Snes Cartridge problem?

[Neverzinho]

Hey, i think this was the most-correct section to post this.

I'm having a problem with some cartridges. In my entire collection i had only one game that had this problem, Clay Fighter. The problem is that the game only works when it feels to, when it doesn't i have to reinsert it till it does.
And when it does work, the minimal touch on the cartridge itself, resets the game.

Why I'm upset with this, is because today i received a snes lot, and another game will curse my collection, Street Fighter II. I guess the problem comes with games that have "Fighter" in it lol.
Exact same symptoms, exact same problem.

Oh and i have another Snes that has a controller port problem, but reads games just fine. And it happens on that snes too, so i guess the problem are the cartridges.

Is this fixable? What causes this?

[loporjai2003]

Use a Q-Tip and some rubbing alcohol and clean all your game cart contacts until no black/green stuff shows on the Q-Tip.
Also clean your system cart slot, and if you don't have a slot cleaner, just use a game cart with some alcohol and insert/clean/reinsert.

Also inspect your cart, the contacts may have been worn out to the point there is no metal left on them, in that case, not much can be done.


Hey, i think this was the most-correct section to post this.

I'm having a problem with some cartridges. In my entire collection i had only one game that had this problem, Clay Fighter. The problem is that the game only works when it feels to, when it doesn't i have to reinsert it till it does.
And when it does work, the minimal touch on the cartridge itself, resets the game.

Why I'm upset with this, is because today i received a snes lot, and another game will curse my collection, Street Fighter II. I guess the problem comes with games that have "Fighter" in it lol.
Exact same symptoms, exact same problem.

Oh and i have another Snes that has a controller port problem, but reads games just fine. And it happens on that snes too, so i guess the problem are the cartridges.

Is this fixable? What causes this?

[Neverzinho]

I was a little skeptical on a second clean, because i always clean the games when i receive them with a Q-tip + IPA (or rubbing alcohol).

I couldn't believe the amount of dirt that still was on the Q-tip on the second cleaning. And guess what? It worked! The games work first time, and no longer reset when i touch them.

An easy solution after all.

[wiggyx]

Don't use rubbing alcohol for anything related to gaming! It doesn't get along AT ALL with ABS plastic, which is what pretty much EVERY console and cartridge is made of.


If you have the ability to take the cart apart, then hit the contacts with a Magic Eraser. Works great. Might wanna clean the console itself too. Can't hurt.

[jb143]

Don't use rubbing alcohol for anything related to gaming! It doesn't get along AT ALL with ABS plastic, which is what pretty much EVERY console and cartridge is made of.


I've never heard this before. Do you have any sources? I quick google search didn't reveal anything(the opposite actually).

I worked in the electronics industry and we used isopropyl alcohol(among other blends) to clean circuit boards all the time, some in plastic cases.

...not to mention cleaning marker off many cartridges and never having any problems.

[FABombjoy]

If we're talking about isopropyl alcohol, I don't think I've ever seen it react with ABS. Goof Off will melt ABS, tho.

Magic Eraser / melamine foam should be a last resort as it's the equivalent of 3k-4k grit sandpaper. Most SNES-era carts should be gold flashed and abrasives should be avoided if possible, including MF, Brasso, and similar compounds. It's not that it will make them stop working, but they may end up needing more frequent cleaning in the long run, depending on environmental conditions.

[Neverzinho]

Yeah we are talking about Ipa (aka rubbing alcohol). I`ve cleaned several carts with ipa, and never had a reaction on the plastic.

On the other hand i had to google what the magic eraser was, i don't think they sell that here. From what i learned it seems too abrasive.

[FABombjoy]

Yeah we are talking about Ipa (aka rubbing alcohol).
I only make the distinction because 'rubbing alcohol' is not always Isopropyl, at least not in the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol

In fact, getting back to melting ABS, skipping down to the Legislation section of that article:


In the United States, ethyl rubbing alcohol, USP and all preparations coming under the classification of Rubbing Alcohols (defined as those containing ethanol) must be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the US Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, using Formula 23-H (8 parts by volume of acetone, 1.5 parts by volume of methyl isobutyl ketone, and 100 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol).

Acetone will dissolve ABS, so perhaps ethyl rubbing alcohol is what wiggyx has encountered previously. I've made the acetone mistake before and the results are ugly.

