NES Won't Stay Down

[PaddyTheChump]

I recently picked up a second NES at a pawn shop. It looks great after a quick cleaning, and plays games first or second try.
Everything is great, except for two things.
1) It's very stiff. It takes a lot of force to pull out the games, and sometimes when you push the game down, it hits the nes, and you need to really force the cartridge back so it doesn't hit.
2) The game won't stay pushed down. I know a piece of metal goes down a little white thing, then sticks, then goes back up when you push down on it. I'm guessing that's where the problem lies. Hard to explain, but you may know what I mean. Right now I'm just sticking a duckhunt on top of the inserted game, and it's working, but a permanent solution would be nice.
Thanks!

[ooXxXoo]

assuming...that If you or someone else opened the system shell and moved things around when doing a cleaning or such,it sounds like the springing mechanism loading part is loose and not connected in the right place where it suppose to be attached...This mistake can easily be done...

[Masco73]

It does seem like someone opened it and may have tried to replace the 72 pin connector or fix it. It may even be a new connector. I have had this problem before. If you tighten the screws around the cart housing too hard, the spring will not stay down. I suggest taking the cover off and just back off the screws a little around the cart slot. You have to take off the silver metal cover first, then the screws you need to check run along the sides and back. I think there are 6 total. then try pushing down the tray until it works the right way. Give it a try and hopefully thats the problem.

[PaddyTheChump]

Thanks guys.
I took it apart once I got it, but it was already having that problem.
I'll go over it tomorrow.
Is there anyway to tell if it's a non original 72 pin?

[Ed Oscuro]

Is there anyway to tell if it's a non original 72 pin?
Gold pins would be a giveaway. Other than that, hard to say.

Seems likely to me that the connector's been messed up somehow (this is the NES after all, I'm sure everything possible has happened to 'em over the years and yours might just be a crazy one).

It's also possible somebody did the pin-tightening fix (pushing out the pins of the internal connector, which I would've done but it's a lot of hassle), I suppose.

[channelmaniac]

I don't have any at the moment, but the next time I scrap a NES for parts I'd be happy to save that plastic assembly for you.

RJ

[COUNT SMRIFNACK]

Hey Channel, you got PM.

[channelmaniac]

Hey Channel, you got PM.

And you, sir, have a response!

RJ

[squirrelnut]

just to put in my few cents.

If the connector is extremely tight to put in, then its a newly manufactured one. I bought a few of them in its heyday and it was so annoying. What I did was actually replace the original connector, put a game in there in the locked down position, and left it like that for a month. It loosened it up enough so I don't feel like I'm yankin teeth.

[Tron2005]

Also check the Power switch and reset wires i remember that if they were routed wrong they would be right under the lock assy for the cartridge.. so when your pushing down on the cart its hitting the wires from the Power and Reset..

My .02

[spoon]

I've taken them apart and had this same problem. There is a plastic tab under the black piece that holds the games where the spring is. It has to be under the board, not over it.