NES Console Clean & Retrobright - Fixing a Blinking System

I picked up an NES lot off of eBay for $53. Over the next few videos we'll be cleaning, fixing, and retrobrighting the system and all the pieces.
In this video we'll concentrate on the NES Console. During testing the console blinks and is inconsistent in reading games. We'll take it apart, give everything a good clean, and try to get it working like new.
During the video I'll reference Odd Experiment's video on Retrobrighting. It is definitely worth a watch: • How to remove yellowin...

[@treelzebub]

I'm about to deep clean all my consoles from the 80s and 90s, and your content helped me get the stuff I need to do it properly and not break stuff. Thanks!

[@davidokelly1140]

Like clockwork man.! NES cleanup and maintenance is cathardic and therapeutic. watching you service this one made me smile 😁

[@MrYOUniverse]

I see your channel says you were priced out of the hobby but I and I'm sure many others would be happy to buy consoles that had been given this amount of care.

[@edwardvegaedvega]

You got a great deal. The prices have gone up

[@Cheesehead302]

It's really sad. I had no idea how much prices increased, then I randomly looked for the price of Metroid 2 on GB and I was like holy cow, why's this so expensive? Then I looked at the price of Gameboy systems remembering they would always be going for like 10 or 15 bucks, and now it's absolutely insane. Truly a sad time to get into collecting.

[@ValexNihilist]

I've had one sitting in my closet for years. Think I'm gonna go give it a good bath now and order some games for it. Thanks for the vid!

[@mark-andrews]

I keep my gaming consoles in a room where the heavy curtains are always kept shut, no issues with any discoloration of the plastic, including on my NES. The video is useful to me in that it shows how easy it is to access then clean the internal pin connector, yes my machine blinks if a cartridge isn't pushed into the console at a very precise position.

[@DomenicEXP111]

Five out of six controllers recommend the NES! (I'm making a joke about that one controller that's super yellow. Seriously, you could trick someone into thinking that Nintendo made a golden controller for the lucky 97th caller of the Nintendo Service Hotline.)

[@Ed-Irvin]

doing a cleaning, recapping, and later retrobriting of a craigslist NES. Was wondering how the heck the power/reset buttons were removed from the switches...oh, video says they just pop off, imagine that. Instant thumbs up and sub. The whole video was very informative, thanks!

[@Ed-Irvin]

also was concerned that the retrobrite would fade the red lettering on the door/buttons, but yours looks very nice

[@LastHeartGames]

Glad you liked it! Good to hear you could get some info out of it.

[@keegan1711]

Just got me an NES at a vendors mall for 6 dollars, will be cleaning it up and hopefully get it preforming correctly.

[@Kenno10rapid]

Such a cool video. I really chilled out and enjoyed this. I have a NES that I am going to give this treatment to. You have really helped and given me an excellent tutorial.The hydrogen peroxide bit I wasn't expecting but I'm sure I can manage it. Going to do my controllers at the same time so I only have to do that stage once. The only thing I'm wondering is did you turn the parts while they were soaking over the 72 hours. Thank you.

[@TheX2theG]

good Video, i tried with the pencil eraser and 99% isopropal alcohol and all my games work again!! and before half of my games did not work anymore.. thanks!

[@crashspyromariosonicfan6907]

Wow what a deal!

[@LastHeartGames]

It is surprising the deals you can find in the "For Parts" section. Still, I was surprised when I got this one.

[@cackleberryfarm4598]

That is a HECKUVA deal you got on that. I'm guessing before the big craze on KZbin and eBay of people fixing these and then reselling them. And that you didn't have to deal with any of the chips on the board! I've been trying to find one in the last few months on eBay and they are going just units, no controllers, power supplies or games for $25-$35. Not working and have to pay $15 for shipping! Nice job!!!

[@GLAAAAAR]

Great video. Two years later, have you had any yellowing return?

