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Non-working Earthbound cart. Update 9/6, it has been resurrected!

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:08:43 AM
JKeefe56 (55)
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(Jim K) < Meka Chicken >
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huh, I'm not seeing anything...

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This space intentionally left mostly blank.

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:09:42 AM
Segertar (125)
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(T. F.) < Ridley Wrangler >
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How bad is this? Deep enough to cut the pipe?:

Photobucket


Edited: 08/09/2012 at 01:10 AM by Segertar

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:11:30 AM
Korn Cakes (66)
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(Alex Beckley) < Meka Chicken >
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Sorry, what do you mean by "pipe?"

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Aug 9, 2012 at 1:13:08 AM
Segertar (125)
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(T. F.) < Ridley Wrangler >
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The lines in the board.

The area I circled near the '65', does it looked deep?


Edited: 08/09/2012 at 01:13 AM by Segertar

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:15:02 AM
Korn Cakes (66)
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(Alex Beckley) < Meka Chicken >
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It kind of looks like it might have the slightest cut in it above the part where it's copper.

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Aug 9, 2012 at 1:17:20 AM
Segertar (125)
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(T. F.) < Ridley Wrangler >
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That might be the problem. If the pipe has been cut the game might not start.

It's fixable, but require some solder to bypass the damaged portion.

I have done this before with a Battletoads cart. Let me see if I can find the thread.

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:17:21 AM
Mr.Nintendo (383)
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(el- rocko) < King Solomon >
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Originally posted by: Segertar

How bad is this? Deep enough to cut the pipe?:

Photobucket


nice fingernails there Tony 

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Aug 9, 2012 at 1:19:30 AM
Korn Cakes (66)
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(Alex Beckley) < Meka Chicken >
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Originally posted by: Segertar

That might be the problem. If the pipe has been cut the game might not start.

It's fixable, but require some solder to bypass the damaged portion.

I have done this before with a Battletoads cart. Let me see if I can find the thread.
I am intrigued, sir. How much would you charge me to give it a go?

Originally posted by: Mr.Nintendo

Originally posted by: Segertar

How bad is this? Deep enough to cut the pipe?:

Photobucket


nice fingernails there Tony 



Hahaha he quoted the photo of my girlfriend holding the cart.


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Aug 9, 2012 at 1:20:38 AM
Segertar (125)
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Here is the Battletoads I have did (sloppy, but it works):

Before:

Photobucket
After:

Photobucket


Edited: 08/09/2012 at 01:21 AM by Segertar

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:21:57 AM
Mr.Nintendo (383)
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(el- rocko) < King Solomon >
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oh my bad, sorry Tony, i wasn't laughing, promise

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Gameboy Pirates "IS" My Thing


DONATE ALL SMB/DH CARTS TO PMA

DONATE ALL JURASSIC PARK CARTS TO KEVBOT  NOW ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
 


Aug 9, 2012 at 1:22:46 AM
Segertar (125)
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I wouldn't charge you, but let's rule out any other possiblities before I start scatching up your pins.

Just PM me if you when/if you want to give it a go.


Edited: 08/09/2012 at 01:24 AM by Segertar

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:24:57 AM
Korn Cakes (66)
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(Alex Beckley) < Meka Chicken >
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Hahahaha alright. Someone messaged me here and said that using a heat gun on it could basically re-solder it.

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Aug 9, 2012 at 1:26:24 AM
Segertar (125)
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(T. F.) < Ridley Wrangler >
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Originally posted by: Korn Cakes

Hahahaha alright. Someone messaged me here and said that using a heat gun on it could basically re-solder it.

I don't see any damaged solder. Piping can't be re-soldered (they aren't solder).

Becareful with those heat guns, PCB melts/warps.



Edited: 08/09/2012 at 01:27 AM by Segertar

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:28:13 AM
rokubungi (164)
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if you have a multimeter trace the finger to a pin and see if there's continuity.
this could be a canidate for a chip transplant.

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Edited: 08/09/2012 at 01:45 AM by rokubungi

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:42:01 AM
Frigusoris (2)
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(Rory S) < Eggplant Wizard >
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anyone else notice the top left hand corner? looks like stress discolouration... maybe someone cleaned the PCB a little too well at one point and warped a chip?

Aug 9, 2012 at 1:52:44 AM
nonameo (90)

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If you heard bits rocking around in the cart, most likely the game was dropped at some point and some of the plastic chipped off. It's possible the board is not seating into the slot correctly. Try putting the earthbound board inside of another cartridge. If it works, well... then you know that the cart plastic is being a pain in the poodle.

edit: nevermind, that board is a goner. The ROM and save chip are probably okay, but you'd have to find a good donor board~~~ and a LOT of things have to match up. You can't just pick any old SNES game and do it. 

edit2: okay, my bad... I was looking at the battletoads board~~~  What you might be seeing on that cart is flux. When the chips and stuff are soldered in, the flux is used to help the solder flow. Another interesting note: flux is mighty sticky That might be what you're feeling. 

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Edited: 08/09/2012 at 02:42 AM by nonameo

Aug 9, 2012 at 2:06:26 AM
Segertar (125)
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(T. F.) < Ridley Wrangler >
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Originally posted by: Frigusoris



anyone else notice the top left hand corner? looks like stress discolouration... maybe someone cleaned the PCB a little too well at one point and warped a chip?


