Atari 2600 joysticks: repair or replace?

[HunterZ]

So I just pulled the Atari 2600 out of the garage for the first time in almost a decade, because I now have a 3-year old daugther whom I thought might enjoy some of the games (and she is!).

 

Unfortunately my Gemstik joysticks (the only ones to survive my and my brother's childhood, as the stock pair and another aftermarket pair both broke along the way) aren't responding too well these days. I opened one of them up, and noticed that the dome switches (similar to those used in the OEM Atari controllers) don't seem to be clicking or resisting much.

 

There are some OEM Atari joystick pairs on eBay at the moment for around USD$12. It would be nice to have actual Atari sticks again, but I'm not sure that I would get that much use out of them and I'm worried about what kind of condition they'll actually be in.

 

I've been researching options for repairing my existing joysticks:

1. Someone is selling dome switches on eBay, but they cost as much as a new pair of joysticks (especially since I live in a state for which the seller charges shipping).
2. I also came across this video, which suggests using tactile switches instead of dome switches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cRIFhsMSTU

 

The tactile switch idea has a lot of advantages:

• Tactile switches are extremely cheap. I can get enough to mod 4 joysticks (twice as many as I need) for just over a dollar (USD).
• They are easy to find on eBay:
  • http://www.ebay.com/itm/20x-SMD-Tactile-Pushbutton-Key-Switch-Momentary-Tact-4-Pins-6-6-2-5mm-/201005065658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eccd5e5ba
  • http://www.ebay.com/itm/20x-Tactile-Pushbutton-Key-Switch-Momentary-Tact-SMD-SMT-4pin-4-4-1mm-/181282363067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a354556bb
• They last forever. The plastic parts of the joystick are likely to wear out before the switches do.
• They have a nice feel due to the clicking.

 

Downsides I can think of:

• My comment about the plastic failing may be significant, as I do see some white areas on the plastic that are evidence of wear/fatigue/stress.
• I'll likely have to file down the plastic that contacts the switches in order to compensate for the tactile switches having a greater height than the dome switches. This means that there's a chance I may screw things up in a way that's hard to fix.
• This is currently my only pair of standard joysticks for my Atari 2600.
• It would take a couple weeks for these to show up, as they ship from China.

 

Opinions?

Edited June 29, 2014 by HunterZ

[+Stephen Moss]

There was a post recently on the subject for replacing dome switches in which I posted a link to some possible replacements and as I recall someone else posed instructions for cleaning/repairing them. I can't remember what it was called or where, it was either in the Hardware, 2600 or 7800 forums, but I am sure it was sometime this month so try a search.

[HunterZ]

This one? http://atariage.com/forums/topic/224549-7800-controller-with-tactile-switchs/

 

Someone in there mentioned using 0.55mm tactile switches (which almost look like they have little gold domes on the top) and not having to shave plastic to make things fit. I saw some of these on eBay for a similar price to the others I linked, so maybe they're a good option.

 

It seems impossible to find an OEM Atari joystick for under USD$6 (after adding in shipping) on eBay right now, so this approach is likely to save a good $10 or so.

Edited June 30, 2014 by HunterZ

[Uzumaki]

Flashback system might still be abailable at local Walmart. 2 controllers for about $20 that works with original 2600, and you get a bunch of games with the console.

[HunterZ]

Looks like it's closer to $40.

[HunterZ]

Ordered a pack of 20 0.5mm tactile switches for around $1.36: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171196662130

 

Looks like they won't get here for a few weeks. I'll try to post back if/when I complete the project.

[+Stephen Moss]

This one? http://atariage.com/forums/topic/224549-7800-controller-with-tactile-switchs/

No it was http://atariage.com/forums/topic/225686-atari-joystick-blister-connection-issue/

[HunterZ]

Hmm now that's interesting.

 

However, on my Gemstik joystics the dome switches don't resist being depressed by hand. It's like the dome switches have been mashed almost completely flat.

[HunterZ]

Got 4x4x0.5mm switches today from China. They're absolutely tiny but have a nice clicky feel. I will probably have to glue them down to keep them in place for soldering.

 

Meanwhile, I won 2 eBay auctions for around $16 each that I bought primarily for the joysticks: one for an Atari Flashback 3, which I now regret except that it will be good for the kids; supposedly those sticks use modern conducive pad technology but have a longer throw and solid plastic sticks. The other auction was for 5 games, 4 manuals, 2 original Atari joysticks and 1 pair of paddles; this one I'm excited about, as the sticks appear to be in good condition judging by the fact that they appear to have all of the orange paint still (and worst case I can retrofit them with tactile switches or salvaged Gemstik done switches).

[HunterZ]

The Flashback 3 arrived yesterday. I see what people mean by the longer throw, but they're still a big improvement over my worn-out Gemstiks.

 

The games+controllers auction still hasn't shipped yet for whatever reason.

 

I still plan to retrofit my Gemstiks, but they probably won't get much use unless they end up with a much better feel than the Flashback 3's.

 

I think this project will also take a back seat to building a new RF A/V cable for my 2600, as the picture is looking pretty bad with the stock one. It could be my old switchbox, in which case an RCA-to-RF adapter or a composite vidoe mod would be good options, but I think I'll just solder a proper coaxial cable to the bottom of the 2600's motherboard and see how that turns out.

[HunterZ]

The original Atari joysticks arrived. They were grimy and smelled like perfume, so I took them apart and cleaned them.

 

Looks to me like they're CX-10's:

• Internal stick shaft is black instead of white.
• Everything is spring-loaded.
• No "TOP" indicator on the top half of the base.

 

Other than the grime, they're in quite good condition. Even the orange paint circles are almost completely intact:

 

 

Interestingly, the set of paddles that came with it also had black-shafted potentiometers instead of the white ones of my other paddle sets.

[onemoretime]

I did a couple of the cx40 conversions really similar to the video, and can tell you a couple of things. I haven't done the tactile switch conversion in a while, but it worked very good when I was the only one using them. Having said that, a couple of youngsters broke the rings on both of my controllers. IF I ever do it again, I had thought that if I was able to lower the circuit board, that it would retain the stock stick and ring, though I haven't tried that method. The "best" brand upgrade boards are very well made in my opinion, and are generally thought (though not always) that they would be a replacement that would last a long time. There is a post where a feller didn't have good luck with the "best" replacements, but that is the only complaint I've read about them.

[HunterZ]

Yeah, I wondered if the rings might be the next thing to wear out. I'm not all that concerned, though, given that the Gemstiks were already worn out and I now have two other pairs of joysticks. The Gemstiks will basically become fodder for the kids to stave off wear on my other joysticks.