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N64 games are awesome…when they work. Like all cartridge-based games, N64 games benefit from being opened up and thoroughly cleaned every once in a while. Air dusters, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and some q tips will do the trick for most cartridges.
Until the development of CD-based consoles like the Playstation, every gamer had to deal with cartridges. For a long time, cleaning cartridges and your console’s cartridge slot was just another chore you needed to do to keep your games in good working order.
Nintendo 64 game cartridges are some of the most notoriously difficult to keep clean. Any gamer who grew up with the system will remember furiously blowing into their cartridges when their game failed to boot up.
However, blowing into cartridges is not recommended and is often counter-productive, simply pushing dirt and debris further into the internal components. Since N64 game cartridges aren’t being made anymore, you need to know how to take care of them properly to maintain their longevity.
Without further ado, here’s a foolproof guide on how to disassemble and clean N64 game cartridges so you can continue enjoying them for decades to come!
Depending on how deep of a cleaning job you want to do, you may need some or all of the following gear:
While taking your game cartridges apart may be more work than you’re used to, the only way to thoroughly clean a cartridge is to open up the plastic shell and access the circuit board underneath.
Luckily, disassembling your N64 cartridges isn’t difficult. Follow these steps:
Congratulations, you’ve successfully disassembled an N64 cartridge! But don’t start celebrating yet – now begins the delicate process of actually cleaning the components.
There are three main methods for cleaning the circuit board. Which is most appropriate will depend on how old the cartridge is and how long it has been since it was last cleaned.
So, if your cartridge looks like something that Indiana Jones dug up, it’s well overdue for a deep clean. Besides, your games have done so much for you, so the least you can do is give them the complete spa treatment!
Whipping out an air duster is a safe and efficient way to remove dirt and other debris from your cartridges. Whether you’re using a can of compressed air or an electronic dust remover, all you need to do is blow along the bottom of the circuit board.
This method is much safer for your cartridge than blowing with your mouth since the circuit board won’t have to bathe in all the tiny moisture particles (or endure your breath, for that matter).
If you’re just trying to get a game working again, this method may do the trick. If the game still isn’t functioning, you’ll have to pull up your sleeves and move on to methods two and three.
The copper metal contacts on the bottom of the circuit board are the part you need to clean, as they are what interact with the console itself.
After you’re done cleaning, leave the circuit board out to dry for around five to ten minutes. You might be tempted to use a hairdryer to speed this step up, but don’t, as the heat can damage your game permanently.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. If your Nintendo 64 cartridge still isn’t working, you may want to do a heavy-duty clean using a metal polish like Brasso.
The cleaning steps here are identical to what you would do with rubbing alcohol, except that you want to use a very small amount of metal polish and wipe more gently (since it is quite strong). This method is typically a last resort for games that are so dirty that no other cleaning method works.
The metal polish method may help you salvage games others have given up on. So, if you see someone throwing away a dirty N64 cartridge, you might be able to save it and add it to your collection!
To clean the cartridge slot, open it with your finger and use an air duster to blow out the debris. After that, run a cotton swab damp with rubbing alcohol along the interior of the slot.
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