First time cleaning nes and snes carts

GavicaGavica
in Collector's Corner
well today I finally recieved the screwdriver and opened some nes carts and did the eraser and isopropyl cleaning thing and now its amazing, I can push the carts all the way to the back and they will play perfectly, I had not seen this since I got my nintendo 22 years ago!!
I also used a cleaning kit to clean the contacts on my original nes.

wow, I had no Idea it would work this great, they play like brand new now.

I also managed to revive 2 super nes games I thought they were goners (Uncharted waters New Horizons, Captain Tsubasa) they play perfectly on my snes too!!

sorry, just wow, never imagined this was possible. image


«1

Comments

  • ElijahElijah
    Also try weimers, probably takes off less gold IMO
  • Koopa64Koopa64
    The powers of cleaning are an amazing thing to behold. Many people still do not realize cartridge systems can and will get dirty over time. ESPECIALLY with SNES owners. I know several people who think SNES systems are just prone to freezing due to a bad cartridge slot, when in reality they just haven't cleaned the damn thing in over a decade.



    Maybe this could be a thread for people's experiences with cleaning? I've got a story. One time I got an absolutely awful condition Donkey Kong Country 2 cart. The label is horribly deteriorated and the edge connector had been darkened from the dirt. Well I opened it and cleaned it with rubbing alcohol and an eraser. Now it works perfectly and still saves just fine with it's original battery. I still have this cartridge. I only seriously collect for Sega 32X, I mostly collect to play on Nintendo cart systems. image
  • ElijahElijah
    ^ Have you ever gotten a cart where someone pooped inside it, I have, I have no other idea what the brown sheet was
  • PalcomPalcom
    My Little Samsom cart had some stains of jelly on the PCB and pins.
  • tacolinowesttacolinowest
    simple, water and Q tips
  • NewUser123456789NewUser123456789
    Weiman's does well for cleaning carts..  Especially my crappy collection carts..

    Cleaning your games regardless of the method you use is essential to ease of use.. 

    No more blowing or wiggling or getting pissed when they don't work.

  • dougman999dougman999
    I use Brasso. Stuff works wonders, and it gives me a great high when I sniff it!
  • Koopa64Koopa64
    Originally posted by: jdheins

    ^ Have you ever gotten a cart where someone pooped inside it, I have, I have no other idea what the brown sheet was

    Well, my Ninja Gaiden cart has some grime that has the same color as poop. It's kinda weird...


    Originally posted by: tacolinowest

    simple,
    water and Q tips

    You do realize most water available has minerals and other imperfections in it that can cause corrosion in cartridge contacts, right? Rubbing alcohol is 100% sterile and dries fast. That's why it's used in electronic cleaning.
  • GavicaGavica
    ok, I've come to a halt with a jackal cart, for the life of my I cannot open it, dunno if the screw is too tight, or the head has worn off, but it seems to be normal.

    Is there any other way to loosen up the screw a bit?
  • ElijahElijah
    Does the screw turn? If so just pop the cart open, it might be stripped, but probably just stuck i am guessing, you can pop it out with something if you can get the cart to open. It happens every now and then.
  • ElijahElijah
    Originally posted by: dougman999

    I use Brasso. Stuff works wonders, and it gives me a great high when I sniff it!


    Brasso is a little overkill I think, it has abrasives or something, you don't want to take off more gold than you have too.
  • GavicaGavica
    nope, the screw isnt turning
  • VGS_captmorgandrinkerVGS_captmorgandrinker
    Is it one of the older flat-head ones by chance? Some of those ended up in 3 screw carts....
  • Topload_DogboneTopload_Dogbone
    Originally posted by: Gavica

    nope, the screw isnt turning


    the previous owner may have glued it sealed (likely an ex rental) or someone who previously owned it stripped the screws and had to glue it back together. 
  • KagemushaKagemusha
    Speaking of those ex-rentals, why do they put their stickers (VOID or otherwise) INSIDE the carts? I don't think the average renter would open the games. Can't think of why, except to make cleaning really annoing, especially after you take a few off the outside...............
  • addsfsdsaddsfsds
    Last week i cleaned my SNES games using a small amount of "polish" and a solution of 50% Isopropyl alcohol and 50% water. I couldn't imagine so much dirty in those carts! Now they're like brand new and shiny!!
  • 2A032A03
    Originally posted by: PSerge

    Weiman's does well for cleaning carts..  Especially my crappy collection carts..


