Recieved my new 72 Pin.

[Gamingking]

I recieved my New 72 Pin from Ebay earlier, And i'm about to install it. I was curious how to get my games clean? I used to do qtip and alchohol, But I hear it wasn't good for them..So any help would be appreciated.

[Simply Dave]

I've used q-tips and rubbing alcohol on my NES games for damn near 20 years now and have never had a problem.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

IMO, if it's standard oxidation with no corrosion or crud built up on the cart, an eraser works well.

Isopropyl Alcohol and a Q-Tip is okay as far as I know for heavier, more stubborn oxidation, I've used it for years with no adverse effects.

and recently I've utilized non-conductive professional grade metal polish ("Sheila Shine", you can get it at Home Depot) the kind that "restores and protects".

[ooXxXoo]

This is the technic I use for all my cartridge derivate games:
If the cartridges pins have some oxidation,first,I gently scrap it off with my smallest screwdriver,second use an eraser,and last,some q-tips and alcohol.That'll definately do it!

[DefaultGen]

.....

[Gamingking]

I've cleaned a few with alchohol q/tips...I noticed the games are harder to get out with the new 72 pin.

[Gamingking]

And now it's back to "blinking" again, And it's only been in a few minutes..Can someone help out?.

[Randomized]

Try using some contact lens cleaner on a q-tip. Put a few drops on a q-tip, rub both sides of the connector, and then dry with another q-tip.

[BIGMIKE]

i've recently put new pins in as well. just had a few toasters to play with. one of the relatives was going on how they loved SMB3, but their 'intendo didn't work too good. figured i would give it a shot. got contacts clean with an eraser and q-tips/alc. man, does that motherboard contacts get dirty after 20 years. hell, the thing worked good with just cleaning that. popped the pin in and good as new. games are tight as a motha though. much less hassle in the long run. i can't say 100% of the games work on the first try, but it's mighty close. for me though, i love the wiggle and jiggle. i think that is the true nostalgia of the NES.

[Cornelius]

Try using some contact lens cleaner on a q-tip. Put a few drops on a q-tip, rub both sides of the connector, and then dry with another q-tip.
I'm really not the sort to criticize the way people clean their games. I mean, blow on them, use alcohol, whatever gets them to work, really. But contact lens cleaner just seems like a bad idea to me. I don't think you'll permanently damage anything, and even in the long run it probably isn't that big of a deal. But, I thought those contact lens cleaners were mostly saline solution... as in salt in water. Salt, water, and metal just isn't a good combination if it is the metal you care about. My .02 cents, I will also say that I have some valid credentials to back those cents up with, but I've also got some beer in me that might invalidate those credentials. Just so ya know.

[InsaneDavid]

The key to easy and efficient cleaning is to open the cartridges and scrub the connectors clean. There are a zillion threads here that have cleaning information, search them out. Opening the cartridges and cleaning the connectors (I use normal 70% alochol, don't water it down anymore) as well as the connector part of the cartridge shell (usually worse shape than the connectors) is your best bet.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I use Brasso or Mr. Metal... both are used for cleaning fine metals, and have not damaged any of my games. New 72 pin connectors are usually suggested by people who make money off of them. Cleaning all your games with this type of cleaner will do more than any 72-pin connector will do. Try it with one game and see the difference. It's the only way I clean my games.

[Cornelius]

as well as the connector part of the cartridge shell
What does this mean? Some of the grey plastic needs to be cleaned? I'm confused about something I think.

[Gamingking]

The 72 pin is working well, And i've cleaned some games. All I do is push the cartridge in, And not down. Does anyone else have to do this?. If I just push it in it works, But push it down doesn't..

[Kitsune Sniper]

Something tells me you didn't put the connector in right. D:

[FABombjoy]

That's typical with the new, DeathGrip(TM) style 72-pin connectors.

[Rob2600]

And now it's back to "blinking" again, And it's only been in a few minutes..Can someone help out?.

I'm not an expert regarding the NES lockout chip, but it could have something to do with the screen flashing. I remember reading that if the chip isn't in sync with the chip inside the cartridge, the screen will flash. The solution is simple though: press reset once or twice.

[InsaneDavid]

What does this mean? Some of the grey plastic needs to be cleaned? I'm confused about something I think.

The part of the cartridge shell where the connectors are located, the part at the bottom. There's usually just as much crap caked in there as there is on the connectors. I know I've posted this before...

*uses search feature*

...ah, here it is...


NEVER use water. Take the middle ground of the previous three posts. 70% - 91% isopropyl alcohol is the most universal method of cleaning. Try it on a cotton swab first, dip the swab in the alcohol and then run it back and forth along each side of the connectors in the cartridge. You may want to do this to all your cartridges, even the working ones, while your collection is small as not to contaminate your system with dirty cartridges down the road. Some will be far cleaner than others.

If that doesn't work or you want to get more serious, you can buy a suite of security bits that will allow you to open cartridges and systems. Once opened, the connectors can be thoroughly cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and a rag. I open and completely clean every NES, SNES, Gameboy, and Genesis cartridge I come across. Opening the cartridges will also allow you to clean the plastic around the connector opening which is notorious for trapping grime, especially in NES cartridges.

I'll never word it any better. :) That's from this thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108279). This thread (locked) (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109663) has good information (as well as some very bad information) as well.

[Cornelius]

The part of the cartridge shell where the connectors are located, the part at the bottom. There's usually just as much crap caked in there as there is on the connectors. I know I've posted this before...

Ah, I see what you are talking about, I just didn't think that could interfere with proper operation, though certainly it is gross.

[Gamingking]

It's in according to the directions, And works well now. I just push it in. I don't have to push down.

[Greg2600]

I just got a new 72 pin connector this week and installed it. All the games I tried work on the first shot. However, the games are in there DeathGrip style no question. What a pain to get them out. Anybody know if the DeathGrip's loosen up over time?

[Sosage]

I open my NES carts to clean also. The bitch about doing this, however, is that the current driver is a tad big for the holes. So it takes a lot of unneccesary wiggling, grinding and shoving to finally unscrew the case. After three carts my hand is usually done for the night. My hand cramps thinking about the 300 carts left to clean... =(

...and yeah. This has been discussed a bajillion times already. DON'T USE WATER ON THE CONNECTORS. If you do, you mine as well add sugar to your gas tank while you're at it.

[InsaneDavid]

I open my NES carts to clean also. The bitch about doing this, however, is that the current driver is a tad big for the holes. So it takes a lot of unneccesary wiggling, grinding and shoving to finally unscrew the case. After three carts my hand is usually done for the night. My hand cramps thinking about the 300 carts left to clean... =(

Either use a file or bench grinder to "thin" the outer walls of your security bit / driver for easier clearance with NES games.