Did anyone ever make a TurboGrafx / PC Engine Cleaning Kit?

[dhowerter]

Hi all

I just want to know if ANYONE (Hudson, a third party, etc.) ever made a TurboGrafx 16 or PC Engine Cleaning Kit.

Mainly, I would want one to clean the contacts in the chip slot of my TG 16 and the contacts in the chip slot of my Japanese --> US Hucard Converter (and in the chip slot of a PC Engine system or a Duo if I ever get one - I'd hate to get one of those and NOT be able to clean the system contacts; I'd feel like I was making my Chips dirty by putting them in there ).

Does anybody have any clue who made them, how well each brand worked, and where could you buy one today online?  O:) 
    (obviously, if you have one that works well, please chime in)

[hoobs88]

I have seen a cleaning kit for Turbo Grafx Hu cards with a little pink brush and a bottle of cleaning fluid. I went to my local 'Video Game Castle' to try to purchase one but he didn't have any in stock. The owner recommended a contact cleaner spray called "Blow Off" which is what he uses to clean the contacts on cartridges and systems. I use it now too. It works well.

[Duo_R]

Think the brand name was Game Doctor or something.

I had a video game cleaning kit, it had cleaner cartridges for SNES, NES, Genesis and TurboGrafx. I am pretty sure I still have it, it really cleaned out my Duo like 10 years ago when the system was getting a little picky on Hucards, I cleaned it out really good and it worked like a champ. Might be due for a cleaning again. The cartridges were greyish plastic, and very simple (like a hucard, then it tapered to more of a handle). It came with cleaning solution and cleaning wands. Since I worked at a video game store back in the day, the solution you can use is a mixture of 50/50 of rubbing alchohol and water. You insert cleaning cartridge in and out of the system like 10 times, then use the cleaning solution to remove the dirt.

[CrackTiger]

I have a game/console cleaning kit with a piece made for TG-16.

[Duo_R]

Found it last night, brand is performance. Pics coming soon.

[oldskool]

Cool, now what is a good laser lense cleaner?  I have one that's about 10 years old with brushes on it.  You add a drop of the solution on the brushes, then hit play, not sure how effective it is though.  Any recommendations?

[Duo_R]

OS - I would not recommend a CD cleaner that uses liquid. The best kind is the one that has the little brush, and you play track 1 and then it will tell you to skip to the next track or something.

[Duo_R]

Pic of the kit (sorry for low res camera phone)

/downsized1117082315bzf6.jpg

[zektor]

Well, I just bought this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=300270945575

As it is quiet a rare sight to see "Turbografx 16" referenced on the packaging So, yeah, for a brief point of time back in those days there were companies actually promoting the fact that their cleaning kits would clean this system. Good thing I found this too...I am sure mine is in an extreme need of cleaning at the moment

[dhowerter]

hoobs88 -

The owner recommended a contact cleaner spray called "Blow Off" which is what he uses to clean the contacts on cartridges and systems. I use it now too. It works well.

You mean a can of stuff you spray into the TG 16 chip slot?

Is it just compressed air, or is there some kind of cleaner solution in it?

Did you actually have a problem with your chip slot and this product fixed it?

[dhowerter]

Pic of the kit (sorry for low res camera phone)

/downsized1117082315bzf6.jpg

Duo_R -

 

Hey, I HAVE that cleaning kit LOL 


Anyway, Duo_R, a couple questions if you please ;) :

1. What exactly was wrong with your Duo's chip slot? And using one of the system cleaning wands in this kit on your Duo's chip slot fixed it completely?


2. When you fixed the Duo, which cleaning wand (A, B or C) was the one you actually used to fix it?
    (they are labelled A, B and C in that manual you have in the pic
I just want to know which one *definitely* works ;)

3. Finally, when you actually fixed your Duo with the wand, did you use ANY cleaning liquid on the wand you put in to the Duo's chip slot?
     or was it dry when you inserted it?

