How to clean pin type cartridge connectors

dbstallman

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Ok, I have a Seibu SP1 Raiden Fighters 2 cartridge that is flakey. I have two different mainboards that I have tried it on and they both exhibit the exact same symptoms : the character sprites will change to gibberish unless the cartrige is in just the right position.

When it acts up, I can lift the cart up from the mainboard a little and it goes back to normal for a while. I have tried spraying the cartridge connectors with alcohol and then inserted and removed the cartridge about a dozen times to really work the connectors. I have even tried the same with spray contact cleaner. Occasionally the problem will get better for a while after I do that, but it eventually returns.

I am wodering if anyone knows of a really thin cleaner, sort of like a pipe cleaner, that I could stick in those pin holes to finally remove whatever the corrosion or oxidation is that causes this issue.

I will also add that it is definately this cart since I have a Raiden Fighters Jet, Raiden Fighters and a Viper Phase 1 that all work flawlessly on both mainboards.

Brian.
 
You get this fixed? I'm not familiar with the cartridge games, could you safely remove the covering to get at the connector to clean it?
 
You get this fixed? I'm not familiar with the cartridge games, could you safely remove the covering to get at the connector to clean it?

No, the cover of the cartridge connector doesn't come off. Here is a picture (Penny shown for size comparison) :
imag0946s.jpg


I need something that would effectively clean those holes. Maybe someone could reccomend a good solvent to remove just the odxidation...

Brian.
 
Good luck. It's not easy to clean those out.

You might try extremely hot water in case it's some liquid damage... but if it's green corrosion or oxidation beyond what gets scraped off by mechanical insertion/removal then you're hosed.
 
Before you go that far, take the plastic cover off and while the game is running, tap on that big square surface mount chip in the middle of the cart to be sure it's not just a bad solder joint on that thing.
 
Before you go that far, take the plastic cover off and while the game is running, tap on that big square surface mount chip in the middle of the cart to be sure it's not just a bad solder joint on that thing.

Funny you should mention that...

This afternoon I did take it apart and found that by lifting the cart it was flexing the board the right way to make better contact on that big chip. I reflowed the solder on two side of the chip and on the 8 character ROMs and the cart has been running flawlessly for the last 6 hours.

I did have some DeOxit, but it is as a contact cleaner pen. I'll probably pick up some of the fluid to have on hand.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Brian.
 
Seibu boards are BAD about popping solder joints on those pesky SMT chips!
 
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