n64 joysticks

[chadtower]

Okay, I have like 7 of these controllers now, and nearly all of them have loose crappy sticks. How does one fix these?

[Anonymous]

If I remember correctly, someone on this board managed to purchase a bunch of the joystick assemblys. Otherwise (and this is the option that I reccomend the least), you can call Nintendo and ask them to send you a couple. We aren't supposed to send them out, however, and if the person you are talking to doesn't acquiesce in the first 30 seconds, I'd say thank him for his time and try again.

[chadtower]

So you're saying there is only one person who has them other than nintendo, who does not sell them? Bogus.

[Anonymous]

Yeah they are a bitch to get ahold of. If you absolutely cannot find one, I might be able to hook you up with a few shhh.

[bargora]

I think it was omnedon who scored the replacement sticks.

[omnedon]

I have some. I wish they were cheap, but their not. :( $7.50USD each, plus actual ship.

I only have about 8 right now, but I think I can get more. They are awesome, and are genuine Nintendo.

[chadtower]

So it really sounds like it's better to buy a whole replacement controller. Damn, wish I had known, gamestop just had a 50% off used accessories sale.

[omnedon]

I simply can't find replacement controllers around these parts. No N64 controllers to be found except for crappy 3rd part ones. All the used Nintendo N64 ones seem to exhibit this to one degree or another.

[chadtower]

Yeah, but they all WILL have that problem eventually... so at least if you have 10 that are a little loose for $3.50 each, you will have one decent one available for a long time. The gamestops here are FULL of used n64 controllers. The next 50% off accessories sale I'm going to clean them out, I think.

[omnedon]

You and I have a different approach. :-D

I located a supply of the sticks instead.... but I'm a picky guy. I gotta put at least 4 'AWAY'--- like away away. then of course I could end up foreetting about them....

I buy the wobbly ones for a buck a piece, and put sticks in 'em. :D

[chadtower]

Yeah, but you know where to get the sticks... and I have never seen a $1 n64 controller.

[omnedon]

Well the $1 ones I see have a seriously wobbly stick..as in utterly useless with no response at all.

[chadtower]

Right, so, basically eventually all n64 joysticks will be broken, is that where it's headed?

[Bratwurst]

omnedon, have you tried disassembling the old, worn sticks to see if repair is an option?

[omnedon]

I have. I couldn't figure anything out. The stick moves two sets of curved rails. The powder is the rails literally being worn away. As the rails get thinner, the sticks wobble, and lose range of motion and sensitivity.

The sticks themselves are about as repairable as a fine tooth comb with missing teeth.

In the future, for future 'collectors' for the N64, this is going to be a big big problem. I'm putting a few replacement switches away.

[chadtower]

So where can the rest of us get some of these?

[omnedon]

I get them from a local surplus guy, who tells me he gets them from Hong Kong. he's a wholesaler who sells (mostly third part trash) to the local Microplays, EBgames, Future Shop, etc. He does not sell online, and he only sells wholesale, to businesses with a GST number.

If you want, I may be able to get you his office phone number. He restricts me to orders of $80 or higher per order. And this is in Canada.

If there was an online source (that I know of), I'd have posted the link already. I'm not really interested in being an N64 stick re-seller.

[chadtower]

Hrm. That's probably too much trouble for me right now... especially considering what I already have in the pipeline. I'll just have to be sure to pick up as many cheap n64 controllers as I can along the way.

Oh, that, and I'm not a business with whatever that license number you mentioned is... though perhaps in the future, if we ever trade, some sticks can be part of it.

[Bratwurst]

I have. I couldn't figure anything out. The stick moves two sets of curved rails. The powder is the rails literally being worn away. As the rails get thinner, the sticks wobble, and lose range of motion and sensitivity.

Interesting. What are the rails made of? I daresay I almost want one of those broken stick assemblies to tinker with myself, but I take your word for it.

I wonder if this will pose a problem with Dreamcast controllers as well?

[omnedon]

The rails are made of thin plastic. Cheap plastic.

"I" couldn't fix it. That is not the same thing as unfixable. :-D

Unfixable for omnedon. :-D

[Bratwurst]

I've never seen the insides of one, but do you think it's possible you could 'build' up the plastic railing by brushing on some epoxy resin and letting it harden? Don't use the quickset type though, that crap cures into a rubbery consistency. Use the 90-minute or more type. Heck, even JB Weld, possibly.

[chadtower]

If you're going to go that far, just make something that exact shape out of something easier to remake. Make them out of glass so they don't break down as easily. Make them out of wood so you can make them 100x.

[Bratwurst]

If you're going to go that far, just make something that exact shape out of something easier to remake. Make them out of glass so they don't break down as easily. Make them out of wood so you can make them 100x.


LOL That isn't easier.

[chadtower]

How about if someone took a good pair of rails and coated them with something to prevent this type of breakdown? Maybe a urethane or something that would not be rubbed away over time?