Thanks! ^_^

[Duo_R]

DH -

1. Nothing is wrong with my chip slot. I do occasionally clean it like every 5 years. Sometimes it wouldn't work with a game. Normally you can just slide the game slightly, flip the power switch and it would work. When I clean it works just fine.

2. I used the wand labaled B, I realized that in the manual this is actually the wand used for Gameboy and Sega Game Gear. The width of the cleaning cart is the same thickness of a Hucard, but not as wide as a hucard. What I have to do is clean with the cleaning cart all the way to the left, then all the way to the right.

Here is how you use the kit to clean your Duo (or any TG / PCE system):

First: the tools you will use for the cleaning:
/img00008200811181910ax4.jpg

1. you use the wand by inserting and removing about 6 times (no fluid).

/img00010200811181911na0.th.jpg

Here is a shot of the cart before and after inserting 6 times (notice the HuCard pin marks in the photo on right):

/1118081918bev9.th.jpg/1118081919ik9.th.jpg

2. Use the fluid (it is a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol) and dampen a clean cloth with the fluid, doesn't have to be overly soaked.

/1118081917atc1.th.jpg

3. Use the dampened cloth to wipe off the cleaning wand then wipe the wand dry with another section of the cloth:
/1118081918ir8.th.jpg

4. Repeat steps 1-3 until you get alot of dirt out of your system (I ususally will go like 6 intervals). Yes that dark stain came from my Duo (yuck):

/1118081923aof6.th.jpg




Ahhhh......look at those pearly Hucard pins:



/11180819262oo1.jpg

[ooPo]

Now she's a pretty girl!

[oldskool]

For the TurboGrafx-16, i dissassembled the system and used some electronics cleaner spray on the pins..  then followed up with some compressed air to dry it out.  On the games I used a dab of toothpaste on the pins (rub the toothpaste onto the pins with sufficient force, it's got some abrasives in it that clean them right up), then washed the whole hucard with soap and water then rinsed and buffed the hucard/pins dry with a towel.  It all works now without a hitch.  I was getting the white screen before, with ALL the games.

[dhowerter]

DH -

2. I used the wand labaled B, I realized that in the manual this is actually the wand used for Gameboy and Sega Game Gear. The width of the cleaning cart is the same thickness of a Hucard, but not as wide as a hucard. What I have to do is clean with the cleaning cart all the way to the left, then all the way to the right.

Here is how you use the kit to clean your Duo (or any TG / PCE system):

First: the tools you will use for the cleaning:
/img00008200811181910ax4.jpg

1. you use the wand by inserting and removing about 6 times (no fluid).

/img00010200811181911na0.th.jpg

Here is a shot of the cart before and after inserting 6 times (notice the HuCard pin marks in the photo on right):

/1118081918bev9.th.jpg/1118081919ik9.th.jpg

2. Use the fluid (it is a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol) and dampen a clean cloth with the fluid, doesn't have to be overly soaked.

/1118081917atc1.th.jpg

3. Use the dampened cloth to wipe off the cleaning wand then wipe the wand dry with another section of the cloth:
/1118081918ir8.th.jpg

4. Repeat steps 1-3 until you get alot of dirt out of your system (I ususally will go like 6 intervals). Yes that dark stain came from my Duo (yuck):

/1118081923aof6.th.jpg




Ahhhh......look at those pearly Hucard pins:



/11180819262oo1.jpg

Nice pic tour ^_^


Couple questions left:

1. You didn't mention it in your "tour" but I am unclear on this statement:
     "What I have to do is clean with the cleaning cart all the way to the left, then all the way to the right."

Does this mean you insert the wand ,THEN move it to the right and left while STILL INSERTED ? OR
       Do you do what you describe with the in and out motion all the way to the left and then in and out AGAIN with the wand all the way to the right?


2. What kind of cloth is that exactly and in case I can't find something similar, would a rubbing alcohol /water mixture on cotton balls or Q-tips also work to clean the dirt off the cleaning wand?


