I have 2 N64's one is complete with box other was given to me in a job lot of consoles, it is looking a bit sorry for itself, what tool do i need to open it up to give it a good clean ?
4.5mm "gamebit" will work for opening the console. This one also comes with the size for opening the games as well. Everything on the inside is phillips-head screws.
Do a search on Ebay or Amazon for "nintendo 64 console bit" and there you'll find the type of screwdrivers or bits for screwdrivers you'll need to get the console open.
I suggest the full-shaft drivers you can get from Console5 and Kitsch-Bent. They are dirt cheap (one of them is $3, IIRC), have magnetic inserts, and don't require you to do anything funny like the shorter bits require.
For example, a short 4.5mm bit won't reach all the way into the rear center screw shaft on he N64 when you have it fully inserted into a typical bit driver. You have to drop the bit into the hole and then seat your driver as deep as it can reach over it. Because the bit is not bottomed out in the driver handle, you can't put pressure onto it to avoid slipping.
Pro tip 1: don't bother removing the expansion pak or jumper pak. It'll come off with the top shell and be nearly contained under the lid.
Pro tip 2: you only need to remove two screws from the top of the heatsink after taking off the surrounding shield screws. You do not need to remove any from the blocks over the CPU, graphics, or memory chips.
Pro tip 3: do not lift the heatsink straight up or from the front. The N64 was revised early on to have only one memory chip and the TSOP package only has a couple ground pins on the front side which can easily tear off the board from surface tension if you lift from that side.
So in the event you DO want to tear the whole thing down you will need a few more tools....you will need a combination of a standard phillips screwdriver but those smaller screws on the plate and the ones holding down the back side ( long silver screws) can be a pain so you might need to switch over to a phillips screwdriver that has a small square like tip. Somebody here probably knows exactly what it's called I know these come in those "multi" head screwdriver sets. You'll need a smaller phillips to remove the heat shields from the memory cart area.
Also, if you choose to do full disassemble, when you go to put those small plate screws back into the heatsink, I put them in part way and then randomly seat them in. For me and I've done 30+ of these, they don't tend to seat if you try to seat the screws in a close order. It's like tightening lug nuts on a car wheel. They go in at an angle and it can get frustrating if you try to seat them in a close by order. You'll def want the heatsink to be perfectly in place as well.
For reassembly, don't tighten anything down until you have the two tabs slotted in on both sides of the memory expansion slot (jumper pak, expansion pak). It's the root of that problem.
For reassembly, don't tighten anything down until you have the two tabs slotted in on both sides of the memory expansion slot (jumper pak, expansion pak). It's the root of that problem.
The best is when you re-assemble the N64 and then you notice the bulb cover just chillin off to the side on the assembly table! That means tearing it back down again!
For reassembly, don't tighten anything down until you have the two tabs slotted in on both sides of the memory expansion slot (jumper pak, expansion pak). It's the root of that problem.
The best is when you re-assemble the N64 and then you notice the bulb cover just chillin off to the side on the assembly table! That means tearing it back down again!
Ugh! This has happened so many times I want to punch the wall just because you reminded me of it.
Comments
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8MM-4-5MM-Security-Game-Bit-Tool-Set-Nintendo-SNES-N64-NES-GAMECUBE-MORE/111586164746?_trkparms=aid=555019&algo=PL.BANDIT&ao=1&asc=20150817211709&meid=0d68eed1ce304f71a5feeba63d82c9fd&pid=100506&rk=1&rkt=1&&itm=111586164746&_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226
or if you don't have a driver handle that accepts bits...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8mm-4-5mm-Screwdriver-Bit-Security-Tool-for-Nes-SNes-N64-Game-Boy-Nintendo/132099203514?hash=item1ec1b9e1ba:m:mqHUYd7Nfl6Mb-t1OiwXl3A
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8MM-4-5MM-Security-Game-Bit-Tool-Set-Nintendo-SNES-N64-NES-GAMECUBE-MORE/111586164746?hash=item19fb0dc00a:g:0YcAAOSwWKtUyoCA
***edit***
Or the literal same exact thing that a user above me wrote.
For example, a short 4.5mm bit won't reach all the way into the rear center screw shaft on he N64 when you have it fully inserted into a typical bit driver. You have to drop the bit into the hole and then seat your driver as deep as it can reach over it. Because the bit is not bottomed out in the driver handle, you can't put pressure onto it to avoid slipping.
Pro tip 1: don't bother removing the expansion pak or jumper pak. It'll come off with the top shell and be nearly contained under the lid.
Pro tip 2: you only need to remove two screws from the top of the heatsink after taking off the surrounding shield screws. You do not need to remove any from the blocks over the CPU, graphics, or memory chips.
Pro tip 3: do not lift the heatsink straight up or from the front. The N64 was revised early on to have only one memory chip and the TSOP package only has a couple ground pins on the front side which can easily tear off the board from surface tension if you lift from that side.
Also, if you choose to do full disassemble, when you go to put those small plate screws back into the heatsink, I put them in part way and then randomly seat them in. For me and I've done 30+ of these, they don't tend to seat if you try to seat the screws in a close order. It's like tightening lug nuts on a car wheel. They go in at an angle and it can get frustrating if you try to seat them in a close by order. You'll def want the heatsink to be perfectly in place as well.
I suggest the full-shaft drivers you can get from Console5 and Kitsch-Bent.
Quoted for truth. If you're going to get some, get the longer ones that will work for both consoles and games.
I suggest the full-shaft drivers you can get from Console5 and Kitsch-Bent.
Quoted for truth. If you're going to get some, get the longer ones that will work for both consoles and games.
Couldn't agree more! I will never forget the time i had to open up my virtual boy and realized what a dilemma it was having the shorter bits!
For reassembly, don't tighten anything down until you have the two tabs slotted in on both sides of the memory expansion slot (jumper pak, expansion pak). It's the root of that problem.
The best is when you re-assemble the N64 and then you notice the bulb cover just chillin off to the side on the assembly table! That means tearing it back down again!
For reassembly, don't tighten anything down until you have the two tabs slotted in on both sides of the memory expansion slot (jumper pak, expansion pak). It's the root of that problem.
The best is when you re-assemble the N64 and then you notice the bulb cover just chillin off to the side on the assembly table! That means tearing it back down again!
Ugh! This has happened so many times I want to punch the wall just because you reminded me of it.