Repairing 5200 controllers

[Schenley]

Not sure if this has been brought up in another thread, but I finally got around to doing the refurb of my 5200 controllers. I bought a kit off the ebay user retrogames-r-us for $20 each. I know it's kind of expensive, but I think it's really worth it.

Here's the auction

I managed to take a pair of crappy looking and non working controllers and turn them into this:



Not only do they look good, but they actually work!!

Hey - I just noticed there's somewhat of a self portrait in that photo!

[SkiDragon]

Ive thought about getting the gold traces before, but I dont play the 5200 often enought to warrant it. I dont know why the 5200 controllers have to be the worst ever made.

[Schenley]

I just noticed everytime I come into this thread, I don't see the picture, but it comes up if I hit refresh. If you don't see the picture above, smack F5...

[GrandAmChandler]

How hard was it to refurb the controllers when you got the kit??? I have a set that need doing, but I am not that handy!

[Schenley]

How hard was it to refurb the controllers when you got the kit??? I have a set that need doing, but I am not that handy!

Not hard at all... You probably need a good half hour for one controller, or 45 minutes to do 2. The directions the guy includes are spot-on and very easy to follow.

You will need a screwdriver and some double stick tape. Regular scotch tape will also work - you can fold it up to make it double sided. That's what I did.

Of course, I also used my secret video game restoring cream.

[Schenley]

DOH!

My first double post!

[omnedon]

If your pots are good it's not too hard for the handy. If you have potentiometer issues, it's diagnostic cart time.

[Schenley]

If your pots are good it's not too hard for the handy. If you have potentiometer issues, it's diagnostic cart time.

True - my sticks were still solid. I do have a pile of reject 5200 controllers with loose sticks... They probably would need more work.