How To Clean Sega Megadrive / Genesis Cartridges ?


Magic Sam

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Hi,

Just a tip I'd like to share with you guys :)

Your Sega Megadrive / Genesis no longer wants to play your games ?

If blowing dust off the cartridge is not enough, you can use Q-tips with some window cleaning "liquid".

Dip the Q-tip in the bottle, and gently clean the electronic parts of the cartridge with it, then use the other side of the Q-tip to dry them.

Repeat this until the Q-tips are no longer black with dust and grease :)

It worked for me, so I hope it will help someone else !

Bye, Magic Sam
 
This works with pretty much all cartridges. I don't know what window cleaner you were using, but I used to use isopropyl alcohol and it accomplished the same thing. Blowing on cartridges is actually supposed to be bad for them, IIRC.
 
I open cartridges and rub the contacts with a pencil eraser (or a PCB buffer thing, which is basically the same but coarser if the grime is particularly nasty).
 
Hello,

i just want to know if conducting silver can be used on the damaged contacts?
I have few old cartridges, they were often used.

Thanks.
 
miaouss said:
Hello,

i just want to know if conducting silver can be used on the damaged contacts?
I have few old cartridges, they were often used.

Thanks.

anything that conducts well should work, even tin. just make sure you don't cross any pins!!!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Com64 said:
anything that conducts well should work, even tin. just make sure you don't cross any pins!!!

Right. That's bad. Okay. All right. Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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