[nesuser2]

i was thinking metal....find a coat hanger or something that has the same thickness.......and everything in this world is close to the same size or you can find it.......but........honestly.......i've never delt with anything of the sort...just a suggestion.......i played my N64 the other day and the joysticks on all 4 controllers look to be in great shape......and wobble perfect......but perform horribly......i hate nintendo.......always ruining something.......i guess they knew how to make an 8 bit console popular though LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[Duncan]

Putting metal on the rails in some way would probably cure this issue, methinks.

But I'm guessing that the first person who tries it will find that their controller has suddenly gotten a lot more noisy -- which is probably the reason Nintendo used plastic rails in the first place. (Why should they be concerned about long life?)

Some enterprising person could also crack open a PS or PS2 Dual Shock controller and see if there's any way to retrofit that mechanism into the N64. They seem to hold up quite a bit better in most cases.

It does kind of suck that something as ancient and cheap as an Atari 2600 joystick or Master System control pad holds up better than a supposedly "modern" design like the N64's controller... :roll:

Duncan :D

[chadtower]

How about if someone took a good pair of rails and coated them with something to prevent this type of breakdown? Maybe a urethane or something that would not be rubbed away over time?

I'm still wondering about this idea... find a good controller and coat the rails with something that won't break down over time. Anyone have a reason this won't work?

[omnedon]

I'd be all over that... if you can come up with something that will stick, dry uniformly, wear smoothly, and add thickness in a smooth fashion.

Any Chemists?
:-D

[chadtower]

I bet it doesn't have to be 100% perfect, and I'd bet you could find some type of spray finish that will do it.

[omnedon]

I suppose some kind of shellac or even a paint could conceivably do it.....

[Raccoon Lad]

http://www.laddresearch.com/General_Catalog/Chapter_9/Release_Agents_Dry_Lubricants/release_agents_dry_lubricants.html

Something like this, right?

[omnedon]

Whoever tries this, let us all know how it pans out.....

...because I'm not trying it...I've spent waaaay too much time already trying to repair wobbly sticks

[chadtower]

I was thinking less of lubricants and more of surfaces resistant to breaking down, like a urethane... though I suppose we could try both.

[Scoots]

Have you guys ever heard of POR-15? It's special paint that's impervious to rust and practically bulletproof. It's pretty much all the rage in car restoration circles. It's expensive, but in the amounts you'd need it wouldn't be prohibitive. Not sure how well it would adhere to plastic but this stuff is TOUGH. I'm talking better than powder-coat tough.

[chadtower]

Yeah, there are things like that, but once you get out of the economics of what it's worth to save an n64 joystick...

[Bratwurst]

Yeah, there are things like that, but once you get out of the economics of what it's worth to save an n64 joystick...

Consider the value of what could be a permanent solution.

[Darth Sensei]

I have access to computer driven machines which cut ABS plastic, Acrylic, and other such substances. Is this a flat item which I could have our guy cut in quantity?

Dave

[chadtower]

I don't know, I haven't taken any apart yet.

[omnedon]

They are curved like the The rails are U-shaped.

[nesuser2]

what about.....something you could dip them in, like epoxy or.....fiberglass resin. epoxy was my first guess.....but it would be a mess, it would never spread right. and a spray might work, but how many coats?.....and spraying plastic totally sucks......i painted the interior on my car......just a few small pieces and what a headache. i may try the fiberglass resin idea once i take one apart and check out the internals for myself. and with that idea you would want to do as many parts at the same time as possible.....because.....not that it's expensive but, a little of the stuff would go a long way....and small amounts kind of suck to mix. you can get a small jug of the stuff for $10 at any auto store. if somebody else tries this idea, post it up as i'll post results as soon as i try it......if i find the time :-D

[Masco73]

Anyone know if you could cannibalize a dreamcast joystick that has the similar type use the parts in the n64??? Or are they completely different inside??

[omnedon]

As different as night and day. I've seen no other analog stick with a design at all similar.

[chadtower]

Besides, there's probably 50 n64 controllers to every single dc controller...

[nesuser2]

i dunno if i'd put money on that. i don't particularly see alot of N64 controllers, but my toys r us still sells new dreamcast controllers. it's a shame they don't have some new N64 controllers laying around :(

[Rolland]

I only just quickly looked over the posts here but what does anyone think of using a powdery type graphite as a dry lubercant, to possibly guard against overly wearing of the fine rails?

[chadtower]

i dunno if i'd put money on that. i don't particularly see alot of N64 controllers, but my toys r us still sells new dreamcast controllers. it's a shame they don't have some new N64 controllers laying around :(

Go someplace like a gamestop. They will probably have 500 n64 controllers in the front and back and around 20 DC controllers. What you are seeing is just a function of age. The N64 controllers were probably clearanced years ago.

[nesuser2]

you very well could be right.......i just don't see that many N64 controllers........it could be that i just don't look cuz i know they're broke anyways LOL