Best Electronics 5200 joystick replacement parts

[MMarcoux66]

So picked up a 4 port 5200 fairly cheap and both joysticks have issues. Everything I have read says that is very typical. Mainly the top row of buttons and the fire buttons do not work. Was thinking of going with the Best Electronics flex cable and replace all the buttons with their gold versions. Just wanted to see if it is worth it as they also have the standard NOS parts that would be significantly less.

 

Curious what the community thought as I am a 2600 collector who picked up his first 5200 .

[Oldschool80skid]

Most definitely recommend!!

 

I purchased a pair several years ago and they still work perfectly. That is for this controller.

 

Before that I was constantly pulling them apart and cleaning the carbon build up off of the silver contact points on the original flex circuit. The carbon builds up regardless if the controllers are in use.

 

The gold contacts never build up any carbon.

Edited September 20, 2018 by Oldschool80skid

[MMarcoux66]

Most definitely recommend!!

 

I purchased a pair several years ago and they still work perfectly. That is for this controller.

 

Before that I was constantly pulling them apart and cleaning the carbon build up off of the silver contact points on the original flex circuit. The carbon builds up regardless if the controllers are in use.

 

The gold contacts never build up any carbon.

 

Thanks for the feedback. That makes sense what you are saying. It is not as if I am going to play it a lot but I don't want them to go bad over time either. When I do want to play it, it needs to work. Looks like a pretty straightforward process to replace the parts. I really only want to do it once .

[Inky]

It is 100% worth the cost!

[+DamonicFury]

If you really want to use the standard 5200 controllers all the time, and not worry about them going bad again, the Best route is probably the way to go.

 

If, like for many of us, the standard controllers aren't that appealing to you due to the side mounted buttons and floppy joystick, there are other options:

 

1. Use a Masterplay/Redemption adapter to use a 2600 joystick. This still requires a standard 5200 controller with working function buttons. Sadly, these adapters are somewhat rare these days, but you can occasionally get a deal on one with persistence. There have also been newer versions of these with a built it keypad sold occasionally on Ebay, but I'm not sure if that person is still building or selling them. (one sold there a month ago, but I don't see a current one for sale.) Similarly, you can get an old 5200 Competition Pro joystick that works the same way, but is also usually a bit pricy (but in the same range as a rebuilt Best stick) The problem with all of these options is that they are a digital-only solution that won't work with the handful of games that require analog control (Missile Command, Centipede, Star Raiders, Gorf, and a few others)

 

2. Build or buy an adapter to use an old 15-pin PC joystick. Again, you'll also need a standard 5200 controller with working function buttons. But with a analog joystick, you'll have full compatibility.

 

3. The Wico Command Control joystick. Once again, usually requires a standard 5200 controller with working function buttons. Again, these tend to sell on the pricy side, and you need to make sure it includes the Y-cable that attaches the 5200 controller. If money is no object, there's also an associated keypad that's very nice, but is even rarer than the joystick. It's an analog joystick, so you have full compatibility.

 

Nothing wrong with the Best option, if you like the standard joysticks and want to use them indefinitely. But just thought you should know what the other options were. Also, while it may not be a permanent solution, you can also refurb the original sticks cheaply with krazy glue and aluminum foil. This solution may fail in time, but may get you up and running with minimum expense, and let you get a feel for whether you like those controllers or not.

[MMarcoux66]

If you really want to use the standard 5200 controllers all the time, and not worry about them going bad again, the Best route is probably the way to go.

