Cleaning NES carts

[missioncontrol]

O.k. i read that you can use a white earser to clean Atarti carts can the same method be used for NES carts too?

what other suggestions do you all have?

[ChadTower]

First use alcohol and a Q tip to get rid of the dirt.  Then use the white eraser to get anything else off.  Sometimes I've gone so far as to use an emory board for really bad carts.

The NES carts are not standing up to time at ALL.  So many barely work now, and combined with the NES connectors, the NES itself is mostly a lost cause as far as original hardware goes.  It's the only system that is like that though the N64 is starting to show some of the same things.

[missioncontrol]

thanks chad

[rdmustang]

I always use spit and a q-tip (hey, if it's good enough for my mother it's good enough for me!).  You can buy replacement parts for the console that make it read games better. Check ebay.

[missioncontrol]

I don't think it's the console I think it's just certain games

[ChadTower]

It's probably both and those replacement connectors aren't any better than the originals.

[SithMaster]

try the nes nex

[crashwg]

I always found that licking the cartridge works pretty good. 

[GGKoul]

yep. I use the qtip and split method.  Works great!! But make sure you have lots of qtips.  As they will get dirty very quickly.

[ArcadeNerd]

OK, I've cleaned about a bajillion of these in the past.  Alcohol and Q-tips work well for me.  Wet one end and go over the connectors and watch all of the grime you get off.  Then use the dry end to dry, again taking off more crap.  Repeat if it was really bad untill you don;t get crud off, this is only really bad the first time you clean a game.  If you do this then everytime after it'll only take a second to get it good and clean.

About the new connectors I've also had a good bit of experience with them as well.  With a new connector and clean games they'll start everytime but that'll cost you still $10ish and you'll end up with the same problem later down the line (still better than not being able to play it though).  I spent some time recently and learned how to bend the pins of the connectors and I got one to work recently and now I don;t even have to push the games down and they ALL start everytime if clean.  Here's an article to get you started on bending if interested
http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/nesrepair/

Right now I can always get a NES working with some TLC but I'm scared for it's future.  I better be able to play my 500+ games later down the road dangint!!!  If not I'll have a very large collection of plastic cases with stickers on them.

Long story short though, use rubbing alcohol and a q-tip to get all the crud off.  I'd do that as opposed to spit if at all possible since the alcohol will dry off easier and leave less chance of getting moisture on the pins in the NES that could cause erosion.

[elvis]

http://www.bustedtees.com/shirts/blowme

[ChadTower]

I've probably swapped out connectors on 20 NES units.  Not ONE, with pracitically NOS cartridges, worked 100% like an original did.  This is with connectors from 3 different sources and about a half hour of testing on each one.  The new connectors just don't work as well for varying reasons and they are all way too tight for long term use anyway.  They'll eventually rip the edge contact points right off of your carts.  There's a reason they designed the originals with Zero Insertion Force and not so you have to use pliers to take the cart out (like the new ones).

The best way to do it is the sandpaper cleaning method on an original, however even that is only short term.  The NES is simply flawed.  It is the one system for which emulation is the best option.

And BTW, while the NEX is okay, it has all of the same issues as any $20 FamiClone you can get at the mall.

[DarkBubble]

Q-tip/cotton swab and alcohol works fine for me.  Wet one end, use it to wipe the terminals until you see little-to no color change on the cotton.  Then give it a wipe down with a dry swab.  That's pretty much all it takes.

As far as the NEX goes, the more I read about it, the more it sounds worse than a Famiclone.

[SithMaster]

i was considering getting one based on the review at ign.com

if they have the same problem then id prefer the cheaper clone or an original.

[ChadTower]

On the positive side, I hear the wireless controllers (that do NOT come with it) are really good.  Can't get that from a Famiclone.

[2600]

From what I hear, the Wireless Controllers sound weird to me.

The A and B buttons aren't in the usual spots.  I "think" I recall they were the shoulder buttons.

I don't know if I could ever get used to that or am I incorrect.


Edit: I don't think the review I read was right.  Buttons are labeled on the pad.

[SithMaster]

i remember reading that as well about the shoulder buttons but its nothing you cant get from a nes satellite and you can use all your old accessories so your controllers a 4score and the zapper for duck hunt.

[HaRuMaN]

http://www.bustedtees.com/shirts/blowme

!!!  I almost choked to death when I saw that tee shirt, lol...    

[missioncontrol]

cleaned some of my carts while at work last night and now they are working better than before.... I may still clean the console.

[DarkBubble]

Both the wired and wireless have the A and B buttons at a rediculous angle.  In my opinion, they should either be straight, as on the the original NES pads, or angled to match the Y and B buttons of the SNES pads.

Their layout differs in that on the wired, Start and Select are over the A and B, with Turbo and Slow in the middle, with the wireless having Start and Select swapped with Turbo and Slow. 

One of the reviews I read mentioned the wired controller having extra A and B buttons on the shoulders, which is rather useless.  Had both A and B been included on the left side, one-handed play in RPGs would have been possible.  As I have a Famiclone that came with pads with an SNES-style layout, shoulder buttons included, it seems like they were simply following the formula, not really bringing anything new to the table.

[ChadTower]

i remember reading that as well about the shoulder buttons but its nothing you cant get from a nes satellite and you can use all your old accessories so your controllers a 4score and the zapper for duck hunt.

The Satellite is not RF.  You need constant line of sight.  The Satellite loses keypresses.

The NEX wireless controls have none of these issues and work as well as a modern wireless controller.