Whats the best way to clean a huey?

bob · 03/13/2013, 08:24 PM

I'm sure this has already been discussed in the past, but I have never seen a topic on it. And before anybody chimes in with "use the search function", I thought I would ask again since there have been a lot of new members that might also be interested. Besides, this is a forum, conversation is encouraged!

Anyway, I have heard a million different opinions on how to safely clean video games. Use rubbing alcohol, don't use rubbing alcohol. Use windex, don't use windex. Use goof-off, don't use goof-off. Run it through a car wash...actually, nobody has ever said not to do this so maybe this is the answer.

But seriously, what do you guys use (or vehemently avoid) for cleaning contacts? I have a few obeys that need a spit shine, but I don't want to damage them.

Any advice is appreciated.

jelloslug · 03/13/2013, 08:41 PM

I use rubbing alcohol for contacts and goof-off followed up by rubbing alcohol to clean the cart itself. If there are sharpie marks on it I have used hairspray to remove the sharpie. I have even gotten it to remove the sharpie off of labels with out damaging the label.

Tatsujin · 03/13/2013, 08:53 PM

I always use a tissue and whisky (not whiskey).

Sparky · 03/13/2013, 09:24 PM

I use my ball sack... I drag a hue back and forth on it and it springs to life

bob · 03/13/2013, 09:25 PM

Quote from: guest on 03/13/2013, 08:41 PMI use rubbing alcohol for contacts and goof-off followed up by rubbing alcohol to clean the cart itself. If there are sharpie marks on it I have used hairspray to remove the sharpie. I have even gotten it to remove the sharpie off of labels with out damaging the label.

I've heard alcohol isn't good for them in the long run, but I don't know if that's true.

turboswimbz · 03/13/2013, 10:01 PM

Eraser over the contacts. Any clean one you got around will work. I also use hairspray for marks on the cart. Then gentl soap and water. I protect the plastic with armor all wipes or similarly lightly. (Not near the contacts)

Protip: the search function here sucks. Yous gotta google search the site to find anything relevant. Besides Just ask the question anyway and ask for forgivness.

Bernie · 03/13/2013, 10:03 PM

I flush mine in the toilet a few times.

bob · 03/13/2013, 10:12 PM

Quote from: Bernie on 03/13/2013, 10:03 PMI flush mine in the toilet a few times.

Thats a shame Bernie. I was actually hoping you would chime in here. I remember when I gave you the goonies and ninja kid carts, you saying you gave all your NES games a good cleaning before playing them. So I figured you might have some good advice.

Bernie · 03/13/2013, 10:19 PM

Seriously tho. I use one those pink wedge erasers. I rarely use alcohol anymore since the eraser cleans em sparkly clean.

.

Sparky · 03/13/2013, 10:23 PM

Galam good advice.. Shakes nuts

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/14/2013, 10:22 AM

I clean the contacts with an eraser and the rest with rubbing alcohol. No problems yet.

bob · 03/14/2013, 10:25 AM

So the eraser thing seems to have some traction. I've never heard of this.

turboswimbz · 03/14/2013, 10:31 AM

I learned the eraser trick from NecroPhile and Bernie in a similar thread a while back.

It's never failed me. I've even bought as-is hu-cards and cleaned them like this and BAM perfect working Hucard for a few bucks. Got me a $5 dead moon loosey this way.

jelloslug · 03/14/2013, 10:34 AM

Quote from: galam on 03/13/2013, 09:25 PM
Quote from: jelloslug on 03/13/2013, 08:41 PMI use rubbing alcohol for contacts and goof-off followed up by rubbing alcohol to clean the cart itself. If there are sharpie marks on it I have used hairspray to remove the sharpie. I have even gotten it to remove the sharpie off of labels with out damaging the label.
I've heard alcohol isn't good for them in the long run, but I don't know if that's true.

Naaa, it won't hurt the contacts. I guess if you left the card submerged in a container for a long time you might damage the glue that holds the black circuit board to the plastic housing but that would be it.

bob · 03/14/2013, 10:42 AM

Quote from: turboswimbz on 03/14/2013, 10:31 AMI learned the eraser trick from NecroPhile and Bernie in a similar thread a while back. It's never failed me. I've even bought as-is hu-cards and cleaned them like this and BAM perfect working Hucard for a few bucks. Got me a $5 dead moon loosey this way.

Just a typical, pink pencil eraser?

turboswimbz · 03/14/2013, 10:52 AM

Yes. Although A wedgie works well too.

bob · 03/14/2013, 10:58 AM

An atomic wedgie??

Arkhan Asylum · 03/14/2013, 11:32 AM

I use those art gum erasers because they work better.

But any eraser really. The contacts are metal, the eraser is rubbery. Its not like it will damage anything.

