How To Install A New 72 Pin Connector Nintendo NES Repair

So you’ve come across a classic Nintendo NES in excellent condition and realized that none of your games will load. You try and you try and you clean the games over and over again, but that little red light keeps flashing. The problem is most likely the 72-pin connector inside the NES system. The 72-pin connector is the one that reads the information from the Nintendo cartridges. Due to a design flaw, the connector pins warp over time and will no longer read cartridges. This is an easy fix, though all you need to do is replace the existing 72-pin connector with another one. They are quite cheap and you can find one on Amazon or eBay. They only cost about $5 dollars a piece. Now that you have your new part, install it:

Step #1: Open the Nintendo NES Case

This is the easiest part of the process. All you need is a medium sized Phillips head screwdriver. Flip the NES over and remove the six screws from the bottom. This will allow you to remove the top of the case to reveal the inner workings of your Nintendo NES.

Step #2: Getting to the 72-pin connector

Now, to get to the 72-pin connector, you’ll need to remove the metal casing from the bottom half of the NES. It should be easy, it’s just another six screws holding it together. Once it’s off, you should see the plastic tray that holds the cartridges.

You will need to remove the plastic tray to remove the old 72-pin connector. There are six more screws holding the plastic cartridge slot to the circuit board, so remove them. You should now be able to find two more screws closer to the AV connection that attaches the circuit board to the bottom of the NES. Remove these and lift the circuit board up and slide the plastic tray off of the board. Now you can get to the 72-pin connector.

Step #3 Remove and replace the old connector

The last step is easy, just remove the old connector from the board and replace it with a new one. Try to be careful, you don’t want to damage the actual circuit boards. Now make sure the connector is straight and fully connected to the circuit board.

Final Step: Put It Back Together

The last step in any project like this is to put everything back together.

1. So first slide the plastic cartridge tray back into the dash.
2. Then, put the board back into the NES case.
3. Then screw the metal casing back on, and finally reassemble the plastic casing.

Note: Sometimes it’s good to test the system before putting everything back together in case something went wrong. You should now have a working Nintendo NES.