craft passes the boundaries when the TV is set too bright; "No game on position 4"; burn-in warning; unplug the Telstar AC adapter from the wall outlet when the game is not being played.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Coleco, Guide No. 58024 C, p. 4: panel diagrams: the tennis and game selection panel (left and right slam buttons, left and right paddle controls, reset button, game selector knob, skill switch 1 pro and 2 beginner, ON-OFF switch, game cable); the Road Race panel (steering wheel, dials, shift lever 1 low gear and 2 high gear); the Quick Draw panel (remote receptacle for use with other cartridges, pistol receptacle, target starter button, pistol holster, AC adapter jack).
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Coleco, Guide No. 58024 C, p. 3: switch box connections; "Always keep cartridge securely in console to protect electronic circuits"; when changing cartridges, set the ON-OFF switch to OFF, insert the lip of the cartridge into the console, press down, and secure it by pressing firmly on the word TELSTAR; push the latch away to remove; "Do not touch or tamper with contacts. Game contacts should not be left exposed."; a sound may be heard as soon as the game is turned on; factory set for channel 3, with the channel selector switch on the bottom of the unit moved carefully to channel 4 only if channel 3 reception is too strong; turn automatic colour control off.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Berger-Braithwaite Labs, "Coleco Telstar Arcade Video Game", VideoTests, Video, Spring 1979, pp. 53 and 55, Internet Archive scan (retrieved 2026-10-19): tested December 1978; the cartridges "did not always slide into place easily on the first try" and needed wiggling to seat; the channel 3 or 4 selector is on the bottom of the console; the game did not seem to operate exactly on frequency and needed re-tuning; the sound comes from the game unit, not the TV, and its volume cannot be changed; the power must be turned off during cartridge changes "to avoid 'blowing' a cartridge"; the knob on the game selector never lined up with the numerals; balls could hang up or pass through walls in some games; suction feet; 18 inches each side, 4 inches high, 4 pounds; $59.95 with AC adaptor, switch box and Cartridge 1, further cartridges $19.95; energy consumption given as 9 volts.
  8. ↑ Photograph by Sintegrity, File:Coleco Telstar Arcade Cartridge 1 and latch.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons): Cartridge No. 1 seated in the top of the console beside its latch.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Coleco, Guide No. 58024 C, p. 8: 90-day limited warranty, voided if the registration card is not returned within 15 days; service for $5 handling and inspection plus advised charges, at the Telstar Division, 10 Park St., Amsterdam, New York; accessories from P.O. Box 1250, Gloversville, N.Y.: cartridge latch $1.00, AC adapter $5.00, switch kit $5.00, pistol $10.00, Cartridges No. 1 to 3 $25.00 each.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Coleco, Guide No. 58024 C, p. 2: three rubber suction cups pressed and twisted into holes in the corners of the base ("Do not press too hard so as to damage front of the unit"); the steering wheel snaps onto the steering post on the left side of the Road Race panel, its long slot lined up with the post; the shift lever snaps onto the shift post on the right side of the Road Race panel; the pistol holster fits with two pins and two screws; use only the Telstar AC adapter Model #6041-200MA, plugged into the AC ADAPTER jack on the Quick Draw panel and into 120 V household current.
  11. ↑ Photograph by Sintegrity, File:Coleco Telstar Arcade AC adapter jack.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons): the AC ADAPTER jack on the Quick Draw panel.
  12. ↑ Photograph by Evan-Amos, File:Coleco-Telstar-AC-Adaptor.jpg (public domain, from Wikimedia Commons): label "TELSTAR AC ADAPTOR MODEL 6041 ... INPUT: 117V 60Hz 5W OUTPUT: 9 V DC 200mA".
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 MOS Technology, Specification for Video Game Array MPS 7600-001, preliminary, rev. 1, June 1976, pp. 1, 2 and 8-12, File:MOS Technology MPS 7600-001 Video Game Array Specification (1976).pdf: a 28-pin P-channel MOS chip; a programmable series in which each version is mask-programmed with its own games; a frame processor with a 512-word ROM; crystal-controlled clock, 3.579545 MHz for full colour or 3.595314 MHz for a "rainbow" display, one of which is essential to stable operation even for black and white; a single supply of -6.5 to -9.5 V, with two VDD and two VSS pins that must all be connected; most designs battery powered from C or D cells; an AC supply needs adequate current and filtering, as sharp transients "may result in perturbations of the game display"; player controls are potentiometers, which "receive considerable abuse"; sound through a single transistor driving a speaker; slide switches in the control matrix need isolating diodes; target games need a trigger switch and a photoelectric circuit feeding the HIT input.
  14. ↑ Photograph by Sintegrity, File:Coleco Telstar Arcade tennis panel controls.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons): RESET, the game selector knob marked 1 to 4, the SKILL switch (1, 2) and the ON/OFF switch.
  15. ↑ Photograph by Sintegrity, File:Coleco Telstar Arcade Road Race panel.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons): steering wheel, dials, gear indicator and shift lever.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Coleco, Guide No. 58024 C, p. 6: Quick Draw (game position 3): insert the pistol connector firmly, aligned with its key, and never force it; keep the pistol in its holster when starting; do not cock the pistol, fire using the trigger only; firing range depends on the TV; set contrast so that the background is grey and colour so that the score is pink or white; a brighter target area is easier to hit; wait for the score to go out before starting the target again; 21 shots per game; game position 4 and the remote receptacle are not used with Cartridge No. 1; Cartridge No. 2 (tennis, hockey, handball and target, eight games for 1 to 4 players, with remote controls) and Cartridge No. 3 (four pinball games and two target games).
  17. ↑ Photograph by Sintegrity, File:Coleco Telstar Arcade Quick Draw panel sockets.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons): REMOTE and PISTOL sockets and the TARGET STARTER button.
  18. ↑ David Winter, Pong-Story, "Coleco Telstar Arcade Cartridge #2" (retrieved 2026-10-19): eight games (tennis and hockey for two or four players, handball, Jumping Target and Quick Shot); the cartridge came with two additional controllers for the four-player games.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Coleco, Guide No. 58024 C, p. 5: switch off and latch the cartridge securely before play; hue or tint and automatic colour control; on black-and-white sets do not turn brightness and contrast to maximum; Road Race (game position 1): always start in low gear 1, press RESET once after the small cars appear, a crash stops the car and it restarts only in gear 1, with a 3 to 6 second penalty; Tennis (game position 2): the skill switch sets the ball speed; the game will not reset unless both paddles are within the court, and the ball always serves from a paddle; moving the serving paddle off the court calls time out; slam buttons; the first player to 21 wins.


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