Let's Swap A Gameboy Advance SP Shell - How To Guide

[@emmettturner9452]

You forced the hinges out while both halves were misaligned, which is why you had trouble. You are supposed to remove them with the screen frame open to the self-supporting detent position (standard play position). That also made them more difficult to insert and likely changed the feel of the whole thing. Opening from the detent position makes the left hinge particularly hard to access when removing but there are a few ways to do it easily enough. First, always remove the right hinge first, then... 1) Unclip the left hinge, open the frame, then push it out with something long that reaches through the hole where the right hinge used to be. 2) Use Makho's 3D printed tool that fits inside and lets you push even once opened. 3) Disassemble a Bic Round Stick ink pen and cut the cone piece down to size so that the part that friction-fits the pen's main tube/body fits tightly between the hinge clips and the nearby structural rib. Wedge it in there, open the screen frame, and then remove the hinge. If it doesn't pop out on its own, use something long and thin to push. It should take very little effort. Personally, I use the ink pen with a long/thin watercolor brush even though I have 3D printers. ;) You can find videos of 2 and 3 on my an Makho's channels.

[@chocoholic031]

Your comment helped me so much!!! Thank you for the advice!

[@davdgs]

ITS YOU AGAIN

[@jloizos79]

@@davdgs what do u see??

[@turkey6969]

He needs to redo the video with this help. I did not go to the comments before watching the video and had a hard time. He also got lazy with editing in certain spots. Theres other videos that are better.

[@keyblader1985]

I would have loved to know this before I pushed so hard I straight up broke the whole corner off. It was just a good thing I was already replacing the shell..

[@matthewwynn1074]

Hey, thanks for the video. I'm about to turn 21 and I've probably had my gameboy since I was literally 4 years old. I dropped it in 2021, shattering the shell, but the motherboard was still fine. I ordered a new shell off amazon, and my dad and I had a blast making a project out of it while using this as a guide. :)

[@MattPassarelli]

That's awesome! I have similar stories with my dad. Thanks for sharing!

[@FoxSeba]

That’s what’s happening with me but I’m turning 20 in 2 days haha, I’m looking at some of the clear cases because I want to add LED transmitters onto the motherboard so that the dpad had under glow but even the ram through super poor quality SP’s around me are still pretty pricey at the moment

[@basketballed24]

This is a cool story because my dad and I just did the same exact thing to my childhood gba sp as well so I can relate

[@historyhound6891]

Nice I had mine since I was 7, I got it second hand from my cousin. My poor SP has seen a lot of stuff, has been thrown more times then it should have. Glad to see some other people that have kept their childhood consoles.

[@SeanKing0109]

That’s beautiful I wish my dad found joy fixing stuff I liked with me

[@MonkeStumps]

Disassembly starts at 2:05

[@ariariaris]

I’ve had my SP since I was 5! Every few years i’d pick it back up and replay some of the classics. After 21 years of it trucking through life perfectly fine I finally dropped it and the shell cracked, I guess the old plastic got brittle over time, it practically fell apart as I disassembled it. I switched over to a nice atomic purple shell, and this was super useful!! Thank you so much!!

[@pkstarstorm5548]

I just did this but can some one tell me what this Square metal piece is for? @ 10:14 you can see by his right hand with the screws right above it, I have two pieces that fell out while removing and applying the old/new shells and I have no idea what theyre fore and Ive been looking around trying to figure out what its for with no luck. Thank you

[@gailobrien7004]

This is a brilliant video, I watched the video first then realised that I could possibly do this! My Gameboy Advance had become brittle and bits started snapping off. Thank you so much, I now have a usable Gameboy again!

[@MrSmithNoMatrix]

This helped me a lot. I hate how they designed the screen connector. So hard to line up with your fingers!

[@JoshBoniniRocks]

Thank you so much for this video! Successfully replaced my shell and screen protector. Was 100% nervous about breaking something before I saw this

[@provenfear]

Hey, I need help. I accidentally stripped one of the screws while attempting to take it apart. Any way I can remove the screw?

[@spirou7045]

I had stripped the ones in the back had to take a knife and saw in there then use a set of pliers. Be careful not to scratch the motherboard.

[@zacharywilder7001]

Thank you so very much. This video helped me reshell my coworker/friend cobalt blue gameboy advance sp that he had as a child. It went from looking well used and tarnished to brand new. Thanks again so much.

