Opening up a Tengen game

Mr. TrickMr. Trick
in Help Wanted!
So I have a couple Tengen carts that need to be taken apart for cleaning. The problem: Tengen thought it was a good idea to put the sticker over the 3rd screw slot. I am wondering what other people have done here to go through with this. Did you attempt to do clever sticker removal/reapplication or did you just say to hell with it and puncture the sticker?



Thank you for any participation or feedback!

Comments

  • dr.robbiedr.robbie
    Just dont take it apart to clean. Just do the exposed contacts. Adding any damage is bad 99% of the time.

    Ps. I imagine it will be near impossible to remove and reapply the label without damaging it.
  • LincolnLincoln
    It's possible to peel and reapply if you heat the label up enough. it's tough because you have to get enough heat to melt the glue, so you're not damaging the label, but not so much you melt the cart. even if you do it right, the label will probably show signs of the process, although minimal.



    try working around it first, and deal with the sticker only if you have to.
  • Mr. TrickMr. Trick
    I'd love nothing more than to only need to clean with a q-tip, but these contacts need a bit more love than what a Q-tip alone is going to take off.
  • VGS_captmorgandrinkerVGS_captmorgandrinker
    If you take out the screws you can see, you can pry it open enough to get the board out (use a wedge shaped lego to hold it open).
  • TWarwick07TWarwick07
    i have heard you can take out the 2 easy screws and gently pry the cart apart enough to slide the board out. havent tried it but if i was going to get at it i would give this method a try
  • Mr. TrickMr. Trick
    Thanks, I'll see if that's going to be a possibility!
  • daillestdaillest
    Originally posted by: TWarwick07



    i have heard you can take out the 2 easy screws and gently pry the cart apart enough to slide the board out. havent tried it but if i was going to get at it i would give this method a try

     Yes that method works if you do it carefully. 



     
  • timmk21timmk21
    Try a 1up card. I recently purchased some and they do a really good job. Definitely way better than a Q tip and it doesn't leave any debris behind.
  • Ethan4972Ethan4972
    Originally posted by: timmk21



    Try a 1up card. I recently purchased some and they do a really good job. Definitely way better than a Q tip and it doesn't leave any debris behind.



    you reccomend it then? I just looked it up and it looks interesting...

     
  • timmk21timmk21
    Originally posted by: Ethan4972

     
    Originally posted by: timmk21



    Try a 1up card. I recently purchased some and they do a really good job. Definitely way better than a Q tip and it doesn't leave any debris behind.



    you reccomend it then? I just looked it up and it looks interesting...

     



    Yup, I bought the kit just so I could reuse the squirt bottle. I haven't opened up any new games since and this has been the only way I've been cleaning since receiving it.

     
  • Nes FreakNes Freak
    for game i cant take apart i use a paper q tip with #0000 super fine steel wool warped around it and rubbing alcohol . clean it like a normal game. once its clean flip it over and use a regular Q tip with alcohol to clean out the steel wool debris. make sure you get it all other wise it can cause problems. i do that to game i cant get working with normal q tip and alcohol
  • Mr. TrickMr. Trick
    Steel wool is pretty abrasive, even in it's finest form. If you go at it wrong or once too many times on the contacts, you may wind up with something that will have to be tinned just to get to work. Way better solutions out there.



    As for the 1-up card, I think I have something to look into for an effectiveness test.



    I think I will continue to keep an eye out for anyone referencing dealing with the sticker or and investigate other options. Thanks for all the input so far.
  • ne$_pimpne$_pimp
    Originally posted by: captmorgandrinker



    If you take out the screws you can see, you can pry it open enough to get the board out (use a wedge shaped lego to hold it open).





    Lego eh! I know the block your talking aboot but would have never though to use it to pry open a NES cart. 
  • Nes FreakNes Freak
    Originally posted by: Mr. Trick



    Steel wool is pretty abrasive, even in it's finest form. If you go at it wrong or once too many times on the contacts, you may wind up with something that will have to be tinned just to get to work. Way better solutions out there.



    As for the 1-up card, I think I have something to look into for an effectiveness test.



    I think I will continue to keep an eye out for anyone referencing dealing with the sticker or and investigate other options. Thanks for all the input so far.



    ive been doing this for 10 years and have had no long term issues.  ive also been restoring games and console for 10 years and selling them on ebay.  it will be fine trust me.

     
  • 16bitSprite16bitSprite
    Oh god, don't attempt the sticker even with heating. I used to be a sign writer for 10 years and spent all day everyday using every trick in the book to remove stickers in one piece. I was very good at it. Old stickers are always a bitch and you would be super lucky to get it in one piece. Paper stickers are the worst and it's usually only possible if it been applicated very recently. You have both a paper sticker and an old sticker. I'd say your chances are zero to none of going down that path.



    If you do need to remove it, sort out a replacement beforehand by taking it to a printer or sign writer before you remove the sticker so they can take measurements and photos before the original is destroyed. You will never save the original, but you will have a decent replica.
  • dav3ybdav3yb
    I would just use a hobby knife and cut around the screw to expose it.
  • Mr. TrickMr. Trick
    Thanks for the feedback.



    @dav3yb, are you meaning cut a circle or make an cross pattern where it should be enough to slip the tool in with minimal intrusion?
  • scaryicescaryice
    I would use as many qtips as it takes to clean it without opening it up.
  • dav3ybdav3yb
    Originally posted by: Mr. Trick

    Thanks for the feedback.



    @dav3yb, are you meaning cut a circle or make an cross pattern where it should be enough to slip the tool in with minimal intrusion?




    Either would work, a cross pattern would allow you to fold it back over the screw, but personally I'd just cut a circle and leave the screw exposed. The only way I might reconsider this would be of the cart looked like it had just be pulled out of its box. Otherwise the label is the main thing that matters.

    Though my outlook on how collectable these are might differ from some others.
  • gunpeigunpei
    Thirding the thing where you take out the other two screws and slip the board out. I did it once and it worked fine.
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