Need help. NES is a** backwards...

GagesacGagesac
in Help Wanted!
So I bought a broken nes the other day and decided to see if I could fix it. 



It was experiencing the dreaded "blinking light" and flashing screen, indicating contact points or game isnt working. 



I decided to take it apart and raise the contact points in the 72 pin connector (with a paper clip) and clean the motherboard connection with alcohol thoroughly.



The weird things is... games will only play when I DONT have the game pushed down in its intended start game position. What should I do to fix this? What exactly did I do wrong when cleaning? See pics...



GAME NOT PUSHED DOWN - works

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image



GAME PUSHED DOWN - doesnt work



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Thanks!

-Alex








Comments

  • Viper0hrViper0hr
    Did you push the springboard under the board when you put it back in? It has a lip on the front that tucks under the NES board. Fucked me up for the first 2 I tried to fix.
  • Retroman86Retroman86
    that's weird the game should work regardless if its pushed down or not, the game is connected to the pins and the carriage is just the means of holding the game ,sounds like when the game is pushed down it may be pushing on a circuit or something to make it not play, this is odd.
  • theirontoupeetheirontoupee
    Originally posted by: Viper0hr

    Did you push the springboard under the board when you put it back in? It has a lip on the front that tucks under the NES board. Fucked me up for the first 2 I tried to fix.




    This got me too a couple times and would also be my question.
  • Duke.TogoDuke.Togo
    This happens to me when I "tighten up" a 72-pin. After some use it will behave more normally.
  • TaiTai
    I couldent get my tray to pop up unless I rocked the tray back n fourth. fixed this by realizing I used the wrong screws on one end of the tray. check and see if your screws may be too long holding your tray in.
  • Ozzy_98Ozzy_98
    check the contacts see if you bent them too much.
  • ZombieGuyGeezusZombieGuyGeezus
    ^^^This. Contacts may be too tight. Commonly referred to as "The Grip o' Dealtph".
  • GuntzGuntz
    You're better off not pushing the game down, that will wear out the pin connector really fast just like the old one you replaced.
  • quest4nesquest4nes
    your pin is too tight. just play with it not pushed down till you have to push it down to get it to work. Actually a good problem to have.
  • MogMog

    Originally posted by: Guntz



    You're better off not pushing the game down, that will wear out the pin connector really fast just like the old one you replaced.





    If by really fast you mean 25+ years, then yes, I agree.



    My original NES's are still going strong and love being pushed down.
  • GuntzGuntz
    Except these new pin connectors are worse quality and won't take the ZIF action like the original.
  • AaronEAaronE

    Originally posted by: Guntz



    You're better off not pushing the game down, that will wear out the pin connector really fast just like the old one you replaced.



    I don't see that the OP replaced the 72 pin connector. I see they said they tried to bend the contacts into place.

    They're likely bent too far and making good contact when it's not pushed down. They should work their way back apart with use and repeated cart changes.



    Also the last pesky front loader I had I used a little brasso on the board, followed by isopropyl alcohol, and then lifted pin 4 of the 10NES chip. Took care of all the issues.


  • standigzstandigz
    Maybe you put it back together to hastily or tightened something too much. Anyway, mine doesn't need to be pushed down either, though I replaced the pin connector, so that may be why.



    But you didn't, so I don't know what could cause that. Maybe whoever owned the NES previously replaced it? Sometimes I wonder what an NES would say if it could talk...
  • GuntzGuntz
    You know, I've probably been saying this for like 8 years now. If your NES can now play games in the up position, leave them there! It prolongs the life of the cart slot to not push them down. The so called ZIF cart slot is so poorly designed, it can't take that kind of abuse for years, much less decades.
  • Nes FreakNes Freak

    Originally posted by: Guntz



    You know, I've probably been saying this for like 8 years now. If your NES can now play games in the up position, leave them there! It prolongs the life of the cart slot to not push them down. The so called ZIF cart slot is so poorly designed, it can't take that kind of abuse for years, much less decades.





    i guess pushing it down completes the feeling of the game being put in lol.
  • FaxanadudeFaxanadude




    To viper you listen!!! So many people forget the lip under the loading sled has to go under the board during reassembly.

  • Kosmic StarDustKosmic StarDust
    Also if your NES is blinking, for the love of all that is holy, cut Pin 4 on the lockout chip. this cures about 85% of cart issues. The other 15% is dirty contacts.
  • BouncekDeLemosBouncekDeLemos

    Originally posted by: RegularGuyGamer



    ^^^This. Contacts may be too tight. Commonly referred to as "The Grip o' Dealtph".

    ^^^This x a billion. Usually common in newer ninja-grip contact connectors. 



    Think of it like putting a game in a top loader, then pushing it down super hard to one side so it wouldn't make contact with a row of pins. (I wouldn't recommend this btw)




  • Mega Mario ManMega Mario Man
    Just leave the games up. It better on the connector. Mine does this now after tightening my pins.
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