[@MattPassarelli]

Glad it could help! That’s nice to hear!

[@zacharywilder7001]

@@MattPassarelli I'm going to turn to you and your videos for all my repair needs. Thank you so much. I got a lot of repair projects.

[@grhmhome]

Thanks for the guide. I was able to refurbish my SP following this guide with a new battery and shell. The biggest issue I had was replacing the hinges. It was very difficult to remove.

[@taylorluna7630]

Thank you so much! Just did a a kyogre shell on my sp and this video was amazing. Looks like a pro put it together and it’s my first time! Thank you again!!!

[@MattPassarelli]

Great work! Absolutely love Kyogre. Do approve!

[@Keegan006]

@@MattPassarelli well thanks to people like you I can now fix my gba that had the top break I ordered a new shell and I’m going to change the tops to it will be a red top and and sliver blue bottom

[@beingnormal1899]

You didn’t mention the battery nut. Now I have to take it apart again. Other than that it works perfectly

[@robertgonzalez9673]

Thank you my guy. You are a life saver; a friend of mine broke my gameboy that my girlfriend grandma gave me. I bought the replacement peice but then got stuck at some point putting it together.

[@galphie5997]

Girlfriend or grandma? I'm so confused right now

[@nathanbrowns7716]

@@galphie5997 I think he means his girlfriend’s grandma

[@DRAWKCABLLA]

@@galphie5997 haha, i didnt know grandma could be a girlfriend

[@punkyskunk9317]

Thanks for posting this! I had an sp with a bad screen, and another one with a bad motherboard. This video helped me take the good parts from each, and re-shell it for my wife.

[@batarang87]

Can you list the different tools needed to do this rebuild?

[@DungarooTV]

You should have spent a little more time explaining what the screws were when reinstalling instead of having to go back to the start and you should have mentioned the screen does not have a screen protector as mine scratched as I thought it had a clear protector.

[@WayWardWonderer]

Your video was very helpful. I had used a step by step guide but a few of the steps were actually missing and made the work confusing. You narrate at a nice pace, show your entire work and aren't blocking what you're doing with your hands and by watching the way your removed the ribbon and replaced the speaker I was able to place my GBA in a nice new shell. No joke, the step by step instructions I was reading didn't explain or show HOW to correctly detach the ribbon from its coupling, skipped over the part with replacing the secondary hinge AND they put the speaker back into the device backward. It wasn't fun taking everything apart again to flip the speaker so it actually created sound, but, hey, live and learn! If I hadn't watched this video I would've surely damaged my system and I would've been heartbroken. Thank you for providing a video that's easy to follow, easy to watch and easy to listen to!

[@brandoncunningham1214]

It might’ve taken me 3 hours… BUT IM HAPPY I DID IT!!!!

[@dapanda5992]

So I did my reshell and followed anything but now I have no sound? What do I do to fix that?

[@gamblerjohn6058]

I did this just recently and total forgot about that little block for the battery cover screw till I had it all back together also had a nightmare thinking I'd broken the sound . But no ID realised that the speaker fell out about 20 minutes later when I found it on the floor. All a learning curve I think next time I'd fly through it alot faster.

[@Picollm]

Mines won’t turn on but will charge for a few seconds. I wonder what I did. 😩

[@chivolvolnoxmake48me78happy99]

I just saw you coment hope you found a solution But mine did it but i made sure to add the 3 screws for the mother board and to line up the speaker perfectly and it solved my problem.

[@Picollm]

@@chivolvolnoxmake48me78happy99 THANK YOU! I’ll try it!

[@OddlySean]

THANKS BUD. FIXED MY SP UP GOOD AND NICE! PLAYED THE SHIT OUT SHREK ON IT AND HAD A BLAST. I WISH YOU WERE MY DAD

[@OddlySean]

@@MattPassarelli P...Papa?

[@inputfunny]

And it feels so good...

[@LifeWithJo_TV]

So I did this step by step it worked!! Thanks!! But I noticed the speaker didn't work now. Decided to open it back up but I ended up stripping the long trip wing screws when I was trying to open it up. Help!

[@JD-re3cj]

Same my sound isn’t working. Did you fix it?

