Super Famicom with flaky cartridge slot

I have a SFC 1-CHIP-02 console that seems to have a bad cartridge slot. I thought initially it was completely dead, but after lots of messing around I got a game or two to work. Even with clean, known-good, factory-fresh looking cartridges it takes many, many tries and wiggling around to get them to work. The slot looks completely clean, the teeth are still tight. Looking closely at the slot and how it grips the cartridge, I can't see a thing wrong with it, looks just fine.

Anything I can do to make this work?

Thanks!

 

Bad solderjoint? Reflow the connector?

 

Would you expect a bad solder joint to be obvious just by visual examination? I could try to use a continuity tester, but that would be quite tricky with the tiny pins.

 

Sometimes you can see it just by wiggling the connector and looking at the joints.

But if you have an iron, just go over them all. Its a quick job and not that hard.

It might not be the fault but its one thing to eleminate.

 

So I had a peek at the underside of the board, all the solder joints look perfect to me. I did a continuity test on all of them, works just fine, can't measure any resistance either. Hmm. I can't imagine it's something other than the cartridge / console connection since the machine works 100% fine once I managed to get it going and even the slightest wiggle of the cartridge crashes it.

 

Link didnt work. But it was supposed to be a link on how to retension the cartridgeslot. That has to be the problem if the joints are OK and it crashes when moving. If its not full of invisible dirt.

 

You can't post the link? I'd be very interested in that, of course ;-) Maybe PM me? Thanks!

 

Il try again. I have used a small hook tool. Think that is easier:
”How to Re-Tension a Cartridge Slot” på YouTube

 

Hm, thanks, makes sense, but I don't think I'd want to do that. One of the pins already looks slightly lower than the others, I'd be afraid to break something. I can still return this console, so I'll do that. It's a real shame, was quite looking forward to having a good model SNES!

 

Common try it. You wont brake it. You could get a partcial refund. If not... i might be interested of buying depending on price. Always wanted a onechip to try

 

I get your logic, it's not like it'll be any more broken, it doesn't work as it is ;-) But nah, I'll get another console. Shame, this one really looks nice. Was looking forward to mess with all my Super Famicom games.
Can you buy these connectors anywhere? Doesn't look that hard to solder in a new one...

 

Right. Havent found a source. But you could buy a broken SNES cheap. Or ask around... i might have a connector if you pay for shipping and have patience while i look. Its a metal one though. Think the 1chip have a different one. Butt it should fit.

 

I'd be wary of doing it with a used connector, might end up with the same situation real soon. Maybe I should've just soldered an SD2SNES into the slot ;-) But then how am I gonna play StarFox and Yoshi's Island...