Gladiator316 · 03/14/2013, 11:39 AM

I use very light brasso brass on the contacts, shines like new and works every time

I know i've heard it could damage contacts...but i've been using it for years no problem yet.

Tatsujin · 03/14/2013, 12:32 PM

Quote from: guest on 03/14/2013, 11:32 AMI use those art gum erasers because they work better.

But any eraser really. The contacts are metal, the eraser is rubbery. Its not like it will damage anything.

unless you use those strong easer with sand kind of stuff inside, and too many times.

xcrement5x · 03/14/2013, 03:51 PM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 03/14/2013, 11:32 AMI use those art gum erasers because they work better.

Same here. But I also have one of those things where it's like a long cylinder of eraser in a clicky pen thing that you can extrude and retract. Think like a utility knife but with a long eraser inside.

Also, 90% iso on pcb contacts; 70% iso on cases and stuff.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/14/2013, 04:11 PM

Yeah, those clickydoodle things are awesome.

and, who the hell uses sand erasers. Those are for like, pens and shit.

Aggie Tsubi · 03/14/2013, 06:07 PM

You don't have to worry about using isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Official cleaning kits sold back in the day were actually just repackaged rubbing alcohol. The only reason the publishers warned against using rubbing alcohol was because they wanted to trick you into buying the official cleaning kits.

Plus they wanted to cover their asses in case somebody did something REALLY dumb, haha.

Rubbing alcohol is my default method, but I do love to use an eraser if rubbing alcohol alone isn't enough to get a game working. I use those big, rectangular elementary school erasers that are usually green or pink. If it's too thick for the job (if I want to clean the contacts of an NES game or something), I just slice the eraser in half.

TheClash603 · 03/14/2013, 11:54 PM

I use rubbing alcohol myself.

I always spring the extra buck for the higher concentration stuff, cause I heard it was better. Not sure if that is true, but it only is $1 more so I figure I will spend the extra.

Nec.Game.head · 03/15/2013, 12:15 AM

Ah man I'm a afraid to mention what I use .. But here we go I normally would use a regular eraser but after using that method on close to a 100 carts I quickly got tired of the mess it leaves and all that damn rubbing .. Well here we go in the past year I have been using a very tiny amount of Mothers brand metal and aluminum polish on my carts rubbing off all the old build up with a micro fiber rag until it's super clean and shiny .. So far it hasn't failed me and it works like a charm .. In fact this method has fixed some random carts I couldn't get to work with the eraser method .. Hope this method doesn't end up jacking up any of my carts in the long run ..

Shadow · 03/15/2013, 09:19 AM

heard that the hueys contacts should not be cleaned with alcohol. just use the eraser method only.

turboswimbz · 03/15/2013, 09:27 AM

Quote from: Nec.Game.head on 03/15/2013, 12:15 AMAh man I'm a afraid to mention what I use .. But here we go I normally would use a regular eraser but after using that method on close to a 100 carts I quickly got tired of the mess it leaves and all that damn rubbing .. Well here we go in the past year I have been using a very tiny amount of Mothers brand metal and aluminum polish on my carts rubbing off all the old build up with a micro fiber rag until it's super clean and shiny .. So far it hasn't failed me and it works like a charm .. In fact this method has fixed some random carts I couldn't get to work with the eraser method .. Hope this method doesn't end up jacking up any of my carts in the long run ..

You should be fine. Mothers products are designed to be safe cars...which are plastic and metal. And the eraser is doing the "shine" as the polish. Maybe someone else knows different though.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/15/2013, 10:51 AM

Quote from: Shadow on 03/15/2013, 09:19 AMheard that the hueys contacts should not be cleaned with alcohol. just use the eraser method only.

Nah, you can.

It's preferred really since it evaporates fast.

You only have to worry with like, nail polish remover if it's acetone.

That stuff can melt plastic and cause issues.

turboswimbz · 03/15/2013, 11:29 AM

Quote from: guest on 03/15/2013, 10:51 AM
Quote from: Shadow on 03/15/2013, 09:19 AMheard that the hueys contacts should not be cleaned with alcohol. just use the eraser method only.
Nah, you can.

It's preferred really since it evaporates fast.

You only have to worry with like, nail polish remover if its acetone.

That stuff can melt plastic and cause issues.

Acetone will eat straight through your huey. I tried it once on a KC to see how much damage it'd do. it now has a hole in it.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/15/2013, 12:00 PM

Damn. Good job.

I've used non-acetone nail polish remover to clean MSX floppy belts up.

They deteriorate and get all weird and stick to the spinny doodad inside, so you soak it in non acetone nail polish remover and it flops it's way off.

That shit still makes plastic get soft and goofy though so if you sit it too long, your floppy drive parts will get all limp.

You never want a limp floppy.

PunkCryborg · 03/15/2013, 12:03 PM

eraser like a boss

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Whats the best way to clean a huey?