Technical and Repair Assistance

[chimyfolkbutter]

Start here first http://www.tototek.com/tomyweb/repair.htm .

You won't be able to utilize the diagnostic software that CopyMaster has to tune the motor.  You will have to do it the old fashion way: Trial and error.

Don't adjust the head though.That is last resort tuning.

-CFB

[ericj]

I have a HVC-001 japanese famicom and it doesn't seem to be working. I purchased it from Craigslist and have not yet gotten it to work.   

I have the correct AC adapter (a Radio Shack universal that outputs DC 10V @ 850mA). The adapter works for my famiclone since it has the same power requirements, but my Famicom doesn't seem to be turning on.

I've read the forums here and tried it on various channels (including 90-99) and nothing. I have the original RF but have tried the NES RF as well. I removed the cover to the Famicom and none of the components appear to be fried.  Everything looks to be in great condition on the board, no cracks, burnt marks, or anything. I think I may have been the first to open it up. Anything to check that I'm missing here that may not be obvious via a visual inspection?  Ideas? Thanks for your help!

[xyzzy32]

Do you have a PAL TV? Famicoms are made to work on NTSC, but I've heard that modern PAL TV's may have NTSC compatibility. If you do have a PAL TV, try it on every channel.
Also, you should use the NES RF switch, not the original japanese one.

[ericj]

I have all NTSC tvs and do not have any PAL formatted.  I live in the US and the famicom should work on tvs here. I've tried all channels 2-99 and nothing. I also tried the NES RF. Thanks for your response

[xyzzy32]

Make sure the game you're testing works.
Check if the switch on the back of the famicom is set to "Game", not "TV".
Also, you could try turning the famicom on and doing an auto scan of all available channels on the TV, in case it's not accepting the signal properly for some reason. And if you're using an HDTV, you could run into major problems.
And if all else fails, you could try the AV mod...

[133MHz]

Also if you (or a friend) have a TV tuner card you could try connecting the Famicom to it and setting the card to NTSC-J or Japanese tuning, then you tune channel 1 or 2 and your Famicom should display normally there. Or try an auto-scan like Syzygy01said.

[Jollie]

it also may be the tv your using. b/c it might be too old or not support it. you should test it on different tvs in your house until you find one it works on.

[bedgley]

i just received a broken FDS and thought i might just have to replace the belt inside. Well, I've never had an FDS before, tested it prior to opening it up, and the system does nothing when a disk is put in. I used batteries and/or  an appropriate AC/DC adapter. I expected the light on the front to light up or to hear some mechanical noises inside even without a working belt.

Is this still only a belt problem, or something bigger with the power boards?

I did open it up and the belt is definitely messed up on this one. But I don't want to order another belt for it if it is fried.

Thanks for any info!

[vindex]

Ok well i've had alot of problems with my famicom, HVC-001.
So heres the scoop.
I purchased one and when i received it, it had been modded, with the AV output. ok cool
but when i tried it nothing worked. So i e-mail the guy, he sent be an other one, same problem.
Now im stuck with 2 famicoms and dont know how to make them work, lol.
They have the same (HVC-001) on the bottom, but one model has asian symbols over the top right "nintendo' logo on the front sticker.
Also the one with no asian symbols has 4 stickers  in the back saying from left to right (AC adapter, TV-Game, CH1-CH2, RF switch) while the other one only has RF switch and ac adapter.
Are these different models?
any ways, I was thinking it might be the ac adapter.
I thought at first it was the original but realised its not, its appart of the family accessories line and as no serial number.
Now it reads:
INPUT: AC 220V 50Hz
OUTPUT: DC 9V 400mA

correct me if i'm wrong but that looks like an ac adapter for a disk system... and i'm in canada so the input is 120V not 220V? right?
so basically i'm lost in numbers and what to do.... any ideas...i miss my famicom games!
thanks,
p.

[kite200]

there is no official famicom product aside from the hong kong version famicom (which is PAL) that has a 220v AC adaptor. the items you received may be clones but i'd have to have a pic for that

[vindex]

nah i'm almost positive there not clones... notice the dirty av conversion job:







thanks!

[133MHz]

Yeah your problem is the adapter, if it's for 220V and you plug it into 110V it will output 4.5V instead of 9V and that's not enough for the Famicom (the logic needs 5V and the 7805 voltage regulator needs at least 7V to work properly). Get an appropriate one (9V DC negative tip)

EDIT: Hey also I noticed on the pics you posted that the first Famicom has a rusted power connector, actually very, very rusted. It may be no surprise that it didn't work at all with such a connector. You'll have to replace it.

[vindex]

hmm yea good point.
I will probably end up selling them, anyways, even though i never got them to work...
The guy i purchased from assures me they work though.
ah well.

[game over?]

hi, i'm new here, i'm from the amsterdam, netherlands based retro gameshop game over? (www.gameover.nl), and i have a question about the fds.
i have a few systems here, which all don't work.
i managed to purchase a few new belts($15!), and stil they don't work.
errors are number 21 and 27.
i read something about ''doing the timing'', can anyone please tell me what that is?
email: joystick@xs4all.nl

kind regards,
dave.

[133MHz]

Welcome aboard! I see you carry Texas Instruments hardware. Do you have cartridges for a Super Speak and Spell? The new model with QWERTY keyboard and LCD screen.

About your inquiry, there's plenty of FDS nuts here who will be glad to help you out . I'm not one of them, but I know that the procedures include adjusting motor speed through a screw marked +/- in the motor body, and adjusting the R/W head spindle thingy.

BTW there's an introduce yourself thread on the off-topic chat forum .