3. Finally, because I'm curious, how come you didn't use wand A? (the largest one) Isn't that the wand the instructions say to use on the TG 16? Does it not fit in the chip slot or something?

:-)

[Duo_R]

Good questions:

You didn't mention it in your "tour" but I am unclear on this statement:
     "What I have to do is clean with the cleaning cart all the way to the left, then all the way to the right."

Answer: Sorry that sounded confusing. The wand I have isn't the same width of a Hucard the thickness of the card is the same, but it is about 1/3 inch not as wide (side to side). So here is what You have to do:


     First clean all the way to the left (in and out not moving side to side) 

          Hucard Slot
 |'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''|   
 |---------------------|
  ______________   /\
  |                     |  |
  |                     |  |_________ This spot isn't getting cleaned
  |                     | 
  | cleaning wand |
   \_____    _____/
           |   |
           |   |
           |   |
           |   |
           |   |
          /     \   
         |____|         



     Then clean all the way to the right (in and out not moving side to side) 

          Hucard Slot
 |'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''|   
 |---------------------|
           ______________  <---- Now the right side of the hucard IS getting cleaned  but you are only moving in and out (not side to side)
         |                     |
         |                     | 
         |                     | 
         | cleaning wand |
          \_____    _____/
                  |   |
                  |   |
                  |   |
                  |   |
                  |   |
                 /     \   
                |____|         

 

2. What kind of cloth is that exactly and in case I can't find something similar, would a rubbing alcohol /water mixture on cotton balls or Q-tips also work to clean the dirt off the cleaning wand?

Go grab an old T-shirt you don't care about, that will work fine. Just make sure you aren't getting a whole bunch of lint on the cleaning wand (you can blow it off, use an air can, etc). Here is your mixture - grab some isopropyl alcohol - like 60-70%. Pour that into a container, match the amount you poured in with water (you are not making it as strong, doesn't need to be). This solution is also good for cleaning hucards. Swabs are always great but you will go through alot trying to clean off the wand, T-shirt works just fine. Cotton balls wouldn't be bad. You can also use this mixture carefully to clean hucards, just don't over-saturate them (be conservative when cleaning your old school systems).

3. Finally, because I'm curious, how come you didn't use wand A? (the largest one) Very Happy Isn't that the wand the instructions say to use on the TG 16? Does it not fit in the chip slot or something?

Does the instructions even mention Turbografx? I don't think my did. The reason - I think it is too thin to really grab the dirt. Honestly, use whichever you want, this is just the one that worked for me.

[dhowerter]

Duo_R - WOW, awesome ASCII art 

Anyway, thanks for all the info!



ALL -

I also found another multisystem cleaning kit I have made by Naki.

Anyone here have this one? It says it cleans several systems including the Genesis, TurboGrafx, Atari systems, etc. It has a "handle cleaner" and a "joint" cleaner (the handle part goes in a larger cleaner) plus some cleaning wands for the games and some cleaning fluid.

Anyone here have this one and has used it on a TG 16 / PC Engine / Duo? If yes, how did it work? 

[Duo_R]

Pics? All cleaners are pretty straightforward.

[dhowerter]

Duo_R - I currently don't have an available digital camera, so never mind for now

OS - I would not recommend a CD cleaner that uses liquid. The best kind is the one that has the little brush, and you play track 1 and then it will tell you to skip to the next track or something.

ALL -

Hmm, I have the "Recoton CD Game Laser Lens Cleaner" (cd with little brush on the bottom ;)

I want to know if it is safe to use (and if they work) on a Turbo / PC Engine CD or Duo because at the time I bought the cleaner, the Saturn and PS1 were out and those 2 systems had a slightly different way of holding the game disc than the NEC systems do.

The PS1 and Saturn have one of those little rotating plastic nubs with little metal things on it to HOLD the game disc securely to the nub. The NEC systems don't have that, right? The disc just sort of lays there on the spindle in the NEC machines, correct?