[@EJDOMOTOR]

I did this and my audio wasn’t working so I went back it and fixed the audio but now it doesn’t seem to read my cartridges. It’ll show the gameboy logo but not the Nintendo logo but it did when I didn’t have audio

[@fivejedis]

Has anyone encountered this problem, I successfully shell swapped but the A button isn't as responsive anymore. Sometimes I'll press it and it won't respond. I looked it up and some people say they have experienced the same issue but no solution was ever given. Anyone know a fix?

[@juken16]

I followed this video and it was my first time doing anything like this. It worked but the first time I did it the screen would not light up and I forgot to screw a hinge cover in so when I redid it the while screen won't turn on. I can not figure out what I did wrong. The power turns on and sound works just no display. Can anyone help

[@pauljaton5128]

Big thank you for this video! Helped me fix my gameboy that’s been broken for years! ❤️

[@idk-_-_--------]

here's a little tip for those who are interested in changing or replacing a part. the first time you do it. it's gonna be hard, and there will be times you mess up. but, the second time you give it a try you'll succeed. but I do recommend after you take apart your first console/system etc give it some time to let it sink in also. I HIGHLY recommend you buy a tool kit smt with alot of screws like Philips and tri wing

[@subtoxic8284]

9:30 Jesus Christ these were a pain in the ass I literally had a bite down on them to snap it into place the amount of pressure you have to apply is crazy

[@Chicky1234]

Thanks so much. My Presents bought one of these little guys for 3 dollars at a thrift store and I was really interested in it so I bought it from him. It was really scratched up so I wanted to re paint it.

[@laurengunderson6859]

so for some reason, when using this tutorial, i now have neither audio or visual??? the ribbon cable connector did pop off of the motherboard when i was removing the ribbon cable so im sure thats the issue more than anything. it reconnected fine but im guessing not.

[@MattPassarelli]

If the actual connector popped off, then that would definitely be a likely cause of the screen not working and resoldering that to the board would be super difficult to do. Though the speaker not working could be dirty contacts or something in the way of them; unless the speaker was already bad (which I assume it wasn't).

[@PixelLucy98]

only issue i ended up with after with that my screen seemed a bit faded in colour and had a slight green smudge 😂 but i guess not bad for a first attempt

[@TridKP]

i never want to do this again; I’d rather eat 2000 legos covered in ghost pepper hot sauce

[@mrlynx68]

Lol why?

[@sillyboiWT]

oddly specific but okay!

[@MrZeusyMoosey]

What screws are used where? Are the long tri wing screws used for the screen?

[@subtoxic8284]

Great video man was able to fix my broken gameboy case good tutorial to follow!

[@zonesproductions]

This video was really helpful. Thankyou. My only problem was I forgot to put the power slider in and promptly stripped the screws 😔 I'm going to try to get them out tomorrow so hopefully it'll work out. My SP is clear purple with glow in the dark buttons. I love it.

[@Sophie-ui3xr]

The screw underneath the battery on mine has been stripped so I literally can’t get the screw out. Any tips on how I can get this out?

[@MattPassarelli]

Your best bet is a tiny drill bit on dremel or small drill bit and just drill the screw out. But I know that’s not the most convenient solution for people. I’d try using the tiniest pair of pliers you can find and use those to then the screw if you can. Otherwise, the absolutely smallest dap of superglue on something stiff like a screwdriver you don’t care about, and use it stick it to the screw, let it sit, and then slowly turn. Superglue doesn’t hold up well to rotational torque from my experience so turn it slowly until it budges.

[@justinwhite9434]

Hey, great video. It’s always nice when you can get an oem Nintendo replacement shell.

[@NovahShark]

High key thank you so much, I got hella scared when I went to take out the hinges and it looked like the things keeping them in place snapped and I couldn’t push it out with my Alan wrench. I know that you said not to but I propped one of the screwdrivers in place and used Inertia to knock them loose and it worked in 1-2 swings and the hinges were intact. Now I can play Pokémon emerald on my atomic purple gameboy, thank you so much.

[@steve.b.23]

I went to school with a guy called Alan Wrench.

[@Leo-ei8zq]

My screws on the back of the shell won't come out. Neither my friendo who goes to the gym could unscrew them. I guess they are really strong and very hard to get out for some reason. I'll see if I can remove this with any other screwdriver or machine

[@aquelescaraaaaaaaaaa]

I wish they sold just the little rubbers on the top screen that protect the screws, I lost mine and it's the only reason I'm buying a flame case to repair my gba sp.

