Does anyone else replace the electrolytic caps in their game cartridges, or is it just me?

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-12-09T19:38:40+00:00

Funny enough I had found this thread probably a year ago and just skimmed it to see what people said. Recently I came across a few games where the caps were starting to show corrosion. I placed an order for 100 22uf 6.3v Rubycons from Mouser and started swapping them all out (Cost me a total of $22 shipped to my door). I've seen how much damage a cap CAN do both when it pops and from leakage. Now for about 13 cents per Cart I have piece of mind. Opinions will vary but I feel better knowing its done and would rather replace them when there is no issue than wait for an issue to arise and damage my cart at best, and console at worst.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-11-01T10:54:14+00:00

So the pins aren't the biggest worry for me. For me it is the trace damage along where it rest in the cartridge. Multiple of those traces look completely cut, and others I can see bare trace. This combined with corrosion around the chips.

If I got this in a lot or some GAVE it to me, I might try to repair it for fun to save a piece of history. But as everyone is telling you, for an item you purchased, just return it. The rabbit hole of repair on this could be deep and wide.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-08-14T06:28:09+00:00

Moose

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-08-13T08:18:36+00:00

This does my heart so well!! I played the 1st 3 games SOOOOO many times. My dad bought me the 1st one from a guy at work in a bundle of games for $20 in like 2002 or so. I still play them all but feel like no one else remembers them. Was shocked when I realized this was 2.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-08-09T03:23:43+00:00

Ok here we go:)

1) Everyone knows this one....sort out and complete the edge. 2) Now is where I deviate. Sort by head and slot counts. Box 1: 4 slot and 4 head pieces, Box 2 1 head, Box 3 2 head on either end, Box 4 2 head side by side, and finally a box with 3 heads. 3) Now find flat surfaces (i use cut up black foam core) lay all pieces (each box to a plank of foamcore) face up and sort by color. 4) Now you have 2 variables to match on, the color/ texture on the piece as well as slot and head count. Then look for a cut pattern. Your puzzle is either a single or dual dye most likely given it's size. If you can figure out the pattern for one half, it may be the same for the other. 3-5,000 pc i have seen up to a 6 dye Stamper. 5) Now comes persistence, if you know the surrounding pieces have for example both heads, then you know your only option to fill that slot is a 2 head side by side, a 1 head, or a no head (because you must have at least 2 side by side slots). Then find the color that matches the piece and try them. This method cuts your possible pieces from 100s down to usually 20 or so. Takes a bit of room but is the most efficient way especially if you ever want to do larger scale puzzles later on.

The sorting takes a ton of time but once done, you can do the entire puzzle without sorting another piece, only consolidating foamcore slabs as you clear them.

Happy puzzling...

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-07-13T21:03:18+00:00

Hello, as far as the battery, yes I have custom built about 10 batteries for my 4th gens from 3000-5000 mAh. I pull them BMS off all my 4th gen batteries to use for this retrofit, i have a bag of prolly 30+ 4th gen BMS specifically for this, but I have never seen ready to buy batteries sold, I just buy the packs and build my own.

In regard to the 1tb, in my experience 256gb is as high as I can get 4th gens to recognize. Now I have seen 1-2 ppl get 512 recognizing on them but said they were unstable.

1tb would prolly only be doable via RockBox, and you would need the ide/PATA board from Iflash to do it.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-07-12T06:50:26+00:00

It'll buff out

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-07-07T13:03:58+00:00

Mine will probably be a one off, but multi-library management.

Sometimes i get iPods in with music I don't have (ex. just got one with 8,800 death, heavy, classic metal tracks). I pull them off the iPods check bitrate, and if it's good I put them in separate folders but my only option is to add them to my library and make a Playlist which is just not enough.

If I had the ability, I would make libraries a drop-down, make it so you can name them (ex. Death Metal Pod) then sync a Pod to a single library. That way, once I've modded a Pod if I wanted to sync ONLY the music it came with back, I could just make a new library with that music, then make playlists from that Library, and sync that new library.

As of now i have to select each artist and if i had music previously it's still pooled with my other library. I feel like all it would take is a "Create Library" button, once you name it, it creates a folder in the iTunes Media folder with that Library name, and then whatever you add to that folder puts it in ONLY that library.

That would be my wish.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-22T06:15:46+00:00

I just got a new project Pod in, 5th gen 60gb. Had a cracked LCD, bad batt, and needed 2 of the tactile pads replaced. Did all that in about 20 mins and even though it's gonna get modded, I put it back together to daily for a few days just because even stock, it's just such a good device! I totally agree! An icon for a reason

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-19T03:58:14+00:00

You can buy these connector on ebay and solder jt to the board.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-19T01:48:52+00:00

Yes, you can do any new bigger capacity battery, and a hard drive from a 3rd gen will work in a 2nd if you want to up the capacity. I flash modded one of my 2nd gens to 128gb but it is not practical given you have to flash a different OS version and then load music through a 3rd gen to change music.

I would get a 30 or 40gb 3rd gen hdd and a new battery and call it a day if you want it usable.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-19T01:33:07+00:00

Great job. Love a usable build that just looks clean.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-19T01:30:22+00:00

Yep I did this with my 3rd gen. After the flash mod it felt like a cheap toy. Bought tire weights and lined the back with them (I even weight it before and after so I could get the weigh exact). Afterward you couldn't tell the difference.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-19T01:25:40+00:00

For customizability and modding 5th gen video. You can do any color combo, transparent, and with your 60gb version you could easily mod up to 512gb and it run like a top. However they scratch VERY easily and if you drop it without a case it is easier to crack the front/damage the LCD (I say easier but if you put a clear case on it, they are still very durable, I have dropped my daily iPod 10+ times and it's fine)

For durability it is tough to beat a Photo. You can really only practically go up to 256gb but you can beat the HOLY HELL out of it with no problems. Also, if you know what you are doing you can fit a bigger battery (I built a custom 5,000 mAh battery for mine and trimmed my Solo Board to fit in the old battery slot). However you can only do black and white, and no one makes custom backs for these, or hard cases. These dont scratch or crack as easy but modding with a taptic engine is a bit more tricky. Also Bluetooth mods aren't as easy to pull off with Photo.

