Creaky/Hard to move NES Advantage Joystick

[lazyhoboguy]

I have had a nes advantage for about a year but have not used it too much. I just got a copy of the tengen pacman for nes today so I pulled out the nes advantage.
I noticed when trying to use it that the joystick seems like it doesnt want to move. Like I have to put a lot of force to get it to move in a direction, and if I move my hand it will stay pushed in that direction and won't move back to the center position. It also makes a lot of creaking noises while moving.

While playing pacman it felt like I could not count on the joystick to actually make pacman turn in the right direction. Sometimes I would be pulling in what felt like one direction, but pacman would not turn in that direction.

I was wondering if this is how all nes advantage joysticks are, or if something is wrong with the joystick on mine.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Did you, or are you able, to crack the case and look at it? It could be gunked or have something lodged in there. I found one in the wild that acted the same... Had part of a cigarette pack (marlboro miles) wedged in there pretty good. At least, I think it was an advantage... That was about 5 years or more back.

[lazyhoboguy]

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/lazyhoboguy/nesadvantage.jpg


A nes advantage looks like this. It doesn't seem easy to jam something into the joystick area.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I just looked at the two I have here and they do creak a bit. The stick is spring loaded and is on a rocker. The centering issue could be a weak spring or an object interfering.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/91007672_75a6cfa278.jpg

If you push on the ball there will be a gap. Either way, I'd check the rocker. Sounds to me like something is under there (between the stick bottom and rocker ball).

[lazyhoboguy]

Hmm, yea maybe I will need to open it up and check it out then, thanks for the picture.

[Ed Oscuro]

I think you need to re-spray it with positively charged psychomagnotheric solution to eliminate the creaking.

Mine doesn't creak. I do have an import joystick that has a stick that's slow to center, and it needs a new application of lubricant.

[betamax001]

I found one in the wild that acted the same... Had part of a cigarette pack (marlboro miles) wedged in there pretty good. At least, I think it was an advantage... That was about 5 years or more back.

How does a cigarette pack end up in a game controller of any kind is my question.....

[Icarus Moonsight]

I think you need to re-spray it with positively charged psychomagnotheric solution to eliminate the creaking.

Ectoplasm huh? That'll fix anything. LOL

[Ed Oscuro]

Ectoplasm huh? That'll fix anything. LOL
I can't believe nobody's gotten the reference yet. Hint: "She is French, you know."

[Icarus Moonsight]

I can't believe nobody's gotten the reference yet. Hint: "She is French, you know."

Yes yes yes, it was the second one so I messed up a bit. Slimy stuff + Advantage + Statue of Liberty = French Gundam :p

[Ed Oscuro]

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1605/pilotcontrols.jpg
"Pilot controls are ready!" - Ray

Of course, Ray, the engineering wizard, is the one actually using the controller... :D

[Jehusephat]

Of course, Ray, the engineering wizard, is the one actually using the controller... :D

It would make more sense if Winston were using it. He's the one with a wicked Tetris addiction in real life.

[Ed Oscuro]

Who plays Tetris with an Advantage? :puppydogeyes:

[lazyhoboguy]

I actually think I figured out my problems. The NES Advantage lets you move the joystick diagnolly, while pacman does not incorporate diagnol movement.
So, I must be pushing diagnolly sometimes when i think I am pushing left,right,up,or down which causes pacman to not turn right.

I think tetris would suck with the nes advantage, but I have never tried it that way.

[Icarus Moonsight]

If you want to make an Advantage a strict 4-way stick that could be accomplished. There is epoxy putty (Wal Mart has it in the auto section, come in little capped tubes, outer layer is a different color than the core) rip off 4 little chunks, knead to activate hardening, and put them at the diagonals to block the stick from going there. Make sure you can still hit the cardinal directions before it sets or you just epoxied your Advantage into a useless hunk of plastic. I haven't tried this, but I've thought about it. For certain games, where diagonal inputs are ignored or detrimental, it could really help.

Petroleum jelly (Vasoline) is optimal for plastic lubrication, correct?

[Ed Oscuro]

Makes me wonder if there's any possibility of getting a four-way restrictor plate in there.

[lazyhoboguy]

I recently got a second nes advantage from a thrift store ($3). It's joystick moves much more fluidly so I guess my old one did have something wrong with it.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, I just got another one myself at ye thrift, and it seems to have the same movement as my other stick. No Advantage will give that nice click and auto-centering that a real arcade stick will, it seems - at least not an unmodified one.

[Garry Silljo]

It would make more sense if Winston were using it. He's the one with a wicked Tetris addiction in real life.

Not to mention it would be a reference to this alleged stuck pack of cigarettes.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Not a whole pack, just a small part. Slightly longer, but about as wide as a postage stamp. It's not like an elephant in a hatchback or anything. :p