Got a stack of Nintendo games and getting ready to clean them up real nice and test them out. Once I show you this process you will know how to clean the pins on Nintendo video game cartridges. You will need the items I mention below. Additionally you will need a place to preform the cleaning and a rag or cloth. If you have a game cartridge laying around that does not work and a system that does I highly recommend you try this. It will work! I recommend doing this to every new game cartridge you acquire before using them in a working Nintendo system.
Get a bottle of 90% or higher alcohol. Find a metal polisher,
I use Brasso, at a Home Depot or Lowes.
This metal polish stinks so be warned!
You will need a q-tip or a means of applying polish to the pins on these catridges.
You will need a 3.8 MM Security screw.These can be bought on Ebay
and other internet sites.
Use the security screw to open the cartridge. Do not try to use anything else.
You run the risk of damaging the cartridge.
If you look closely you can see the black tarnish looking stuff on the metal pins.
This is preventing contact to the metal pins inside the system which can cause
blinking screens, scrambled signal, and/or colored screen.
Using the metal polish and a q-tip I rub a coat of the polish
on the metal pins of the cartridge as seen in this photo.
Be sure to apply a coat on both sides of the connector on only the metal
pin areas. Wait at least a minute or two. Take another q-tip and rub the
polish off while applying a little pressure against the metal pins.
Lastly, take your rag and alcohol and wipe clean the metal pins for any left over metal
polish or debris. The end result is beautiful polished pins.