[@TheBinoyVudi]

The yellowing of the console is because the plastic reacts with air and even with things it comes in contact with.. And the discoloration will return and become noticeable periodically. Have to keep cleaning up every 5 years or so.

[@GLAAAAAR]

@@TheBinoyVudi Yep, that's all true. My question was really just to hear about whether this console in your hands experienced any yellowing since the video was made, and how badly. We all know what happens, but there are very few reports that follow-up on specific pieces!

[@TheBinoyVudi]

@@GLAAAAAR yeah. But that wasn't me with the console. Just responded to your comment since I saw it. I hope the person in the video responds.

[@charlessutton2856]

I love that game

[@johnnymichaelangelo9264]

Good vid!! To the point and detailed.. i have 6 nes systems w zappers and controllers 3 need rehabbed. I picked up 2 new pin connectors ...so far was gunna see if its worth it or just clean the old ones... thanks for sharing!!

[@MarshallMathersthe7th]

Clean the old ones, it will work. Boil it for 10 min in water (no joke). Then (after drying) give it a good brush with a toothbrush with some alcohol on it. I fixed my 3 Nes'es that way.

[@johnnymichaelangelo9264]

Thanks!

[@shaundunn3dartist]

The container looks quite large, and 1 gallon of liquid doesn’t seem like it would be enough to cover the plastic parts. Did you use multiple gallons? Or perhaps did do part water and hydrogen peroxide? It would be great to know the size of your plastic container and how many gallons of hydrogen peroxide or whatever else of liquid you used.

[@nicolassukhu526]

Can you use an UV lights? Is there any you would recommend from Amazon?? Please next time put it in the description what you used would help out a ton

[@EASTinphectiON]

Would them being dirty cause them to freeze when u get to the game

[@leonjohnsonjr3331]

I never wash dishes before but ill try this

[@RandomRoadtrips]

Can you reuse the peroxide?

[@ajbroo]

thanks

[@8bitsamurai6]

Damn that's a steal l. To bad went up. Just got console only for 30

[@gamingfanmark9275]

I’m trying to fix my nes and so far I noticed it has a squeaking door. Does this method fix that issue?

[@sellectivecollective90s]

I will be trying this soon myself on 2 import sega Saturn's I was just wondering can you just use straight peroxide ? As alot of videos I've seen people dilute it with water

[@LastHeartGames]

I have never used straight peroxide, nor seen anyone else use straight peroxide, so I'm not sure what would happen. I wouldn't suspect you would be able to get pure peroxide outside of some chem lab distributors. The kind I use is for hair salon applications, bleachings and such, and is pretty strong at 12%. I have received mild chemical burns using the products. At best, a stronger solution might work faster. At worst it could degrade the plastic and cause irreparable damage, and is dangerous to use. So, if you try, please be careful and wear the proper PPE.

[@sellectivecollective90s]

@@LastHeartGames sorry I didnt mean pure in that way just 12% on it's own without diluting with water ect My fault for wording it badly Thank you for getting back to me I appriciate it :)

[@nickshereofficial]

Ay, when you cleaned the exterior, did u use any particular soap or does any soap work?

[@sblair5]

no

[@tortugadave8765]

My games have recently gotten super flickery. Going to have to clean up my nes like this.

[@tinanunez5621]

I have an issue. I just got NES from offer up. When i got home tried it the power kept blinking and so is the TV what seems to be the problem? Was i ripped off?

[@jasoncorganbrown]

Can the retro bright step damage or fade the red NES logo text on the door of the unit?

[@mark030a]

A year later and still no reply... May I ask how it went for you? I'm planning to white out the discoloration on mine as well so it'd be really helpful! Also, if you could share any tips I would really appreciate it.

[@jasoncorganbrown]

@@mark030a I ended up only trying retro bright on my SNES out of fear of damaging the red logo on my NES. I followed the instructions precisely, using a brush on the disassembled pieces. I’d say it cleared up heavily yellowed parts about 50%. I did many applications over the course of a week. I purchased a pre mixed container from Amazon, so perhaps it didn’t have the correct ratio of chemicals.

