Alternative or possibly a better way to open carts for repair

[wyndcrosser]

I recently purchased some loose games to test out my "new" AES console, three out of the four did not work (SS3, KOF95 and AOF2) and cleaning them didn't help. Using the bigger blue tool, I was cleanly able to open the AES carts without scratching them or destroying the carts. Once inside I saw cracked solder points and what looked like simple repair jobs, that obviously didn't work. One was so bad that there was just a ball of solder sitting on the pin and not touching the hole (That's what she said). I thought I would share with you, if anyone falls pray to shit work on an AES cart.

This tool also works for Famicom carts too, especially because those break so easily when opening.

 

[Gummy Bear]

Good info, man.
What are the tools called and where can you get them?
Are those plectrums at the bottom?

 

[pulstar]

I'm not entirely sure what they're called but you get them in a pack of tools when you buy a replacement LCD/Digitiser for mobile phones from Chinese sellers (or at least, cheap Chinese stock). Probably really cheap on ebay, but I've never bought them on their own.

 

[Gummy Bear]

Aha! I searched for "phone lever" on eBay and turned up trumps:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-pce-Cas...e-Repair-UK-/280456793013?hash=item414c870bb5

 

[shadowkn55]

The tool is called a spudger.

 

[wyndcrosser]

As usual Shadowkn55 is right. Worked well for the AES and faimcom carts, worked like crap when I tried using it to repair my iphone 3G back in the day.

However, I think the spudger looks more like this...
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Heavy-Duty-Spudger/IF145-013-1

But basically the same. Everyone calls it a prying tool or something.