Restoring Old Consoles

[JLaCroix]

I recently acquired an SNES and N64 system and the games and consoles are very dirty.

Cleaning the N64 and SNES cartridges is a no brainer, I just use alcohol and Q-tips. However, cleaning the cartridge connector in the consoles is where I'm having a problem.

All the games take a little bit of effort to get to turn on for the first time. (Not to forget, if I accidentally move the SNES while playing a game, it will likely freeze, which is annoying).

I cleaned all the games, so I think that cleaning the console cartridge slot connectors would be what I need to do. Cleaning kits are not easy to find for these anymore, and they are practically disposable after a few uses, so are there any "home remedies" to cleaning the cartridge slots that anyone knows about?

I tried wrapping cards with paper towels to clean the cartridge connectors, but that just results in pieces of paper towel stuck in the slot.

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

Wow... Just looked at my N64 and that looks like it can be tricky. Why not get a piece of computer paper, cut it to the width of the connetor, and then insert it and see if it picks up any dirt?

[JLaCroix]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

Wow... Just looked at my N64 and that looks like it can be tricky. Why not get a piece of computer paper, cut it to the width of the connetor, and then insert it and see if it picks up any dirt?

That's actually a good idea. I'm going to try it. I wonder if sketch paper would attract more dirt?

[Stormy]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

I had the same problem when I pulled my N64 out of a box in my basement (lost track of it during a move a few years ago). I did exactly the same thing you did with your cartridges, AND with the connection in the console itself and it worked fine and dandy the very first try. Some alcohol and Q-tips should work fine.

Actually, I used hydrogen peroxide. But I immediately dried it off with another Q-tip to prevent damage. Pretty sure it cleaned off some corrosion too. Unless the dirt in my basement is green...

I'm sure you realize you have to let give it plenty of time to dry before you try anything.

[JLaCroix]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

I had the same problem when I pulled my N64 out of a box in my basement (lost track of it during a move a few years ago). I did exactly the same thing you did with your cartridges, AND with the connection in the console itself and it worked fine and dandy the very first try. Some alcohol and Q-tips should work fine.

Actually, I used hydrogen peroxide. But I immediately dried it off with another Q-tip to prevent damage. Pretty sure it cleaned off some corrosion too. Unless the dirt in my basement is green...

I'm sure you realize you have to let give it plenty of time to dry before you try anything.

What exactly did you do to the cartridge contacts?

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

So the paper didn't work?

[JLaCroix]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

So the paper didn't work?

I haven't had a chance to try it yet. The thing is my N64 that I got today didn't have a controller, so I'm going to look for that tomorrow. No point in cleaning it until I can actually test it.

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

The lack of controllers doesn't stop you from being able to power it on.

All you gotta do is pop the cart in the N64 and see if the logo and game load up.

[JLaCroix]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

The lack of controllers doesn't stop you from being able to power it on.

All you gotta do is pop the cart in the N64 and see if the logo and game load up.

Right, but then I'd be further taunted by the system that I can't play yet.

I need to also get the expansion pack and a memory card or two tomorrow, I've got some searching to do.

Edit: Anyone know if the N64 cartridges that have built in saving use the same stupid battery that the SNES games used that burn up in a few years?

[Valkysas]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

I don't believe N64 games use battery backup, but I could be wrong. I've never opened one up.

I pick up spare consoles whenever I get the chance. yard sales, thrift stores, random N64 sitting in a park, as long as it's really cheap, I'll get it.

I'm quite experienced tearing them apart and fixing them up too.

cleaning kits are almost impossible to find these days, so what I do for cartridge slot is use index cards (the kind without lines, you dont want ink in there). I fold them over (not too tight, you want the edge to be wide for a good fit), use a Q-tip dipped in alchohol to coat the folded edge, then stick that in the cartridge slot. push in, pull out. get new index card, coat, insert, pull out, repeat. get DRY index card, push in, pull out, repeat. blast cartrirdge bay with compressed air to get out anything the index card knocked loose, and it's set.

pretty much every "broken" system I've obtained has been fixed by this method.

also, if you havent done so yet. get a gamebit screwdriver so you can open them up. for some reason most used consoles I've gotten through the years have some mysterious sticky substance all over the inside parts. its like someone dumped a coke on them or something.

[Red Dragon]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

I don't believe N64 games use battery backup, but I could be wrong. I've never opened one up.

They do. It's just that they take, like, 30 years to wear out.

[JLaCroix]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

Well, I didn't have any computer paper (I don't even have working printer) so I used the index cards trick, it seems to be working. Thanks Valk!

[Stormy]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

What exactly did you do to the cartridge contacts?

I took a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a box of Q-tips, and several paper towels and sat down on the floor (a table would work just as well, obviously). I placed the paper towels on the ground to pick up an spillage. Then I poured a very small amount of HP into the cap of the bottle. I set the cap down on the paper towel and dipped a Q-Tip into the HP (in the cap). I then lightly rubbed the contacts of the cartridges. I used both ends to make sure I got it all off, then used a seperate Q-tip to dry it off. I used some compressed air (like those cans for cleaning keyboards) to make sure it was dry and everything else was blown out.

for some reason most used consoles I've gotten through the years have some mysterious sticky substance all over the inside parts. its like someone dumped a coke on them or something.

I've noticed the same substance under the keys of my USB keyboard, the one I use for the makers. I've also seen it under the rubber tops of the analog sticks on my DualShock controllers.

[Gustaff 13]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

Anyone know if the N64 cartridges that have built in saving use the same stupid battery that the SNES games used that burn up in a few years?

Some games use the controller pak. Konami was big on it: Castlevania 64, Goemon, and Hybrid Heaven require one.

[JPS]

Re: Restoring Old Consoles

N64 games are stored in the memory cards that goes into the top of the console or controller, they make memory cards for both(I prefer the controller MC's).

I used a card and a microfiber cloth




Theyre expensive though, about $10 a pop, but I just had an old one laying around so I used that.

This may help also
http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/ce/nintendo.txt