IntellivisionDude Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I foolishly bought some broken games off Ebay hoping they just needed a good cleaning. But just my luck all the games really didn't work. A couple of the games, the gold on the contacts are completely worn away and missing in spots. Is this fixable? Is it worth the trouble in trying to fix? I might just take my losses and move on. Or just re-sell them broken. lol But any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seob Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Only thing i can think of is to desolder the game rom and put it on a compatible cartridge from a dirt cheap and common game. But only if the games you got are uncommon ones otherwise younwould need to buy a other one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Not expensive or rare games I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seob Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Here is a guide that my help you fixing it. Not easy.http://www.circuitrework.com/guides/4-0.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntellivisionDude Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 Thanks for the replies. Fixing them is beyond my expertise so i will probably sell them to someone else with experience. The games were not too rare except a Pokemon Yellow for the Game Boy, Super Mario All Stars + World for the Snes and Mario Kart on the N64. Pokemon Yellow may be fried since the contacts look great and shiny. But the Mario is one of the ones missing contacts. Mario Kart may be fried as well. I wasted $23.50 on 8 broken games. Not the end of the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 (edited) I wonder if tinning the contacts with a bit of solder would do any good. Probably not the best idea chemically, but it might give you enough time to determine if the game cart works or if it has other flaws. I wouldn't mind taking that Mario Kart 64 off your hands to see. Edited October 7, 2013 by Rex Dart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntellivisionDude Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 I wonder if tinning the contacts with a bit of solder would do any good. Probably not the best idea chemically, but it might give you enough time to determine if the game cart works or if it has other flaws. I wouldn't mind taking that Mario Kart 64 off your hands to see. The contacts on Mario Kart look fine, there be something else wrong with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3964901 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkiker2089 Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Total noob but shouldn't it be pretty easy to recoat them? I mean they have kits where people can gold coat anything from their teeth to a baby's poo. I realize you'd need to be more careful but still. How does the gold wear off anyway? I've never seen that and I have some ancient and heavily used carts. Was it too aggressive of a cleaning product maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 (edited) its just copper foil laminated to a fiberglass board, they can just peel off, mind you its really hard, look at all your carts going into metal teeth all the time, but once you get it started you can peel it like the skin of a grape Edited October 8, 2013 by Osgeld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenegg Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3964901 This is exactly what's needed. It's a product all retro gamers should have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntellivisionDude Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 Just in case anybody was wondering how bad a games contacts can get, i took a couple pictures of Mario All Stars + World. Wonder what the hell the previous owner did to get it this bad. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntellivisionDude Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3964901 That would replace the missing contacts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seob Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I would say that the contacts look very dirty, not missing. or are the dark spots the missing contacts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I don't know the SNES, but some other systems (e.g. VIC-20) don't always have every pin connected, and thus the fingers were removed from factory. I suppose this isn't the case here though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I can't help thinking maybe that the guy stripped off the gold on purpose to turn that gold into cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 (edited) I misunderstood, I thought the contacts were completely gone they dont look missing it just looks like the plating is corroded off, a light rubbing with a nylon scowering pad would clean it up but its a good idea to replate them in something so the exposed copper doesnt turn green with oxidization. I would use liquid tin, but its kind of expensive unless you use it regularly (as you can reuse the liquid many times over) and its quite the harsh stuff to have around (metal diluted in acid) http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/MG-Chemicals/421-125ML/?qs=nnh8%2FA0SuH%252b8QKP09Tme9Q%3D%3D&gclid=CNzEk82wiLoCFapr7AodaiwAtA Edited October 8, 2013 by Osgeld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntellivisionDude Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 The gold look worn off to me. I just can't get a good picture of them with my camera. This is the best picture i could get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickeycolumbus Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Have you tried cleaning them with rubbing alcohol? I've also had success using a good pencil eraser on them. The pictures may be deceiving, but it looks like there is still metal there. I think any attempt to repair/replace the contacts would be overkill, but you should definitely try cleaning them if you haven't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntellivisionDude Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 Yes they are as clean as they are gonna get. I cleaned them with De-Oxit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntellivisionDude Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 Yeah my camera does suck, they do look different in person then they do in pictures. I probably won't mess with the games. I was mainly just curious on what could be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 we are in the same state if you wanna pay for mail I can replate the contacts for you, though they wont be gold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malkantis Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 I'm in Denver and have a friend with the same issue. I am also thinking one is missing. I know i can re-crimp one in and replate all of the others that have gone bad. Its not as hard as its made to sound. And this is old so no biggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 (edited) Quote I know i can re-crimp one in and replate all of the others that have gone bad looking forward to the results of crimping a card edge male connector will go as it was acid etched foil entering a spring loaded female contact... does this "friend" only expect to play that one game ever Edited April 20, 2022 by Osgeld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Hey @Osgeld what was at that Radio Shack link you posted in 2013? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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