How to recognize an NES that needs a 72 pin

[Porksta]

With yard sales coming up, I plan to come across at least one NES. The only problem is that some NES need new 72 pins, and pretty much no yard sales will have a TV I can use. If I just plugged it in and saw a flashing red power light, would that tell me that it needs a 72 pin?

[Cornelius]

Personally I think a new 72 pin is a bad idea unless you can get an official/original one or it is noticeably damaged. I'd say about 90% of the time a good cleaning (credit card/sandpaper/alcohol/cotton paper) gets them working perfectly or nearly so. Clean games are a must, and in fact, more important. The new 72 pins available now wear out quicker than the originals ever did.

Bending the pins back is only moderately successful in my experience. The result is often better than nothing, but I'm usually left with an NES that you have to figure out the 'trick' to (e.g. push the cart down and to the right).

p.s. I promise I'm not 'following you around'

[Damaramu]

I had a blinking toaster until I popped it open and bent the pins back to shape. I actually snapped one, but I've had ZERO problems.

[aclbandit]

I had a blinking toaster until I popped it open and bent the pins back to shape. I actually snapped one, but I've had ZERO problems.

I'm fairly certain that this is because the NES cartridges only use 60 of the 72 pins (at least in most cases?); the Famicom only had 60 pins. The one you snapped is likely an unused one.

As far as worrying about "needing a connector", I would recommend you grab it if it's cheap anyway -- it's CAKE to repair, I can do one in about 10 minutes. make sure you kill the lockout chip while you're in there, too -- no blinking EVER.

[Malon_Forever]

I not very good at replacing the connector, but a cleaning does help a lot. Also, you can probably just clean it, and if the connector is really bad, a game genie helps a lot too.

[fergojisan]

I have found out the hard way that a Game Genie only helps to a certain extent.

[Porksta]

I appreciate everyone's assistance, but you seem to have misinterpreted what I said. What I would like to know is if a blinking red power light when an NES is turned on is indicative of needing a new 72 PIN. Or do some NES' work fine with a blinking red light?

[aclbandit]

I appreciate everyone's assistance, but you seem to have misinterpreted what I said. What I would like to know is if a blinking red power light when an NES is turned on is indicative of needing a new 72 PIN. Or do some NES' work fine with a blinking red light?

My bad.

NESs ALWAYS blink with no cartridge inserted unless someone has disabled the lockout chip (unlikely). And, unless both the pin connector and cartridge are in immaculate condition, it will still likely blink with a cart inserted until both have been restored.

The blinking is effectively a "reset" sequence, so it would never run a game while blinking.

I hope that's closer to a real answer...

[Gentlegamer]

I appreciate everyone's assistance, but you seem to have misinterpreted what I said. What I would like to know is if a blinking red power light when an NES is turned on is indicative of needing a new 72 PIN. Or do some NES' work fine with a blinking red light?

If you turn it on without a cart inside, it will always blink. So that won't tell you anything.

[Porksta]

If I put a cart in will I get a solid light?

[Joe West]

buying a nes at a yard sale, 99 % dont work rite........unless its super clean...

[yoshi64]

If I put a cart in will I get a solid light?

If there is a cartridge inside and the light stays on, then the NES will work.

[fastlane250]

buying a nes at a yard sale, 99 % dont work rite........unless its super clean...

I bought a NES at a garage sale a few weeks ago and it works 99.9% of the time. Also the connector in there literally LOCKS onto the cartridge, must be a newer one. It's better than the other one I have that almost never works.

Anyways,

A flashing red light on a NES when a cartridge is in doesn't always mean that it need a new 72 pin. Could be just the lockout chip acting wierd.

-fastlane250

[Kitsune Sniper]

If there is a cartridge inside and the light stays on, then the NES will work.

Not always. The pins may still be dirty enough to prevent the game from running, and not blink.

[Ye0ldmario]

i bought one today for $5 at a flea market and was able to get it working

I bent the pins back up with a flat head screw driver and cleaned out the contacts with alcohol and it works awesome now.

[darkslime]

Just buy it without testing it. They're usually gonna be under $20 unless they come with a ton of games, and if you make the seller get their TV all set up and try it out they may have second thoughts about taking your low offer. And 99% of the time they will work perfectly with a little TLC.

[Push Upstairs]

An NES will blink if the cart is dirty, if the pins aren't making contact, if there is no cart inside....

And in some instances: if you look at it funny or if a slight breeze hits it.

I've replaced the 72-pin in mine, cleaned my carts and I've still have to futz with it sometimes to get it to not blink.

The NES rules are usually this: If it blinks, something needs cleaning. If you clean it till your fingers are bone and it still blinks, get a new 72-pin.

[muchomojo]

Out of the 8 to 10 NES's I've picked up in the past couple years I have yet to replace a pin connector. Bending the pins back and/or cleaning has always worked for me. Blinking or not.