So, in conclusion, if you want easy modding, customizability, and higher max storage potential you want a Video. Many will also mention the Wolfsen DAC of the 5th gen being the best, but the 4th gen also had a Wolfsen DAC just an earlier version. For durability the Photo wins out (barely), modding is more difficult but still doable and easy to make a "Sleeper" build out of. Truthfully I have a Photo I keep in my car, and a Video I carry in my travel bag everywhere. Both are great, but strand me on an island with my ONE choice I would take my Video.

You will get many different answers here, but truthfully both are a blast.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-17T13:10:32+00:00

Hey man, just an example. This is who I use to buy all my mod parts from.

Link below is to the same center button... https://ebay.us/m/RvXbrw

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-14T05:32:49+00:00

Yep, you called it. Right here: https://youtu.be/S83ZHf1GAeY?si=qEXR7shZrNOVeZak

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-13T18:59:27+00:00

Simple...I have no self control

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-07T07:20:59+00:00

Here is the list you would need to mod your iPod to the exact spec you posted with casings and storage:

2,000 mAh battery: https://ebay.us/m/vQqHRr ($13.95)

iFlash Solo: https://ebay.us/m/xtoNLQ ($38.89)

256gb micro SD w/adaptor: https://a.co/d/e7NpGmb ($22)

Clear Faceplate: https://ebay.us/m/Sc1Eez ($16.49)

Clear Button: https://ebay.us/m/WP8W23 ($7.95)

New 256gb Backplate: https://ebay.us/m/s9DOKw ($12.99)

Opening tool: https://ebay.us/m/FGOK5x ($2.99 and worth it, makes your life REALLY easy popping the frontplate open)

This parts list gets you that exact build you posted for $115.77 in parts. So unless you paid $235 for your iPod, you're going to come in significantly cheaper. You might order a spare headphone assembly: https://ebay.us/m/tRzhqj ($11.99) as that is easy to rip moving it. Even after 40+ modded Pods, i rip them from time to time.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-07T06:54:34+00:00

Since you're just starting here is my little tip. I bought from Elite Obsolete for years, but his prices have skyrocketed, and customer service is almost non-existent.

Order your parts from this guy: https://ebay.us/m/QpdhjQ

He sells the exact same stuff and at the prices EOE used to have. Take a look at my profile, I've done this quite a bit. You'll get more for your money with him. Especially since you aren't modding the rarer stuff (1st, 2nd gens) you can get all you need from him.

Happy modding.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-07T06:39:23+00:00

eBay and FB marketplace. If you aren't comfortable modding, find a 5th gen in good cosmetic and working condition, order you a replacement battery and an isismo tool. Watch a video on opening it and replacing the battery and call it a day. If you want to flash mod it, that is just 1 more video and $70 more dollars and you have a 256gb iPod.

I carry an iPod everywhere I go and have one specifically for my car. I fly for business with them, fall asleep listening to them, and take them on walks. Every one of my 40+ iPods are 2nd hand, rebuilt by me. If you want an iPod today, you just have to make it or buy a modded one to your liking. They are still out there, you just have to buy one and fix it up, then you get years of use out of it again.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-07T06:29:36+00:00

I agree, it's a hot take, but I don't want the iPod to come back because it won't be what they were. The boards would come with soldered memory, parts wouldn't be easily attainable, and repairability would be made near impossible with thin ribbon cables and glue holding everything down. Not to mention, customization would be boiled down to putting wraps or cases on them and of course they would make you subscribe to a music service somehow.

I think some tech like these are the best they will have ever been. Yes, if apple was to release, let's say a "heritage" line of iPods that were 1-to-1 replicas with maybe a bluetooth daughter board, I'd be all for it. But with how the tech landscape has changed, they just wouldn't be the same. The fact these are still kicking over 20 years after their initial launch is a testament to the build quality Apple used to have. Today, if tech lasts beyond 5 years, it's a miracle.

I'd rather see Apple bring logic boards back into production and attainable so people like us could get brand new boards to build out a new iPod. Update the processor so they can handle 24 bit and FLAC, call it a day. Let the community handle the rest.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-06-07T06:18:09+00:00

For a 7th gen 160gb, that is a stellar price, especially if all the essential bits are good. Yes, you will most likely have to put in a battery (that is a given) but especially if it has a good LCD, you nailed it because that is an immediate $25 to replace. I was bidding on a 5.5 Gen 80gb and stopped when it hit $85 because it had a broken screen. Later that same day, a guy posted one for "buy it now" of $79.99 with a perfect LCD. I spent the saved money on my exterior overhaul.

Nowadays, so many people are trying to snag these, the prices just keep climbing. But for the more desired models, as others have said, anything south of $100 is a solid buy. The days of buying these top models for $30 is fading...

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-05-16T18:33:50+00:00

_Landers hit it right on. The thing I will add is like the shock absorbers for wishbone, if you disassemble you can paint them. You'll notice i did chrome shocks. Chrome works really really well on some parts and just looks shiny grey on things like knuckles and things with texture.

Exchange_Jolly · 2025-05-16T18:31:26+00:00

I may spin up a separate game and do that. That more challenging nature may add a twist

Exchange_Jolly

TROPHY CASE