# Lessons from Tuning Up My PS2 Slim A few weeks ago, I [[Streaming a Deep Clean of My PS2|streamed myself servicing my PS2 Slim]]. Well, I streamed half of it thanks to nap time ending. I finished it up the following morning on my own and I had a few lessons and observations I wanted to talk about. To set the stage, I noticed that my PS2 just wasn't spinning the discs as smoothly as it should have been. This was back when I got my [[Rewiring - Preparing the Way for Tink 4K|RetroTINK-4K Pro]] and I was testing all my hardware. Discs had sort of a stuck feel to the spin. They wouldn't be read in the browser. It was not a good sign for my little PS2. I've been a long time viewer and subscriber of [Macho Nacho Productions](https://www.youtube.com/@MachoNachoProductions). When his video about [restoring a PS2 Slim](https://youtube.com/watch?v=djQv4HSjjr4) came up last year, I immediately flagged it as a possible solution for my console. For Christmas last year, I got a soldering iron and for my birthday this year, I bought all the tools I needed for this particular repair.[^1] Here's a list of what I used; - [Mako Driver Kit](https://www.ifixit.com/products/mako-driver-kit-64-precision-bits) - [Essential Electronics Toolkit](https://www.ifixit.com/products/essential-electronics-toolkit) - [Game Console Cleaning Kit](https://www.ifixit.com/products/game-console-cleaning-kit)[^2] - [Heat Gun](https://www.ifixit.com/products/heat-gun) - [FixMat](https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixmat) - [DOW MOLYKOTE EM-30L Synthetic PAO Grease for Plastics](https://www.ebay.com/itm/270666662651) - [Premium Machine Oil for Lubricating Laserdisc Players and Precision Electronics (Racer Oil)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/175170724673) My takeaway is that a "broken" system may just need a good ol' cleaning. I found a warranty sticker under the laser. There was over two decades of dust built up inside.[^3] When I put it all back together and popped a disc in, it spun perfectly and everything booted up right away. The whole process was much easier than I expected, even after watching Tito's video. Take your time and don't force anything. Fixing my PS2 inspired me to upgrade my MemCard Pro2 that has been sitting on my desk for who knows how long. I updated the firmware and (finally) took the time to set up cloud backups and individual GameID memory cards. My PS2 is primed and ready to be played at the drop of a DualShock. I am also far more eager to tackle the PS2 fat cleaning that has been sitting on a shelf for over a year. I want to plop an SSD inside and the whole deal. Fixing the slim has me excited to fix more. My last observation is that Tito is a great teacher and video maker. He shows just enough, but leaves enough out for you to figure things out. It didn't take long for me to realize that we had different revisions of the Slim, but that made the process more exciting to me. I had to solve the puzzle inside. I am very happy that my PS2 is in excellent condition and I am confident in its performance for years to come. You can do it too. Go fix something. [^1]: Soldering iron is not required, I have just wanted to get into repairs and modding for a long time. [^2]: It was cheaper to buy this kit than the items individually. I primarily wanted the brushes. [^3]: Not as bad as I expected.