[@mariomario820]

Does it matter what i use to wash it?

[@winnalexander]

My next project.

[@OnGod1007]

My retro brighting never works it might be because I'm using 2 9 volt batteries on each end of the light strip would that be the reason why I'm not getting the results I want

[@MrTHYPOON]

Works perfectly. Does anyone know if peroxide can erase nintendo letters?

[@johnnymichaelangelo9264]

Im gunna see if that same process will work on all my robie sr bots i have to restore lol havent tried it yet..

[@FastThenWind]

What Soap Do I Use For It Any Type Or What????

[@honeyschannel6494]

I recently found my mom’s old nes and wants to do that because its suuper dirty but im too scared to mess something up

[@treethompson7491]

Can you clean the 72 pin connector in 91% alcohol

[@TheUrmom12345678910]

If you talk at 1.25x speed, it makes you sound almost excited to do this. Give it a try on future videos.

[@javiles2331]

Can I use 3%?

[@bondjames_bond4005]

Do you have to clean the mother board?

[@thenateyshow8900]

To make it work? Probably not. The pin connector is the only real part that absolutely needs to be cleaned or replaced if it's not working right. But it's always start to do a full cleaning while you already have it apart

[@B3nderISGreat]

Have you ever had issues with the red Nintendo logo fading or turning pink from the whitening process? First NES I tried this on, it turned pink. Maybe I left it in too long.

[@leonjohnsonjr3331]

I stiil see the yellow on top a little bit

[@rosarusso2807]

wow its incredible only for $53????!!!!!

[@EASTinphectiON]

Sorry for the comments but idk what happened to ur audio before the main culprit to a blinking system

[@EASTinphectiON]

Went all cyborg and transformer like on a guy

[@EASTinphectiON]

Happens all through lik when ur getting those wires out to

[@EASTinphectiON]

Like nails on a chalk board man

[@leonardburroughs9913]

What about some wind-dix

[@isolatedmortalityband5718]

Hmm, free shipping. I was just looking at some Sega stuff, and shipping was usually in the 30's, a few 50 shipping fees. Ridiculous.

[@decoy6509]

Will 3% hydrogen peroxide work ?

[@culturagamergamesever1]

Líquid is? Clore?

[@jimivie]

At 12:30 is he using a large pencil eraser or a “magic eraser”

[@DammitWrongName]

Pencil eraser

[@ericgamerx9977]

You can see his face in the reflection of the tv

[@moetime9197]

I’m probably not gonna do this I’m to scared I’m gonna Brake it

[@Kambino4]

I tried this with mine and I ended up breaking it so please be very careful while doing this that’s 100$ down the drain

[@psoa7762]

Does it have to be 99% alcohol?

[@vincze1437]

It's one of the safest ways. 99% alcohol evaporates quickly, so the electronics won't get rusty or get short circuited by the liquid's conducting properties.

[@Kara_Kay_Eschel]

@@vincze1437 That 1% is water. The lower the alcohol % the higher the water. I know that the highest I have seen for sale in physical stores is about 90%. The higher the alcohol % the better.

[@vincze1437]

@@Kara_Kay_Eschel That doesn't change my statement tho :) But yes, you could use 96% too, as its still a high alcohol volume.

[@fgajtani]

I'm having trouble finding 12% hydrogen peroxide. My local drug store only has 3%. Where are you guys getting it from?

[@LastHeartGames]

Here's the exact product I used. It's listed under 40 volume, which is another term for the 12% concentration. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TP1IZDE

[@EASTinphectiON]

How Frustrating is that tho when it doesn't work

[@EASTinphectiON]

I was like wow no wonder it was a 2 console pack

[@eblgraphics]

Skip to the end of the video the console is clean but it does not work lol Just kidding lol... Great tutorial...

[@mariomario820]

I got the same for 100$

[@EASTinphectiON]

Part of me wishes you spoke faster