[@daveedforever76]

I’m confused cause mine has a black wire attached to the cable

[@them2002]

Thanks for the video. I bought a new replacement case and I couldn't figure out what was up with the hinges.

[@collectingtime5041]

I used your tutorial on my channel for swapping the shell, worked out great (little self plug but it’s a video on my channel if u wanna see it lol) Looks awesome, turned a Gameboy that was scratched and dirty into basically a new Gameboy!

[@Level5Fish]

Thanks, I’m gonna save this video so I can use it. I’m getting a green tinted clear gba replacement shell soon and I have no idea how to replace it.

[@dubboii]

How did it go?

[@Level5Fish]

Ok... I did replace the shell but at the time I didn’t have a good place to do the repair. I ended up getting dust under the screen and now the shell is creaky because there two screws in the set were stripped and I couldn’t screw them in all the way. Don’t worry though, I am much more experienced now then I was a few months ago and I am about to start a gba sp refurbishing business. Once I save up enough money I will fix my original gameboy and maybe even give it an ips screen.

[@thebombingsoda]

Thanks dude, my SP has some sort of dust in between the glass lens thing and you helped me out

[@msluvbug13]

I have the pink pearl and the shell is broken but it still works. I’m trying to find someone to fix it.

[@SenfPenner]

This vid is quite a help but not complete. I had trouble finding the right screw and with the cuts I was always behind to check things. Especially the last cut where you put the backplate on. It was like placing the mainboard and a sec. after that you said "Lets check if its working".

[@violetdrifts]

RIP to my hinges. Sick advice.

[@sndprk9071]

*starts to remove hinges* "I find popping these out to be a little troublesome..." My guy, do you use Mjolnir as a hand weight? I feel like I'm trying to pull out Excalibur from stone by getting these parts out. My hand is cramping big time.

[@MattPassarelli]

I’m scrolling through comments on my videos and I honestly think this is one of my favorite comments across my entire channel now lmfao

[@GameparkGames]

How did you get the little screws out so easy? Mine were tight as hell and I stripped both of them

[@JeffreyVergara]

I think I stripped mine too. On the battery casing

[@dashady1367]

Mine is just scratched up a bit, everything works perfectly tho. Is it worth it to swap shells?

[@RetroK64]

Mine plays the audio but doesnt show game what should I do?

[@MattPassarelli]

I’d double check the connection of the ribbon cable to the plug on the motherboard. Then inspect the cable to verify it hasn’t been kinked, torn, or anything damaging to it along its traces. If you have a spare screen/motherboard that you know work, you could try them to see which one might be faulty. Otherwise, given that the game still runs (you have audio), the screen might’ve gone bad. However, my IPS screen does this occasionally and I’m pretty certain it’s a loose connection as tapping really hard fixes it for a bit lol. Just need to crack it open and reseat the cable.

[@RetroK64]

@@MattPassarelli I reopened it and the cable was disconnected

[@RetroK64]

Its better now

[@RaesASMR]

I just changed my housing on mine but forgot to put in the plastic screen lens, does it need the plastic lens?

[@RaesASMR]

@@MattPassarelli I tried to re add it but a couple of the screws are stripped and can’t remove them, would an adhesive screen protector be okay to stick on?

[@gailobrien7004]

My lid is floppy, wont stay at a right angle just flops back, what didnt i do??? HELP!!!!!

[@MattPassarelli]

Make sure the hinges are insert properly. There's a pinned comment on how to properly install them! Try that and see if it's any better

[@RyanFilmMaker]

what is the hard part for you? we recently got into screen replacements

[@ZealousWZephyr]

Thank you much. Was swapping my shell again and absolutely forgot about the screw under the ribbon cable 😅

[@nightmoose944]

my sound no longer works and i followed the video i dont understand :(

[@EpicEric25]

i tried this, i dont know what it is but my A button wont click

[@victoriarose22222]

the piece on the hinge that is supposed to just 'slide on' keeps falling off, and i remembered the screw that was underneath the ribbon cable that supposedly helped it stay i place but it didnt do anything haha, any tips? ive never done anything like this and im clearly missing something.

