Repair Your Old Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Console for Free

If your vintage NES doesn't work, it's probably due to a worn out 72 pin connector. In this guide, I will show you how to fix it without having to buy anything. Before I tell you how to fix your problem, I'll give you a little backround on the NES's 72 pin connector.

The 72 pin connector has 72 pins (obviously) which read your NES games. It was made almost like a spring so that you don't have to push too hard to get your games in. The problem with the pins is that after you play your NES for while (most 72 pin connectors will last about 5 years), they don't spring back to their original position. This means that when you put your game in, the 72 pin connector can't get a solid connection, so your game won't work. The downside of repairing your NES' 72 pin connector is that it will be much harder to get the game into your NES and it won't play at all unless you clean the connectors of the game first with rubbing alcohol. You should also know that this is not guaranteed to fix your NES, there could be something else wrong with it. Since you will be doing this yourself, with no actual help from me, I cannot be held responsible for anything that you may do to mess your NES up even more. That being said, I will get into the actual repairing of your NES console.

Materials: Phillips head screwdriver and Mini jeweler's or eyeglass flathead screwdriver.

Tip: Pay careful attention while you're taking your NES apart. Keep track of where and how things fit, where screws go, don't lose your screws, and don't pull things too hard.

Step 1: Turn your NES upside down and take out the screws, there should be 6 - 1 in each corner and 1 in the middle on the top and on the bottom sides.

Step 2: Remove top of NES. Take 7 screws out of the RF sheild (the big silver thing). Remove sheild.

Step 3: Remove 6 screws from the cartrige loading system (the black plastic thing). Slide the loading system forward and remove.

Step 4: Remove 2 screws from the top right hand corner which hold the motherboard (the green thing) down.

Step 5: Lift the motherboard out of the other side of the RF sheild and slide the 72 pin connector off. This will be a little hard to get out, but should be done very carefully.