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Article #16980

Re: NINTENDO: How do ya clean'um

#16980
From: slmdj
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 17:51
42 lines
2700 bytes
In article <1993Jan7.170714.14089@phx.mcd.mot.com>, schuch@phx.mcd.mot.com (John Schuch) writes:
> The game carts for my kids Nintendo are really getting flakey. I'v
> found that if I clean the contacts with Q-tips and alcahol, they
> work for a couple of days but quickly crap-out again. Anybody
> know the proper ( or at least a better ) way to solve this problem?
> 
> Thanks,
> John
> 
> -- 
> +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | John R. Schuch  -  Motorola Computer Group  -  Manufacturing Engineering |
> | N7XVS - schuch@phx.mcd.mot.com - (602) 438-3008 - CompuServe: 70733.3330 |
> +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+

I know this isn't exactly an orthodox method, but it works _really_ well!

I had much the same problem.  (I assume... :-) [you almost couldn't play the 
Nintendo because it took several frustrating minutes to finally get the 
cartridge to make a good connection])  My solution was to take the Nintendo
apart *gasp* (it wasn't under warranty or anything, and I have some
troubleshooting experience) and take a look around.  What I found was that the
large connector (spring-type connections, not sure how many pins) that is to
connect directly to the cartridge had been used so much that it wasn't really
reliable anymore.  My solution (I'm cheap if I have to... :-)) was to use a
thin, narrow pen knife to _GENTLY_ bend each individual spring contact towards
the one opposite it.  (ie: make the space between the two rows of contacts 
smaller)  After this was completed, I re-assembled the machine and Voila!... It
works like a charm again.  One note, however, after this is done-- It is
somewhat harder to remove some cartridges, so just pull a little harder to get
it out :-)

Hope this helps!

-- 
********************************************************************************
      Paul Cowley      *             "If you tell the truth,
   ==EE Undergrad==    *                  you don't have to remember anything."
 Utah State University *                       --Mark Twain
  C/A1C  CAP Utah Wing *
   slmdj@cc.usu.edu    *
********************************************************************************
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From: slmdj@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: NINTENDO: How do ya clean'um
Message-ID: <1993Jan11.115133.62621@cc.usu.edu>
Date: 11 Jan 93 11:51:33 MDT
References: <1993Jan7.170714.14089@phx.mcd.mot.com>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Utah State University
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