[@xl-Chaos-lx]

My question to you is my screen doesn’t wanna turn on anymore after I connect the ribbon cable. For whatever reason I can see the lights indicating I get power, but my screen is just blank. And I used my finger for some reason to get the ribbon cable in there. Did I by any chance mess it up?

[@MattPassarelli]

Double check the connection on the cable, make sure it's seated right. Mine has an issue where the screen won't turn on and it needed re-seating. I would also check to make sure that you didn't accidentally tear the ribbon either. Always a possibility unfortunately.

[@gymnybeats]

Fucked my Gameboy trying to change the shell 😭

[@robertpope6124]

Success! Thanks for the guide!

[@CmPuke101_]

2:13 start 7:34 reassembly

[@aivaxe]

lots of things i missed out on thanks

[@Jameslnk]

thx you so much never took one apart and now i have a re cased my console so happy thx you for your help

[@thetoegremlin8904]

Thanks a lot for the video! I’m planning on customizing the GBA my older sister gave me, but I don’t want to damage the hardware

[@p_three_beatzproductions4479]

Can you slow it down some. I am a beginner.

[@GameparkGames]

This is literally a pain in the ass, how the heck are you having such an easy time with this 😂

[@katiea2228]

I’m trying to reshell a Gameboy for the first time. So far, I’m 5 minutes through the video and the only thing I can’t get figure out is how to get those screw covers off the top half!!

[@partsman4376]

The hinges are left and right so remember. Sometimes they color them left black and right white. Pinch the tabs on it before punching hinges out in a closed position. When you install hinges in new shell do it in closed position.

[@dizini303]

Thanks alot man mine turned out perfect just that I messed up the hinges a little bit but aye still works!

[@mrtusk]

Thanks. Helpful video

[@kinglos6995]

Thanks man awesome video

[@JWG.LLC_The_Artist]

Im putting a flame red sp in graphite black shell for the same nostalgia reason

[@sburns834]

I've done a gameboy colour. And this seems more easier. I'm thinking about fixing up my blue one. I have two.

[@ionslicer]

Great vid. Thanks for the help.

[@turtle6539]

Very interesting I now know how to replace a gbasp shell.

[@TheJoeyManArcadeShow]

Thanks for the help this video helped me

[@AndyRuiz-r4x]

Thank the lord for this guide! 🙏

[@van-zo6ef]

i'm so clumsy is this worth risking breaking my gameboy

[@bahadrakmn457]

do we have to have both hinges? mine broke years ago and i lost one hinge, now i decided to get a new case and i have only the right hinge. Do aftermarket cases came with new hinges or do i need to use the old ones?

[@Relics_of_Arda]

I did the same thing with my Gameboy Color.

[@200littleman]

I broke off the entire section with the hinge still stuck inside of it so you definitely can be pushing too hard

[@samuraiblack3496]

I tried doing this. My screws got stripped (Absolutely unrelated to this video, just felt like sharing)

[@andysan9557]

Thank you for saying she'll swap ise so many gameboy advance and apple videos that say restoration that's just a shell swap.

[@xbl4ck7]

almost liked the video but the cuts at the end were incomprehensible....

[@vietanh2899]

Wish I watch this 10 minutes ago. Just broked the ribbon cable.

[@ikeuwu]

Here bc my nephew just broke mine :)

[@tylererb9538]

Maybe show what screws go where next time. A tutorial should include 100% of the info not 95%

[@NguyenPham-cv9pe]

Many thanks, you help me out, i left a like for your video

[@eloc9385]

Well I broke mine. Off to buy a new one.

[@DordYT]

Maybe this is just me but you sound like the guy from tronics fix

[@MattPassarelli]

Oh I love Steve! Definitely don’t match his energy though. He’s a great inspiration for keeping electronics alive

[@CDLeaker]

my speaker somehow broke

[@Bluepex7]

thank you

[@DMystic1]

i wish i never watched this, i fucked up my gameboy i just got

[@MrX-jl5rm]

Doesnt show how to install triggers. Ok not gonna like or dislike.

[@emmettturner9452]

Uhh... what's the problem? You just drop them in. If the spring somehow came out of position it's pretty easy to figure out, especially since you will still have your old triggers for reference.

[@1spore2]

Be careful i broke the bit on the shell that holds the spring in place. It's very delicate.luckily it was on the shell I was replacing