Technical and Repair Assistance

[phatphunk]

Thanks 133Mhz!! I'll check it out soon as recommended and let you guys know about it. Btw, I stumbled across your Flickr album the other day, and I'm impressed with all those cool projects you have with the NES/FC.. Really cool stuff!!

[rushed]

I have a modified PAL Nes and a pile of Famicom games.

I got a 60 pin -> 72 pin adaptor today. When I try to start a Famicom game with the adaptor, the screen goes white.
It's the same white screen when booting nes without a game.

I wonder is the adaptor broken or something? 

[mid30s]

 

Hi all,

Can you show on picture about that srub screw & spindle?

I have the same problem with my recently acquired Famicom FDS ie getting err 22, and had the belt changed according to the seller provided instructions and pictures. Turned the motor with a very fine flat screw by sticking it into the hole and got no luck. I am in the verge of giving it up (just got the drive shipped over for 2 days ONLY!).  Spoke to a few shops here in Hong KOng, none wanted to check nor repair for me even by paying 2 times the cost ...... i am very frustrated seeing a device which i love but wont work .......

Need some expert advice from anyone in the Forum .......... i shall be very very very very very very very grateful ...........

:8( 

Tks.

[phatphunk]

Hi guys, I originally had the same issues with the FDS when I first got it. The original belt was snapped , and I tried making my own belt using a hair rubber band. I attached the DIY belt and it worked.. but only for a day before it snapped. I then ordered a proper replacement belt from eBay. While waiting I was so anxious to get the FDS working, so I went ahead and tried rubber gloves instead. I cut out my own belt out of it (with alot of precise cutting) and put it in. It worked but I'm getting Err 22 consistently even with a good disk. So I went searching for sites.. and all was nothing but Page Not Found and it was really disappointing and frustrating!! Then I stumbled upon a Jap site..  Here's the link with google translator :

http://translate.google.com.my/translate?u=http://www.dcn.ne.jp/~asuka/index.files/ds_hokan/disksystem.html&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

I tried my best to follow the steps there (even though I don't read JP. Just by reading the translated text and looking at the pics) .. and when I put everything back together.. IT WORKS!!!! and it works all the time!

Since then, my proper replacement belt has arrived, but I still haven't used it yet, as my FDS is already running like a healthy fox.

I guess the most important step that all of these FDS repair guides are missing, is the head alignment. It has to sit at a correct angle as shown in this guide. Please try it out and let me know if it works for ya...

Good luck!! 

[mid30s]

Hi ,

now reading the instruction ....... one thing i want to know is that the 18 pin connector at the end of the drive..... mine has got 17 pin....? is that true?

[phatphunk]

One pin is unused? Hmm.. I don't remember how many mine has..  But it's not important for this repair...

[mid30s]

Hi again,

forgive my my-understanding .... the "head alignment"? which bit? your valuable advice is welcome

[nintendodork]

I have a modified PAL Nes and a pile of Famicom games.

I got a 60 pin -> 72 pin adaptor today. When I try to start a Famicom game with the adaptor, the screen goes white.
It's the same white screen when booting nes without a game.

I wonder is the adaptor broken or something? 

The two most-possible factors would be 1.) Dirty pin connectors.  If you haven't yet, clean the pins with a Q-tip and some isopropyl (did I spell that right?) rubbing alcohol. 2.) You're putting the cartridge in the wrong way.  Clean the pins first, and then try the cartridge both ways.  If it still doesn't work, it could be a little more complicated.

[zappi]

first off, thanks Phatphunk for the link. i can sort of make sense of it up until the head alignment part, but at that point it kind of loses me.
in this picture http://www.dcn.ne.jp/~asuka/index.files/ds_hokan/240x180/03_20_c_240_1.jpg
what am i looking for in the circled hole? is it the point with the least amount of metal/most amount of white cog showing?

and then this picture http://www.dcn.ne.jp/~asuka/index.files/ds_hokan/240x180/03_22_240_1.jpg
i sort of get that the drive head should be placed & fixed in the position shown, but the bit marked "important" i just can't figure out.

any sort of help with this would be gratefully received!

[phatphunk]

Hey Zappi. No problem man. I'll try to help out as much as I can. It's been months since I did the surgery myself. So I'll try my best to recall the important steps.

first off, thanks Phatphunk for the link. i can sort of make sense of it up until the head alignment part, but at that point it kind of loses me.
in this picture http://www.dcn.ne.jp/~asuka/index.files/ds_hokan/240x180/03_20_c_240_1.jpg
what am i looking for in the circled hole? is it the point with the least amount of metal/most amount of white cog showing?

[Phatphunk] Correct! You should slowly turn the big white gear from the underside until you have it positioned as pictured.  There'll be a click sound when it is in position.

and then this picture http://www.dcn.ne.jp/~asuka/index.files/ds_hokan/240x180/03_22_240_1.jpg
i sort of get that the drive head should be placed & fixed in the position shown, but the bit marked "important" i just can't figure out.

[Phatphunk] I think the "Important" text in that guide is to verify that you've fixed the head correctly. He suggests that you rotate the white gear until it makes that click sound again.. and when that happens.. the head should still be aligned as how you'd originally fixed it. Otherwise, you'll need to fine tune your adjustment. It is also important that you don't tighten the head too much.

any sort of help with this would be gratefully received!

Hope you can get it going! Good luck!

[zappi]

thanks for replying so quickly.
the "important" bit makes sense now, when the tray slides back and you get the big clicking noise then the head should be aligned in parallel.
now where did i put my screwdrivers ....

[mid30s]

Hi there, i used to get Err 22, now i am getting Err 21..... 

Is t a good sign or i still miss out the head alignment?

[phatphunk]

Hi there, i used to get Err 22, now i am getting Err 21..... 

Is t a good sign or i still miss out the head alignment?

Hmm.. It means your disk head is still misaligned...

[mid30s]

I give up!  err 22 pops up again! 

tremedously tks for your kind advice.

[chimyfolkbutter]

Head alignment should be last resort.  If you notice, the adjustment screw has a red color on it.  It is a glue to lock it into place.  I noticed that you made adjustments to the motor speed.  This is very difficult to perform without a program to calibrate the speed.  I use copymaster to check the speed.  If you don't have copymaster, you have to do a trial and error run.  Turn the screw totally clockwise then test a game.  If that doesn't work, then keep turning the screw gradually counterclockwise till it works.  In my experience, the faster the motor the more likely the game won't load.

Since you modified, the head screw now you have to worry about the head alignment AND the motor speed.  This is really tough.  I have a reference drive that I use to gauge if a game will work.  If the game works on my reference drive then I adjust the head till the game works.  If you don't have a drive to test the game you are sol.

I hope this helps.