Original NES repair/advice/options?

[Jumbo]

Maybe this should go in the retail forums but I guess I'm not really looking for shops more than I'm looking for advice/opinions.

For the most part, My Original NES has been pretty good to me. Sure I have trouble every now and then starting a game but up until now it has been pretty decent at allowing me to at least play through my old game collection.

Lately though, (Just when I decide to finally pick up Crystalis) the poor thing just can't hold on to the loaded games data. At about 5 or 10 minutes in, the game freezes or glitches up to the point of freezing or resetting into a loop of returning to the title screen and then re-booting every 2 seconds.

(For example, I'll get all the way through the Airman stage in Megaman 2 no problem, then as I get close to the boss door, >blip<)

Anyone know of any Faqs, sites etc. to look into talking the thing apart or options for cleaning the console and game connectors that has a more proven success rate than blowing on everything? ^_-

That or any past experience dealing with old NES problems and recommendations?

If not then I'll have to find an adapter that does USA NES to Famicon conversion, throw them on and see if it is the system or the games.

[Fencedude]

Other than "buy a toploader"?

[broodwars]

At this point, buying a newer toploader is really your only option. The original NES was designed to break over time with the way it loads the games (it warps the connectors), so I'm actually pretty amazed yours lasted this long.

[superdry]

One option is to buy a new 72-pin connector for the NES and replace it. The NES was actually built pretty well and the only part that really fails is the connector. Thankfully, that part is easily user replaceable. You can find the part on ebay.

Another option is to clean your cartridges with some cheap glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol to clean the contacts.

[chronoclast]

You should definitely replace the 72-pin connector. You can get it off Ebay for less than 10 dollars.

Here's a guide on how to replace it: http://www.jandar.net/nes72pin/

[Zeether]

This video may help as well. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiaUf8CY4I0)

[demonix00]

Just an addition if you get a new connector make sure it has gold plated connectors as that should stop any further problems in the future (from the blinking light problem)

[Jumbo]

I appreciate all the responses, between the links and video I finally decided to take the thing apart and see what I could do.

The 72 pin adapter and the connector pins on the motherboard were both pretty tarnished. I tried the sandpaper option using some really fine grain plastic model finishing sandpaper I had left over to buff them up a bit.

Finished with some compressed air to get the grit and dust out, popped it all back together and threw in the game I'd just purchased (which was advertised as cleaned etc.) and same old blinking red light. Figured I'd finally toasted the unit and gave up.

Tried turning it on this morning and suddenly it fired up just fine on its first try. Out of curiosity, I tried throwing in a bunch of older non clean games and they worked like a charm as well so I guess I'm good to go.

I did find a place through the link provided that sells the steel bit heads for taking apart the game cartridges. Ordered one of those and a new 72 pin to have on hand just in case for about 13 bucks after shipping. If nothing else, I feel a lot less hesitant to tear the thing apart again now.

[supermariofan]

I'm glad you got it working again and I know you said you're not looking for shops but in the future if you're ever looking for repair parts to order online, free repair guides, or a mail-in service for your system this is a great site:
www.nintendorepairshop.com
I've used it a couple of times, even sent in my broken NES once and now it works like-new again.