I figured that because of that difference, the disc might be a slightly different height from the laser lens in the ps1/Saturn vs the NEC cd systems. (and thus the brush, too high or too low).

SO, has anyone tried using one of these brush on a CD devices (Recoton or other brand) on a TurboGrafx / PC Engine CD OR on a Duo (of any type)?

[dhowerter]

Hasn't anyone tried one of those "brush on a CD" laser lens cleaning discs on their NEC CD system? (Turbo CD, PC Engine CD, Duo, Duo-R, etc.)


If you have, please try to answer the question in my November 26th post.
    (Is it safe to use / does it work on NEC CD systems? ;)

 Thanks! ^_^

[Duo_R]

It works, use it. I have used on my Duo before. Keep in mind that cleaners were around before the Saturn or PS1.

[dhowerter]

Well, that is good to know. If I ever get a NEC CD system and have problems I'll try the cleaning cd first.

But just in case that fails ..



Anyone ever try the "put isopropyl/rubbing alcohol and water mixture on the end of a Q-tip and gently clean the laser lens" method? (on ANY cd-based system - NEC, Saturn, PS1, Sega CD, etc.) 

[Duo_R]

You should change the name of this thread to "Did anyone ever use ______________ to clean your Duo???" 

Compressed air is how I roll (and don't use it too close). You could try what you are doing but very little damping of the Q-tip and be extremely gentle with the laser pickup. Just like barely swipe it. Only necessary if you see some build-up on the laser.

Well, that is good to know. If I ever get a NEC CD system and have problems I'll try the cleaning cd first.

But just in case that fails ..



Anyone ever try the "put isopropyl/rubbing alcohol and water mixture on the end of a Q-tip and gently clean the laser lens" method? (on ANY cd-based system - NEC, Saturn, PS1, Sega CD, etc.) 



.

[dhowerter]

You should change the name of this thread to "Did anyone ever use ______________ to clean your Duo???" 

Compressed air is how I roll (and don't use it too close). You could try what you are doing but very little damping of the Q-tip and be extremely gentle with the laser pickup. Just like barely swipe it. Only necessary if you see some build-up on the laser.

Well, that is good to know. If I ever get a NEC CD system and have problems I'll try the cleaning cd first.

But just in case that fails ..



Anyone ever try the "put isopropyl/rubbing alcohol and water mixture on the end of a Q-tip and gently clean the laser lens" method? (on ANY cd-based system - NEC, Saturn, PS1, Sega CD, etc.) 



.

Duo_R / ALL -

Heh. Well, technically, it might not be a Duo I clean, but a Turbo CD or PC Engine CD 


2 questions:


1. About my Q-tip / alcohol & water method for cleaning the laser lens:

Once I clean the lens (vey gently  ), do I DRY it with a dry Q-tip (would that scratch the lens even if I am very gentle?) or would it be better to just let the water / alcohol evaporate?



2. I've never used compressed air; would you aim it directly AT the laser lens (from in front of the lens) to clean it or more parallel to the top of the lens (more from the side)?

Also, what is a good distance from the can to the lens?

[Duo_R]

probably ok to gently dry with a q-tip. If you don't' use alot of alcohol it will evaporate, but just a quick wipe will do the trick.

[Mobius]

Oh my god, this thread....

[Duo_R]

yeah....dhowerter PM if you need more info related to this   

Oh my god, this thread....

[Mobius]

yeah....dhowerter PM if you need more info related to this   

Oh my god, this thread....

No, no... Don't mind me.  It's really quite amusing!

[MotherGunner]

I wonder if these work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170036269708&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=&salenotsupported

[Duo_R]

Should work just fine, Mad Katz is good stuff. Looks like you get the CD and game cart cleaners in one. By the looks of it looks like there is one that will work for the hucard slot. You get a bunch of them, just use the one that is closest in thickness to a hucard (not thicker).

I wonder if these work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170036269708&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=&salenotsupported