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Conference rusure::nintendo

Title:Nintendo Game Systems
Notice:Please enter Super NES notes in Yuppy::Super_NES.
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Tue Oct 20 1987
Last Modified:Mon Feb 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:847
Total number of notes:11602

699.0. "A broken system!" by FLYSQD::MONTVILLE () Mon Dec 09 1991 14:16

    
    
    I did a "dir/title=repairs" but could not find the answer I am looking
    for.
    
    Does anyone know of a "local" repair shop for the game box.  By
    local I mean somewhere in the Worcester area.  The problem with
    the system is the cartridge will not load.  The screen will sometimes
    come on white, but the power light will just blink.  I tried the
    blowing on the cartridge and inside the the box...but still nothing.
    
    I would like to think that this can be repaired locally as my kids
    have several games and I don't want to have to invest in a "new"
    system.
    
    Any information will be greatly appreciated!
    
    Bob Montville
    FLYSQD::Montville
    234-4588
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699.1BUSY::SLABOUNTYHereComesTrouble&ItLooksLikeFunMon Dec 09 1991 16:2815
    
    	Rather than bringing it in for repair, spend $15 and buy a clean-
    	ing kit for the deck and cartridges [$15].  It comes with a big
    	"plunger thing" for roughing up the contacts inside the deck and
    	also includes small brushes for cleaning the contacts on the
    	cartridges themselves.
    
    	Super Mario I did that alot on my deck until I cleaned the deck
    	and cartridge, and it's much better now.
    
    	For a quick check, shut the deck off after it does that, wiggle
    	the cartridge a little [left to right] and click it back on a-
    	gain.  After a couple tries it SHOULD work.
    
    							GTI
699.2I must AgreeTRACTR::JACOBTue Dec 10 1991 05:476
    I must agree with you if they were to buy a NES cleaning kit they
    would see a big difference. Since I found out about the cleaning 
    Kits I the Kids I should say have used up about 4 of the in the past 
    few years. Also if you use someone's else taps or rent others, they will 
    tend to mess up you game deck. So I would clean them before using them.
    Good luck.
699.3May be the Power SupplyXCUSME::KRUPICKABOBTue Dec 10 1991 10:5010
    We had the same problem you described.  In our case it was the power
    supply.  If we moved the wire around where it came out of the PS (black
    thing that you plug in the wall or where ever) the power light would
    stop blinking and the games would play all right.  We taped the wire to
    the PS in postion to keep the electric flow contstant.  The tape would
    work until the kids moved the deck and PS around and then we would have
    to re-do the taping.  Last wek we bought a new PS (about $16) and the
    problem is gone.
    
    Bob
699.4Fixing your NESCSOVAX::MILLSFri Dec 27 1991 14:24102
I have lots of relatives with these boxes and they are all getting old. After a
while cleaning no longer works. I just fixed my sisteers and it works great
now. If your not handy do NOT attempt this.

The purpose of the procedure is to put some spring back into all the contacts.
This is a last resort procedure (next to buying a new socket) after trying a
cleaning of both the pack and the NES socket. 

1    UNPLUG unit.
2    Remove plastic cover (6 screws or so on bottom)
3    Remove RF shield (7 screws or so).
4    Remove black plastic cartrige guide (6 screws or so)
5    Remove last couple screws that hold the guts in (around where the video
       goes out and power comes in).
6    Remove the guts and pop off the lower RF shield
7    Now you can slide the connector board off the circuit board (it's very
       tight)
8    That was the easy part, now the hard part.

    Note, do NOT do anything to the fingers that slide onto the circuit
    board. When I say top and bottom I mean top half and bottom half
    of the cartrige fingers.

    Top fingers:

1    Now get a long safty pin and cut the point off (paper clip might work
       also).
2    Bend grab about 1/8 inch with pliers and bend a 90 degree in it.
3    There are two sets of fingers top and bottom.
4    We are working on the top now.
5    Insert the pin into the hole above each top finger and push down on
       the saddle (connact point). Looking through the front if you see the
       finger is lower than the (unfixed) neighbor then you sprung it enough.
       If looks the same you didn't bend it enough. Do it all of them.
       Be careful to bend them all about them same. If they are not perfect
       don't worry. The 1/8 inch bend may have to be slightly bigger or
       smaller to get the tool to work for you.

    Bottom fingers:

1    Now get a long safty pin and DO NOT cut off the end.
2    Bend grab about 1/8 with pliers and bend a 90 degree in it.
3    There are two sets of fingers top and bottom.
4    We are working on the BOTTOM now.
5    Hook the pin under the finger and pull slightly until you bend
       the finger slightly so thst it springs up higher than its (unfixed)
       neighbor. Do each finger with about the same amount of spring.