 

If, like for many of us, the standard controllers aren't that appealing to you due to the side mounted buttons and floppy joystick, there are other options:

 

1. Use a Masterplay/Redemption adapter to use a 2600 joystick. This still requires a standard 5200 controller with working function buttons. Sadly, these adapters are somewhat rare these days, but you can occasionally get a deal on one with persistence. There have also been newer versions of these with a built it keypad sold occasionally on Ebay, but I'm not sure if that person is still building or selling them. (one sold there a month ago, but I don't see a current one for sale.) Similarly, you can get an old 5200 Competition Pro joystick that works the same way, but is also usually a bit pricy (but in the same range as a rebuilt Best stick) The problem with all of these options is that they are a digital-only solution that won't work with the handful of games that require analog control (Missile Command, Centipede, Star Raiders, Gorf, and a few others)

 

2. Build or buy an adapter to use an old 15-pin PC joystick. Again, you'll also need a standard 5200 controller with working function buttons. But with a analog joystick, you'll have full compatibility.

 

3. The Wico Command Control joystick. Once again, usually requires a standard 5200 controller with working function buttons. Again, these tend to sell on the pricy side, and you need to make sure it includes the Y-cable that attaches the 5200 controller. If money is no object, there's also an associated keypad that's very nice, but is even rarer than the joystick. It's an analog joystick, so you have full compatibility.

 

Nothing wrong with the Best option, if you like the standard joysticks and want to use them indefinitely. But just thought you should know what the other options were. Also, while it may not be a permanent solution, you can also refurb the original sticks cheaply with krazy glue and aluminum foil. This solution may fail in time, but may get you up and running with minimum expense, and let you get a feel for whether you like those controllers or not.

 

Cool. Thanks for all this information. I am probably going to go with the Best option initially and then look for adapters moving forward. Sounds like it would be the best of both worlds. I'm not a huge fan of the joysticks initially how they feel in my hands, but I really have not had the chance to use one to play a game since they first came out back in the 80s . I did like the ColecoVision controllers back in the 80s, so I want to at least give the 5200 one a chance. However, it is nice to know that there is an adapter where I could use my Wico Command 2600 controller with it.

[zylon]

BTW- only one new cx52 cable to a customer, I just ordered one and that's what Brad told me. He said they're down to the last pallet.

[spacecadet]

I think the flex circuit is probably your main or only problem anyway. The problem with the buttons is typical of that.

 

You can get the gold circuits and they should last a bit longer. I just got the standard ones for mine, which I'm sure will go bad eventually again but they are literally $2.25 to replace and it takes five minutes once you've done it once.

[atari-dna]

The cable is probably fine. Good advice above.

Edited September 20, 2018 by atari-dna

[smbaker]

I rebuilt two of my controllers a couple months ago with the gold parts from Best. I even got new rubber boots because the boots on the controllers were shot. The quality of the Best parts is excellent, the buttons all function properly, the rebuild was easy and relatively drama free. I think it's very likely better-than-factory new. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get myself past the dislike of the non-centering joystick itself.

 

Since then I've experimented with a variety of controllers, including building my own. If I throw out my own controller as a possibility and stick to only commercial controllers, I think a PC Joystick, such as a Kraft Premium, makes a pretty decent controller. You've got two fire buttons and an analog self-centering stick. Next up would be a 2600 joystick with a masterplay-style adapter. You lose the ability to play a few analog games, but gain the look and feel of the iconic 2600 joystick that everyone used back in the 80s. Either of these options makes the console very playable.

 

Scott

[Neogeoman]

Rebuilt two of my controllers over ten years ago replacing all contact points including fire buttons, start pause reset and keypad. They still work flawlessly today...better than when new from atari

[Neogeoman]

Also try the competition pro joystick much better than the wico. The wicos are loose and tend to break easily. The competition pro is accurate and dependable.....and if u can find one expensive

[MMarcoux66]

I ordered a complete gold replacement of all the buttons and flex circut for both joysticks. Pricy, but I wanted to be one and done. The PCBs that he made for the CX40's have been awesome. The top row of buttons on the 5200 joysticks I got were missing and you could see the damage. So, after a nice bath for the top half and joystick with the gold parts, they should be like new .

 

Thanks for all the advice and tips!

[MMarcoux66]

Got them in today and it was a fairly easy rebuild. They work flawlessly. Very happy with the results!