Question about a NES with the "blinks"

[Anthony1]

I recently picked up a old NES at a thrift, and the only game that I can get to work on it, is Bases Loaded. I also have Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3. I can't get either of those games to work, but Bases Loaded works.

I've cleaned all the games, and I tried my best to clean the cartridge contacts on the NES itself.

Now, I've heard about getting a new 72 pin connector, and I've also heard that if you get a game genie, that will work just as well. From what I understand the game genie will extend it out, so that you get a perfect connection.


I was just curious as to why Bases Loaded seems to work without any problems but my other two games won't.

[The Unknown Gamer]

I always had the same problem. There are in fact 2 solutions...

#1 find a NES Game Genie and hook the games up that way

#2 take it apart and while you are at it get a set of those tiny head screwdrivers. Once you do and you want to play a game. Use the screwdrivers to postion the game in hard while you turn the power on and off to see if you got it right.

Heres the odd thing my friends can get any game to work in any NES but not me. That is why I gave up on the whole thing and have been playing my NES roms on my Playstation 1

[Bratwurst]

I was just curious as to why Bases Loaded seems to work without any problems but my other two games won't.

The likely reason for this is that the Bases Loaded PCB (circuit board) has connector traces at different points than the other carts, and those pins in the 72-pin connector in the NES happen to still make decent contact. I have cartridges with a full row of traces along the edge and they're harder to get working in faulty NES units.

Another thing I've discovered is that my Metal Storm cartridge actually has a thicker circuit board than other NES games, so that could also be a possibility.

The reason the Game Genie extends the life of the toaster NES is because its own circuit board is thicker than average to accomodate the angle it is inserted.

[Chunky]

I have about 7 nes units here, 6 of them have new 72 pins in them. one of my carts, friday the 13th is so thick that it pushes the actual pins out of the connector, including the original nes with the original 72 pin.

I figure ok maybe the cheapo 72 pins i always pick up may get pushed out, but the original one? damn that board is thick.

[1bigmig]

Actually, the NES Im using now I just took the 72 pin out and used a paperclip with the end crushed flat by a pair of pliers to lift the pins up. A little time consuming but it works good. The original thing I read about this on the net used an eyeglasses screwdriver to lift the pins. Ill see if I can find the link - cheaper than a 72 pin.

Now here's a question about the new 72 pin connectors. I replaced the connectors in two of my NES' and now the games fit SO tight it's hard to get them in. Is this normal? Will they loosen up?

[chadtower]

The one time I replaced a 72 pin connector it worked for about 15 minutes, then went right back to blinking like crazy. Frustrating.

[Darth Sensei]

The one time I replaced a 72 pin connector it worked for about 15 minutes, then went right back to blinking like crazy. Frustrating.

I have decent luck with the new connectors and they can be had cheaply on Ebay.

I wouldn't take one of mine apart to work on it unless I was intending to replace that connector.

[FABombjoy]

I've bought 1 new pin connector a few years ago, and I about had to use pliers to remove carts. Now that 2 years has passed, it's a little easier (but Tengen and other oddly shaped carts can still be tough). Now I just remove the corrosion from the original connecors & I'm much happier with the results.

[omnedon]

I wouldn't take one of mine apart to work on it unless I was intending to replace that connector.


Exactly. Life is too short to fix it multiple times and always wonder, does it not work because the cart is crappy, or does it not work because of my jury rigged connector.

I replaced my connector, and it just works. period. Only really dirty carts can cause it issues, and then it's the cart at fault.

[chadtower]

The one time I replaced a 72 pin connector it worked for about 15 minutes, then went right back to blinking like crazy. Frustrating.

I have decent luck with the new connectors and they can be had cheaply on Ebay.

That's exactly what I did. I bought a cheap one off ebay, put it in... the first couple of times it was like trying to stick your finger into a ball point pen. Then the next day I tried to play and it would do little but blink. Don't know what the heck happened.

[Darth Sensei]

Incidentally, I never play any cartridge game for any system without first cleaning it. Period.

[chadtower]

I never BUY a cartridge without cleaning it. Every game I tried to play that unit with was clean. I cleaned them all myself.

[bigdaddychester]

I will take the NES apart, all the way down to the 72 pin connector. I have a knife that I place on top of the metal pins where the cartirdge goes in. just by pulling in a downward motion, the pins will bend "upward". You have to be carefull though, if you apply too much preesure the pins will come up out of their slot. This take maybe 15 to 20 minutes to do, but my NES console is still performing quite well after doing this to it about 2 years ago, and when the carts go in it is a very tight fit.

[1bigmig]

Here's the site and technique I talked about earlier:
http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/nesrepair/

[kainemaxwell]

The one time I replaced a 72 pin connector it worked for about 15 minutes, then went right back to blinking like crazy. Frustrating.
Had that problem myself actually after getting a ne wpin connector from MCM.

[Chunky]

Most of the time I pick up NES toasters from odder fleamarkets from people who sell other electronics. They Blasted the connector with WD40, i mean the entire board is soaked. Bending the pins does work, but i have ran ito quite few that have rust all over the pins, so i rather just replace them.

[Chunky]

i love clicking things. err nvmd

[chadtower]

The one time I replaced a 72 pin connector it worked for about 15 minutes, then went right back to blinking like crazy. Frustrating.
Had that problem myself actually after getting a ne wpin connector from MCM.

So what did you to do fix it? I still don't have a working NES.