ianoid Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Has anyone ever designed a flex circuit replacement for the original joysticks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Has anyone ever designed a flex circuit replacement for the original joysticks?Why? They are in the top 5 of worst joysticks ever. Better to get a gamepad or atari adapter. I really like my monster joystick i recently purchased. Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Has anyone ever designed a flex circuit replacement for the original joysticks? Buy the Atari Joystick adapter from ArcadeShopper then build your own arcade type like I did. See pics HERE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Has anyone ever designed a flex circuit replacement for the original joysticks? Why? Because! They are in the top 5 of worst joysticks ever. Better to get a gamepad or atari adapter. I really like my monster joystick i recently purchased. Is that in an official list, like I.G.N.'s list of horrible joysticks? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 You know, I like the TI sticks, in all their stiff, mushy inglory. I grew up on the things, and they have an innately familiar presence in my hand. ... That said, I wouldn't mind rigging one up with microswitches or silicone domes. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoodland Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Has anyone ever designed a flex circuit replacement for the original joysticks? I was just thinking about this. I wonder if you could refill an ink jet cartridge with conductive ink and print replacements on transparency film sheets or glossy photo paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 I was just thinking about this. I wonder if you could refill an ink jet cartridge with conductive ink and print replacements on transparency film sheets or glossy photo paper. Interesting thought. I was wondering last night about using some of that conductive carbon trace stuff you use to "paint" traces for a circuit or repair remote control pads. Since this might develop into a real discussion I have moved these messages out into a separate thread. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+chue Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Someone used silver conductive paint to do a refurb http://www.8bit-homecomputermuseum.at/repair/ti99_joystick/ti99_joystick_repair.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianoid Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 (edited) I tried conductive paint but it was pretty tough with the pen they sell on Amazon.. I probably need to find a better paint. Can anyone recommend a product? Probably something with a cap with a tiny brush? Most of you are baffled why I'd want to fix them, but it's about preservation, reuse and using authentic hardware now and again. Since it's such a big problem, it seems like an improved design would last a few decades. Of course if I want to sit down and have a good session, I'll want to use a joystick splitter. Edited September 23, 2018 by ianoid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 I tried conductive paint but it was pretty tough with the pen they sell on Amazon.. I probably need to find a better paint. Can anyone recommend a product? Probably something with a cap with a tiny brush? Most of you are baffled why I'd want to fix them, but it's about preservation, reuse and using authentic hardware now and again. Since it's such a big problem, it seems like an improved design would last a few decades. Of course if I want to sit down and have a good session, I'll want to use a joystick splitter. You might want to try a vial of the conductive paint sold to repair the demister elements on a car rear windscreen, applied using a sharpened cocktail stick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 they sell it at auto parts stores.. or https://smile.amazon.com/Permatex-09117-Complete-Window-Defogger/dp/B000ALBZJY/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g1405964225?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LASooner Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Is fixing TI Joysticks the retro computing version of Stockholm syndrome? They hurt you, they're dead... let them go.. 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Is fixing TI Joysticks the retro computing version of Stockholm syndrome? They hurt you, they're dead... let them go.. Mine never hurt me. At least, no more than using the Epyx XJ500 to play Flying Shark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyDean Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Somwhere in my storge, I have some replacement parts for the joysticks, to include these circuit strips, but I'll would have to take several hours one day to look for them, this week in not a good time. On a side note, I also have complete joystick sets, in plastic sandwich bags, that were new old stock, will have to see if their in good shape. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoodland Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 (edited) Somwhere in my storge, I have some replacement parts for the joysticks, to include these circuit strips, but I'll would have to take several hours one day to look for them, this week in not a good time. On a side note, I also have complete joystick sets, in plastic sandwich bags, that were new old stock, will have to see if their in good shape. That would be great if you can find replacement circuit strips! The conductive paint would be great for repainting the button contacts, but using a conductive pen would be difficult to retrace the circuit lines. There is just something about having the original joysticks that I used a lot when I was younger, functional again! Edited September 24, 2018 by twoodland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99iuc Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 I had saved a pair of joystick with conductive paint and worked good. Sadly it is anyway very hard to do with the kind i purchased, maybe it could be better to purchase like a Pen with conductive ink. The best, and i am agree with twoodland, could be to rebuild/reprint the circuit membrane strip but i asked about how to do and the answer was that need to do a large production like 10'000 pieces and it is a number that goes beyond the real need.but it remaining the best solution of course, at the same like people done the reprodutcion of the keyboard membrane for Spectrum sinclair computers. I am also agree that TI99 controller are not the best and use an adapter Atari to TI could be useful and the best solution for play, but i really like to see my TI99 with his own original controllers of course i usually using the Atari adaptor anyway 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoodland Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 It looks like there are some options to print circuits using an inkjet printer: https://www.botfactory.co/page/print https://www.instructables.com/id/Print-Conductive-Circuits-With-An-Inkjet-Printer/ https://nirzaree.wordpress.com/2016/12/07/setting-up-conductive-inkjet-printing/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OX. Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 This listing on Ebay was selling replacement joystick membranes until very recently - https://www.ebay.com/itm/TI-99-4A-Printed-Circuit-Board-for-Game-Controller-/273361693973?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l44720 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Check this (ended) eBay Auction -- Item Number: 273475194986 An ebay member was nice enough to send me this information about the part. Since I have no way to verify this with an actual controller I must rely on his description. He messaged: "Your item is for a game controller. The section with the 6 long traces is where it attaches. The 4 small interleave traces are the contacts in 4 directions. The larger interleave at the end is for the fire button. It works by the joystick pressing against the traces and shorting them, thus a switch. Normally these would be sold in pairs. If a trace breaks or wears away, the joystick loses a function and is useless. Yours looks brand new. Do not bend. Hope this helped." Looks like they are all gone, now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyDean Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Somwhere in my storge, I have some replacement parts for the joysticks, to include these circuit strips, but I'll would have to take several hours one day to look for them, this week in not a good time. On a side note, I also have complete joystick sets, in plastic sandwich bags, that were new old stock, will have to see if their in good shape. An update, I looked into my storage trailer the last two weekends and haven't come across these as of yet, though I did find a box of the spongy round washers that I believe fit around the joystick itself for stability. Will continue to look as time permits. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoodland Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Would someone skilled in creating PCB's be interested in helping to create a replacement pcb using momentary push button switches? This may improve the usability. I think it would be worth a shot. What are your thoughts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyDean Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 I had forgotten about this thread, I found about 7 of these 2 weeks ago, but I will have to figure out their value. I had a lot of parts for the controllers, brand new stock, and some of the stuff is still in good shape.I know somewhere I have some more of these too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 The seller of the last batch was selling them for $5 to $7 each, which is probably a bit excessive, but they did sell at those prices. . . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 (edited) Bumping this topic - curious if anyone has found a way to address this. I actually don't mind the TI sticks, and when I play I always try to have the original systems' controllers, as well as an alternative. TBH I don't think the joysticks are all that bad, as far as use goes. Edited June 21, 2022 by jetset 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOME AUTOMATION Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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