    I swear by Weiman's for cleaning carts. I've had a few where alcohol or an eraser just wouldn't work, but then I used Weiman's and it cleared them up really well.
  • ElijahElijah
    Originally posted by: Gavica

    nope, the screw isnt turning



    Well then.........    your screwed
  • ElijahElijah
    Just kidding, get a titanium drill bit, and drill directly on top of the screw, you'll need a steady hand.
  • ElijahElijah
    ^or something harder, you could get a diamond tip, but might be overkill
  • Ramma2Ramma2
    Sorry to bump an older thread, but is everyone just referring to Weiman's Glass Cook Top cleaner? I saw it at Target today, but didn't pick it up since I wasn't 100% sure.
  • nes_kingnes_king
    ^^ yes that is what they are referring to...
  • Ramma2Ramma2
    Originally posted by: nes_king

    ^^ yes that is what they are referring to...



    Thanks sir!
  • andysmithandysmith
    I've been cleaning all my NES carts with an eraser & then some cheapy (TESCO own) window polish applied & removed with a cotton bud. 100% success so far, though make sure the cotton doesn't disintegrate onto the pins and gunk up your NES.



    Only failure I've had is with my 'Duck Tales' cart. The gamebit fits so tightly into the holes it just won't turn. Very odd as the screws are definitely gamebit type, and I know they're not glued because it's my original store-bought cart from when I was a child.



    It is as if the holes are just a teensy bit too small. Very strange. Anyone else come across this?



    ~A
  • KidOrrorinKidOrrorin
    Originally posted by: andysmith

    Only failure I've had is with my 'Duck Tales' cart. The gamebit fits so tightly into the holes it just won't turn. Very odd as the screws are definitely gamebit type, and I know they're not glued because it's my original store-bought cart from when I was a child.

    It is as if the holes are just a teensy bit too small. Very strange. Anyone else come across this?

    ~A

    I've come across this a lot actually. Just grind down the outside of your gamebit and it should fit. Don't grind too far though!

  • andysmithandysmith
    Originally posted by: KidOrrorin

    I've come across this a lot actually. Just grind down the outside of your gamebit and it should fit. Don't grind too far though!



    Good advice, thanks Frankie. It's the first one out of about 64 carts that I've had this problem with. I'll leave it for now 'cause it works fine and shouldn't be too dirty: I know where it's been... image

    I'm sure most of you here have the same rule as me when getting new carts secondhand - if it's not been cleaned, it's not going in my NES! image

    ~A
  • iressivoriressivor
    Hey guys. I'm new here, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents on the subject. In my experience, I've found that ordinary brass polish, followed by a quick swab of rubbing alcohol, cleans up cartridge games quite nicely. I've done this with all my NES, SNES and N64 games, and each one works like new again. I've been using this method for over a year now and it's fantastic!
  • ElijahElijah
    Personally I use tarter sauce, it's never failed to make a cart taste good, if I can't get it to play!
  • KickleKickle
    My Hydlide cart only works when it's in my system, yet when I take it out and put it back in, gray screen. I clean it again, working. I need the 3.8mm(?) drillbit real bad... does TradeNGames still sell them?
  • andysmithandysmith
    Originally posted by: Kickle

    I need the 3.8mm(?) drillbit real bad... does TradeNGames still sell them?


    Yup: http://www.tradengames.com/ProductCart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=57

    In related news, people who 'clean' NES cart contacts with wire wool need the same to be applied to their FACE.

    ~A
Sign In or Register to comment.