				Before (Side view)
			 	------


	 ^	    ---------------------------------+   + = Top Finger
  Push up| .....................		     |   * = Bottom Finger
                           +++ . +++++++++++++++++++ |	 . = Top pin tool
		    --------- +.+   -----------    + |   , = Bottom pin tool
			                       |   + |   - = Black platic
                                               |   + |
		      * * *                    |   + |
 Pull	,,,,,,,,,,,,,*,/   *                   |   + |
 <-----		    * -------------------------    + |
                     ****************************  + |
                    --------------------------- *  + |
                                               |*  + |
                                               |*  + |
                                               |*  + | <-- To curcuit borad
                                               |*  + |     connector


				After (side view)
                                -----

	 ^	    ---------------------------------+   + = Top Finger
  Push up| .....................		     |   * = Bottom Finger
                           +++ . +++++++++++++++++++ |	 . = Top pin tool
		    --------- +.+   -----------    + |   , = Bottom pin tool
			       +               |   + |   - = Black platic
                       ***                     |   + |
		      * ' *                    |   + |
 Pull	,,,,,,,,,,,,,*,/                       |   + |
 <-----		    * -------------------------    + |
                     ****************************  + |
                    --------------------------- *  + |
                                               |*  + |
                                               |*  + |
                                               |*  + | <-- To curcuit borad
                                               |*  + |     connector


    Your done (except to reverse the the procedure above to put things
    back together). Make sure every lines up and nothing needs any force to put
    it back together (except to slide the connecter block back onto circuit
    board.

    The unit is built quite well (with lots of U.S. made parts) interestingly.
    If all else fails the connector block is replacable and is the problem
    9 times out of 10 (if screen flashes when turned on).
    
    Good Luck (I don't read this notes file often so you can send mail if
               if you have a question).

    Digital or Myself is NOT responsible for damages doing this procedure !!!
699.5Reply from 0.FLYSQD::MONTVILLETue Dec 31 1991 11:3220
    
    
    Well I followed all suggestions of buying a "cleaning kit" for the
    game unit as well as the cartridges.  This did work.  I then took
    the game apart a could not see any visible damage to any component.
    
    The cleaning set-up is that of "Doc's National Repair Center". 
    Along with the kit they give you a discount on any and all repairs
    for $22.95 guranteed for 6 months.  I sent the unit out this morning
    and the mailing cost me (approx.) $6.00.  They give you a three
    day turnaround from the day of receipt.  
    
    I called NINTENDO and they gave me some names of places that repair
    in this area.  However, the one place in Marlboro, MA. sends the
    unit out (no on-site repair).  The next closet place to me was
    Haverill (sp?) MA.  I figured that's along drive to go both ways
    (deliver and pickup) plus the repair cost.  I guess $22.95 is a
    pretty fair price.
    
    Bob Montville
699.6SEAVU::SLABOUNTYHereComesTrouble&amp;ItLooksLikeFunTue Dec 31 1991 12:0313
    
    >Well I followed all suggestions of buying a "cleaning kit" for the
    >game unit as well as the cartridges.  This did work.  I then took
    >the game apart a could not see any visible damage to any component.
    
    
    	Maybe you meant to say it "did not work"?  Seems kind of silly
    	to rip the game apart if there was nothing wrong with it.
    
    	8^)
    							GTI
    
    
699.7Fingers fast-brain slow!FLYSQD::MONTVILLEMon Jan 06 1992 14:227
    
    Yep, your right....I let the fingers get ahead of the brain!
    
    I'll post the results with "Doc's" as soon as I get the system
    back and the kids put it to the test.
    
    Bob
699.8Final noticeFLYSQD::MONTVILLEFri Jan 24 1992 09:5024
    
    
    Received the system back via UPS.  The put in a repair sheet with
    it and explain the labor they performed.
    
    According to their repair notes the "fingers" were mis-aligned and
    required replacing.  A complete tune-up was performed on the system.
    
    It's a good as new.  Also, they sent a little note explaining that
    they were sorry as they were backlogged with repairs.  Something
    to the affect, "Sorry we took 3 days to make your repairs, we
    apprecitate your business.  Please be advised that DOC'S repairs
    are guranteed for 4 months".
    
    I did call them to inqure as to the wherabouts of the system.
    Very friendly and helpful...it took only seconds for their
    customer service group to tell me that "is was repaied on
    such and cush a date and time and sent by UPS on that date".
    Received it the next day!
    
    Not bad service, the kids are happy!
    
    Bob
    
699.9another broken systemGSFSYS::NGAIFri Jan 24 1992 13:057
    
    reply -1.
    
    i have a friend who is need of a system repair. so what is the name 
    of this repair shop in haverhill, ma? do you have its phone number?
    
    thanks, vic