[Neverzinho]

That makes sense. To me rubbing alcohol is 99,9% alcohol. But i like to always call it IPA to avoid confusion.

Yes acetone will melt it, at least the warning in the back says so.

[wiggyx]

I've never heard this before. Do you have any sources? I quick google search didn't reveal anything(the opposite actually).

I worked in the electronics industry and we used isopropyl alcohol(among other blends) to clean circuit boards all the time, some in plastic cases.

...not to mention cleaning marker off many cartridges and never having any problems.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/88E89282-4FE4-4253-87EF-DE753C822D5C-425-0000003C8756718C.jpg

This is what I'm talking about. Ethyl, not Isopropyl.

ANY Ethyl based compound will eat away at ABS (as far as I know). Ethylene is one of the components used to make ABS and Ethylene products are often used to "weld" ABS components together when assembly of multiple parts is needed to join them into one, single part.

Ethyl on its own isn't nearly as caustic as Ethylene, but Ethyl is the base for Ethylene. It's hard to find specific documentation regarding Ethyl's interaction with ABS on its own, since there's no perceived benefit from contact between the two in the first place, but in most any compound that you create, it will dissolve ABS like butter in a microwave.

P.21 contains info regarding the interaction between ABS and Ethylene-based compounds. It's not complete data, but it's a pretty good indicator that Ethyl should simply be avoided.

http://www.plasticpipe.org/pdf/tr-19_thermoplastic_pipe_for_transport_of_chemical.pd f



On the other hand i had to google what the magic eraser was, i don't think they sell that here. From what i learned it seems too abrasive.

It's not too bad (the ME). In fact, I often use it to de-polish controllers that have been polished by your hands over years of use. It puts a nice, consitant matte texture back on the part without looking like you hit it with a Scotch Bright pad or sandpaper ;)


I only make the distinction because 'rubbing alcohol' is not always Isopropyl, at least not in the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol

In fact, getting back to melting ABS, skipping down to the Legislation section of that article:



Acetone will dissolve ABS, so perhaps ethyl rubbing alcohol is what wiggyx has encountered previously. I've made the acetone mistake before and the results are ugly.

Acetone is most definitely a huge NO-NO for ABS plastic. As an FYI, nail polish remover is acetone. About the only other way you'll see it is at places like Home Depot and Lowes where it's sold along with paint and paint stripper. It's easy to avoid and it should be.


That makes sense. To me rubbing alcohol is 99,9% alcohol. But i like to always call it IPA to avoid confusion.

Yes acetone will melt it, at least the warning in the back says so.

But it's not. It can be in concentrations far lower and, apparently, can be either Isopropyl or Ethyl. I've never seen Iso sold as rubbing alcohol, but there's a pretty clear pic on the Wiki page, so I guess it is marketed as such too.


So, the point of all this is to avoid ETHYL LOL!

[jb143]

I've never seen Iso sold as rubbing alcohol, but there's a pretty clear pic on the Wiki page, so I guess it is marketed as such too.


So, the point of all this is to avoid ETHYL LOL!

Where do you live? Maybe that's the difference. I completely forgot that ethyl alcohol is also considered "rubbing alcohol" as I've always seen (and bought) Isopropyl labeled as such.

[wiggyx]

Cleveland, Ohio.

I'll have to keep an eye out for Iso labelled as rubbing alc. I've never seen it, but then again, I don't look for it very often :P

[FABombjoy]

Ethyl or ethanol is abs safe but it depends on the denaturing agent, unless you have a still and make your own :)

[wiggyx]

It's "safe" but far from optimal. Why risk it when isopropyl is readily available almost everywhere?

http://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance


ABS Chemical Compatibility

Ethanol B1-Good


Ratings -- Chemical Effect

A = Excellent.

B = Good -- Minor Effect, slight corrosion or discoloration.

C = Fair -- Moderate Effect, not recommended for continuous use. Softening, loss of strength, swelling may occur.

D = Severe Effect, not recommended for ANY use.

N/A = Information not
available.

[APE992]

Where do you live? Maybe that's the difference. I completely forgot that ethyl alcohol is also considered "rubbing alcohol" as I've always seen (and bought) Isopropyl labeled as such.

Some parts of the world have "rubbing alcohol" as the same stuff you'll find in the booze aisle. We in the states don't due to taxation on booze so we use isoproypl alochol instead.