Cracking Open NES Games?

[ReTrO-pLaYeR]

A few of my pre-owned NES games usually have problems involving just a black screen popping up (not working). To solve this I crack open the grey cartridge/shell and clean the PIN connecters- which usually solves the problem but the thing is I use a screwdriver and in most cases I break it so that I can not put it back as it was before in its authentic state.

Is there some kind of special tool/technique I can use so I can clean out the cartridges without breaking the casing/grey shell thing?

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Buy a set of gamebits off eBay. These 2 will open just about every 16-bit and prior console cartridge.

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-5-MM-3-8-MM-NINTENDO-SEGA-SECURITY-GAMEBIT-TOOLS_W0QQitemZ170441096112QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item27af14bbb0

If you own any classic systems, you NEED these. Period.

[BetaWolf47]

Trust me retroplayer, we've all gone through that problem with NES. I highly suggest against bending it open with a screwdriver. Definitely get a set of gamebits like the other dude said.

[shadows]

You dont actually need to open the games to clean them, just a qtip with some windex or a mix of water/rubbing alcohol, repeat until the qtip comes out clean and it works everytime.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Just Q-Tips and alcohol. Stay away from water. In fact, spring the extra quarter to upgrade from 70% alcohol to 91%. You can get 100%, buts it's difficult to find. And IDK for sure, but you might even need some sort of license in certain areas to be able to buy it. That's what I've heard anyway.

I use 91%. Any drug/grocery store should have it. One bottle has lasted almost two years already. Q-Tips have two swab ends. Use one for scrubbing, wet application and the other to dry and clean. It will evaporate, but there is some water that can be left behind on the contact pins. I like the good wood shaft swabs. The plastic ones are too bendy.

Yes, I know this sounds completely anal. I still recommend it anyway. :D

Oh yeah, get them bits, for sure. Mandatory maintainance gear. Triwing drivers are good to have abound too. Precision screwdriver set... Depends on what you got really. These few things should cover most though.

[old_skoolin_jim]

I have a small set of flat/phillips head screwdrivers I got at wal-mart back in '05 for like, $8 that opens my NES & NES carts... alas, I cannot get my Popeye cartridge that I bought from a retro store a couple months ago in working order. I must've gone through 20 some-odd Qtips, but I seriously think the pins are s-h-o-t SHOT. Won't get any sort of game screen, scrambled or otherwise. Just flashes. Sad. :(

[aclbandit]

Someone needs to sticky a thread about opening game cartridges so the information is more easily available, methinks. Seems there are questions like this one pretty frequently.

Also, buy this: http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=82

I've bought stuff from that store often, and that particular gamebit is top-notch.

[thekeepr]

I use the alcohol/Q-tip procedure,I prefer to use the 99% alcohol only on cart contacts also.I also use an item for which I can't find anymore,it's a ink erasure shaped like a common lead pencil,but instead of lead,it has an ink erasure center,You could sharpen it like a pencil,obtain a point,and easily reach the contacts without taking the cart apart.I now used a plain ink eraser still found in some dept. stores,but I also have a bit set to take the carts apart for easier cleaning using this type of erasure.I find that the ink erasure has the right abrasive quality to super clean the cart contacts when the q-tip/alcohol doesn't quite do the job,especially when the cart would not play using this method,the erasure method works most every time.The ink erasure has never damaged the contacts,and definately removes the oxidation and grime that sometimes impedes play.It also helps to have a clean machine also,and have cleaners to keep the contacts clean on my game systems. Rob

[snester]

Yeah, once you get the security bits (I believe all N64 & SNES, and most NES carts use the 3.8 mm screws), it takes about 60 seconds to open an NES cart. I've run across others that have screws with a different head, but a small precision flathead screwdriver works for those. As far as stripping out the plastic screw holes so that they no longer work...just be careful to not screw them back in too tightly when closing the game back up. I just bought a new 3.8 mm bit off of ebay last week for 5 bucks (I lost my old one).

[snester]

Yeah, once you get the security bits (I believe all N64 & SNES, and most NES carts use the 3.8 mm security screws), it takes about 60 seconds to open an NES cart. I've run across other NES carts that have screws with a different head, but a small precision flathead screwdriver works for those. As far as stripping out the plastic screw holes so that they no longer work...just be careful to not screw them back in too tightly when closing the game back up. I just bought a new 3.8 mm bit off of ebay last week for 5 bucks (I lost my old one).