RetroActive: How To Refurbish Your NES
8/21/12 3:30pm
Kevin gives you a step by step walk through of taking apart your NES and refurbishing the pin connector inside. If you are tired of that blinking screen, get ready to see it a lot less if you follow these steps.
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g1 DISCUSSIONS
WaldoBomar68
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Awesome_Mike
i used your tutorial, did everything step by step but i still get the blinking, help?
kevinwska
Make sure your games are clean. As the video mentions this will never stop it completely and corrosion or dirt on the contacts will still cause problems. Also make sure you're trying the games up first as making the contacts tighter causes them to have a good contact without being pushed down. If they don't start up, then try pushing down. If your games look minty clean and don't work in either position try cleaning the actual connector again and making sure none of the contacts bent funky. If you're still not having any luck you may have to just invest in a new connector unfortunately.
Awesome_Mike
Okay thank you i will try that
darkhyrulelord
This stuff is way beyond my head, but I appreciate the effort if I ever truly need to fix an NES.
PineyCreek
Yeah, I did the same thing a couple years back. Even got an ugly pink socket cleaning device that looked like a cross between oversized Game Genie with a handle and a VCR cleaner. Cleaned everything with pure alcohol, put a new connector, even cleaned up some of the soldering. Runs like a champ.
Special note though, when you do use it after replacing the connector, use only generation 2 cartridges for a while to break in the connector. The original NES games had a fatter connector. Break it in gently, since that new connector's going to be tight!
TCJJ
I definitely have to vouch for buying a new 72-pin connector. It works so much better. I tried to refurbish the original connector in my NES, and it just didn't work.
I do recommend anti-static equipment, though. I don't have any myself, but I've fried a few things because of that. My NES, SNES and Mega Drive were all fine whilst I modded/repaired them, though, and I've disassembled many consoles. I've only really had a problem with laptops. Still, it's an added precaution that could save you money.
Also, another tip: turn the NES on for a few seconds after disconnecting it from the power supply so that it discharges any stored electricity (most newer consoles don't have this problem, although I did notice that the Xbox 360 Slim has problem).
Finally, one more tip: using a rubber/eraser on contacts/pins is also very effective. I liked to use both methods, just to make sure it's as clean as possible.
kevinwska
I've done this method on several NES and it works great. And you can see that in the video.
Buying anti-static equipment for stuff like this is major over kill.
Deep cleaning the pins on the inside isn't really necessary, they shouldn't be that dirty or corroded. But if they are yes an eraser is good to have.
TCJJ
I agree that it can work. I'm just saying that it's easier to buy a new connector, but yes, if you do it right, it does work.
I also agree that anti-static equipment for such a small thing IS overkill - the reason I haven't bought any yet. However, it's still worth having if you're going to frequently do these sorts of things.
As for cleaning the pins on the inside, I agree with that, too. I should have been more specific - I was more so talking about the game cartridges that you put in, and also, the connector on the main board (although again, that shouldn't be very dirty either).
GamecubeGarth
Props on the Bucky O'hare and Battletoads music. Also, glad to see someone actually succeeding with technology. I just had to scrap my Nintoaster 64 project because the board got fried somewhere down the line. Maybe I should try again with my NES; it looks much easier to deal with.