Trouble opening a cart

Ouendan

I got a game recently, and I've been unable to open it.  I have a security bit, but apparently two of the screw posts have been stripped.  When I try to turn the screws in both directions, it doesn't tighten or loosen.  Is there anything I can do to open it safely without destroying the case?

Penguin

Well you can try melting a piece of plastic and sticking it in to for to the stripped shape, or you could take a soldering iron and heat the screws up and pull the cart apart and hope for the best

dangevin

If the screw posthole itself is stripped, it should be an easy matter to extract the screw. You have two options: use some type of all-surface adhesive, like a tiny dot of epoxy, to attach something to the screw head and when it's dry, gently extract it while counterrotating it. You can also solder something to it, but this might be messy and difficult considering the recessed hole. Best bet there might be to apply some solder to the end of a piece of metal, then heat the metal while holding the solder bead to the screw head, and when the metal heats enough it will melt the solder to the head. A paper clip should be efficient, then you can bend it into a shape that will give you a handle and some slight torque.



Or you can just turn it over and bang it against your hand until they fly out on their own

Topload_Dogbone

you may have a rental game with glued screws. These are a real pain in the ass. If these suggested methods don't work you may end up having to break the back half of the cart with wire cutters. Then just replace it with another cart back from a cheap game. For some reason on a handful of rental games I've gotten they have glued screws, and you'll see when you get them open that they usually have the magnetic security strip inside the cart.

Mog

If the screw holes are stripped, why cant you just pull it apart? Just get a flat screw driver and push down on the tabs on the top.

CUSTOM NES GUY

He means the screw heads are stripped. Sometimes if you angle the screwdriver to the left or right it will catch enough of the head to turn it.

Ouendan

No, the screw heads aren't stripped, it's the actual plastic on the screwpost of the front case.

Also, replacing the back won't do anything because the screwposts are on the front case only.

arch_8ngel

Do you have access to a drill press?



If so, you can use a high-speed pilot hole bit to drill through the screw head. Once you clear reach the main shaft, the head will break loose, and then you'll be able to get the game open. At that point, a pair of needle nose pliers will extract the shaft.

Topload_Dogbone

Originally posted by: NES_Bros_3

Also, replacing the back won't do anything because the screwposts are on the front case only.

you're not getting me...what you have to do is take a pair of wire cutters (or pliers whatever) and literally break the back half of the cartridge in to several pieces, but avoid the screws because if they get pulled out it will strip the front half of the cartridge. After you've done that, you can then grab the exposed screw head with pliers and unscrew it, because more of it will be exposed since the back half of the cart is removed. 

I'm like 99% that this game is an ex-rental with glued screws, I've had to do this a few times, it will definitely work. You may want to use the screws off the new cart backing you put on it though since sometimes the glue will gunk up the rivets on the screws. 

Hope that helps. 

JFWinters

I have a slightly different, but related question. I've never had any trouble opening up Nintendo licensed cases. When I tried to open a Tengen game, however, I had some trouble. I took the screws out, but it seemed like the little tabs on the top of the case were still holding the front and back together pretty tight. I tryed to tug them apart, but I didn't want to pull too hard and break something. Any suggestions from others who have opened Tengen games? Thanks!

dangevin

I think the best solution so far is to just unscrew all other screws and try to separate the case. If they're all "free spinning" for whatever reason, or unscrewed and removed, the cart should open. If it doesn't, Adam's right you've got glue problems and nothing short of breaking it will do any good.

These things are tough, though -- try some moderate pressure. If there's nothing holding the screw from spinning, there's nothing holding the case together either.

Mog

Originally posted by: dangevin

These things are tough, though -- try some moderate pressure. If there's nothing holding the screw from spinning, there's nothing holding the case together either.

Except for the tabs on the top, don't forget about those.

Originally posted by: JFWinters

I
have a slightly different, but related question. I've never had any
trouble opening up Nintendo licensed cases. When I tried to open a
Tengen game, however, I had some trouble. I took the screws out, but it
seemed like the little tabs on the top of the case were still holding
the front and back together pretty tight. I tryed to tug them apart,
but I didn't want to pull too hard and break something. Any suggestions
from others who have opened Tengen games? Thanks!

Tengen games have a screw hidden behind the back label, right in the the center. I think it's a crime to open a Tengen game though.

CUSTOM NES GUY

This has happened to me on old NES controllers. I carefully pried it apart, use pliers to hold the post while extracting the screw, and glued the screw post back on then put the screw in gently snug, not too tight. Theres not a whole lot of things you can do.