I think that is just lighting, or the residue the OP was talking about.

Aug 9, 2012 at 2:27:50 AM
Frigusoris (2)
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(Rory S) < Eggplant Wizard >
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never seen residue form such a streaky pattern, and smack dab in the middle of a chip (I assume ROM, though I have little insight into chip layout)

Aug 9, 2012 at 2:32:48 AM
Segertar (125)
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(T. F.) < Ridley Wrangler >
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Originally posted by: Frigusoris

never seen residue form such a streaky pattern, and smack dab in the middle of a chip (I assume ROM, though I have little insight into chip layout)


I'm not sure what you a refering to..? Can you circle the suspect residue?

Aug 9, 2012 at 2:53:46 AM
Korn Cakes (66)
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(Alex Beckley) < Meka Chicken >
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Originally posted by: Segertar

Originally posted by: Korn Cakes

Hahahaha alright. Someone messaged me here and said that using a heat gun on it could basically re-solder it.

I don't see any damaged solder. Piping can't be re-soldered (they aren't solder).

Becareful with those heat guns, PCB melts/warps.
 

Oh no i wasn't talking about fixing the pipe with solder. I think he meant in case the solder for the chips might be bad.

Originally posted by: rokubungi

if you have a multimeter trace the finger to a pin and see if there's continuity.
this could be a canidate for a chip transplant.

That's a good idea, Batman. How would one go about a chip transplant? Or who would I talk to about it because I know I would be minus one Earthbound if I tried.

The residue was from me wiping the sticky shit off with rubbing alcohol and it turned white. I've since cleaned it off.



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Edited: 08/09/2012 at 02:54 AM by Korn Cakes

Aug 9, 2012 at 3:11:41 AM
Segertar (125)
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If the solder was bad you would see it cracking, or pulling away from the board.

I think Madden 95 is the correct board for a transplant. Basically, remove the chips from the EB PCB and place them on the Madden board.

Did you try putting EB in another cart to see if that worked?

Aug 9, 2012 at 7:54:41 AM
dewisp02 (78)
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(Mr. Jason) < Ridley Wrangler >
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The board looks clean... a transplant seems like overkill. you just need to check continuity and you will find where the problem is.

I've brought so many carts back to life that were sooooooo rusted on the inside with some elbow grease, my multimeter, and a soldering iron. Wish I took before and after pics to show. 

It looks like pins 3 and 9 [from left side] on the non-ROM side of the board have some corrosion under the green protective layer [The dark spots]. I would scrape off the green layer and rust until you see shiny copper. BE CAREFUL NOT TO SCRAPE TOO DEEP or you will have to solder bridge it to fix the trace. Use a multimeter to check continuity. Then use a small dab of superglue to waterproof it. I would also put a small bead of solder to bridge the trace you pointed out earlier and file it down smooth [so the shell will close all the way]. Then test with multimeter and put a little superglue over the solder and bare copper to again waterproof it. 

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WANTED NES: Box- Bomberman II, Bubble Bobble 2, Chubby Cherub, Color A Dinosaur, Pro Sport Hockey, Volleyball
                      Manual- Dragon Fighter, Jetson's, Operation Secret Storm, SCAT, Stack Up, Stinger, Sword Master
                      Manual and Box- Arkanoid, Jimmy Connor's Tennis, Little Ninja Brothers, Mickey in Numberland, Sqoon

 


Edited: 08/09/2012 at 08:19 AM by dewisp02

Aug 9, 2012 at 11:23:12 AM
Korn Cakes (66)
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(Alex Beckley) < Meka Chicken >
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^I would never be able to do that without ruining it haha. If there's anyone that would be willing to do that for me, I would really appreciate it. Otherwise ulasamosa is willing to take a look at it for me.

EDIT: Cart back transplant unsuccessful.

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Edited: 08/09/2012 at 11:23 AM by Korn Cakes

Aug 9, 2012 at 11:38:51 AM
dewisp02 (78)
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(Mr. Jason) < Ridley Wrangler >
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I would be willing to do it for you if you would pay to ship it. I cannot guarantee I will get it working, but with all the carts Ive saved, I have about a 98% success rate, I am confident I will save this one, too.

If the above doesn't fix it, and I determine you need a replacement component[s]; cap, resistor, whatever... I will pm you and ask you what you want me to do and the price for the part[s]. I would just charge you whatever the parts cost [no labor].

EDIT: Also, did you find out if the board was loose inside the shell? If so, was there any plastic pieces loose inside? 

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WANTED NES: Box- Bomberman II, Bubble Bobble 2, Chubby Cherub, Color A Dinosaur, Pro Sport Hockey, Volleyball
                      Manual- Dragon Fighter, Jetson's, Operation Secret Storm, SCAT, Stack Up, Stinger, Sword Master
                      Manual and Box- Arkanoid, Jimmy Connor's Tennis, Little Ninja Brothers, Mickey in Numberland, Sqoon

 


Edited: 08/09/2012 at 11:40 AM by dewisp02

Aug 9, 2012 at 11:40:58 AM
Korn Cakes (66)
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(Alex Beckley) < Meka Chicken >
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Alright dude, thank you so much. He just said that he's willing to take a look at it too so if he has no luck, I'll definitely ask you and I'll pay for shipping and parts and sexual favors if you fix it haha.

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