tryp Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 (edited) I just hooked up my 7800 for the first time in a couple years last night (lost the RF switchbox, made a cable to resolve that problem) and noticed that the joysticks were really loose. (due to the self-centering mechanism being nothing but a foam pad) Anyway, I pulled them apart to see if I could fix them, which I did, and it was actually about a hundred times easier than I thought it was going to be. I wrote a tutorial, with pictures, on this for anybody who might need help with this should they want to fix this problem. How to restore your Atari 7800 Pro-Line Joystick Hope this helps anybody who needs it! Edited August 26, 2008 by tryp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddlepaddle Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Nice trick, spinning the foam pad 45 degrees. I didn't think of that. I just glued four little pieces of a sponge to the indentations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow460 Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I use cardboard pieces to support the foam pad. It's all about getting a stronger bit of material under the plastic cross. Do that and your stick will work like a champ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Bah, I tried on two different prolines to spin the foam 45 degrees but it seems time has been unkind to this material because attempts to just touch it, let alone remove it, resulted in the foam disintigrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanegashima Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 (edited) lol, my pro-lines are just for show...I imported the joypads from Europe and my 7800 has never been more enjoyable. But if they ever get lost, I'll certainly keep this in mind. Great and useful guide! Edited November 4, 2008 by Tanegashima Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rik Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 (edited) Well..its not like the foam ring is not replaceable.Better yet i just found the same foam and used the old ring as a pattern and cut out new rings.Thats a last resort if the rings are torn up.A piece of foam that releases the cross contact?that has got to be the saddest ,cheap ass,mickey mouse thing i have ever seen so far. Edited November 5, 2008 by Rik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underball Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 You don't even need to cut new ones. Get any 50 disc CD-r or DVD+/-R spindle, preferably Verbatim brand. Open proline stick and pull the original foam circle out. replace it with the one on the top of the CD spindle. they are the same size, and the CD-R spindle one is actually less squishy, so it re-centers quicker. Close. done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rik Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 You don't even need to cut new ones. Get any 50 disc CD-r or DVD+/-R spindle, preferably Verbatim brand. Open proline stick and pull the original foam circle out. replace it with the one on the top of the CD spindle. they are the same size, and the CD-R spindle one is actually less squishy, so it re-centers quicker. Close. done. True,but as a collector,a huge part of the hobby for me is taking care,cleaning,repairing the hardware,software,so i dont mind making the rings,quite fun actually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-in-NJ Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Thanks. All four of my Prolines have developed problems of one sort or another within the past couple of months. One I have would always go to the right, so I tried this and it worked. Also pushed in the contacts at the bottom of the PC board as a few of them, particularly the one that I suppose is for left, seemed a bit loose. Stick now works again, though it seems a bit stiff. (I guess this is how it was when new.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famicommander Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Nice guide. It worked fine. Another issue, though: how do I fix my buttons? My right button on my stick is pretty loose, and it doesn't want to rebound when it's compressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1500 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I love the cigarette & used dinner plate in the backgrounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) You know, I never even thought about the CD-spindle foam ring..it's not like I don't have tons of those lying around here great idea! and as far as fixing the buttons, I'm not sure.. maybe the spring's wore out? try replacing that. My RF adapter for my 7800 went kaput so all my atari stuff is in a box somewhere right now, if i want to play atari, i just play the atari games on my good old-school FAT PS2 from the hard drive. Gotta love emulation. And as far as the cigarette and dinner plate yeah.. i'd just eaten, i was smoking.. hell, had I not been out of marijuana at the time, you'd probably have seen a joint instead of a cig, since that's really the only time i smoke more than four cigs a day, when i'm out of pot.. ;P Jesus.. a foam ring.. you'd think they'd have learned the controller self-centering mechanism was more important than that after the 5200 controller fiasco never know.. one of these days I might decide to go try a full on mod and build my own custom self-centering mechanism for the pro-lines just for the hell of it. Probably not anytime soon though. Edited January 13, 2009 by tryp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovalbugmann Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Huh? The link you posted to fix the pro-lines says, blog not found? bummer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Huh? The link you posted to fix the pro-lines says, blog not found? bummer.Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisaperfectdayelise Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Huh? The link you posted to fix the pro-lines says, blog not found? bummer.Ditto. Ditto...again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisaperfectdayelise Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Can anybody verify for me that replacing the foam with a hard, plastic ring performs well? I know that it was suggested, but does anybody have any testimonial? I am really digging these ProLine sticks (sounds like I'm one of the very few), but it's disconcerning how quickly their responsiveness changes, as the stick digs further and further into the foam (after having rotated them just a couple of days ago). I actually have two, new Verbatim spindles....that I recently opened. Predictably, I threw out those little rings...so, I'm SOL for a little while. Anyhoo, any shared experience with that substitution would be greatly appreciated! P.S.- Where did the original blog go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisaperfectdayelise Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Can anybody verify for me that replacing the foam with a hard, plastic ring performs well? I know that it was suggested, but does anybody have any testimonial? I am really digging these ProLine sticks (sounds like I'm one of the very few), but it's disconcerning how quickly their responsiveness changes, as the stick digs further and further into the foam (after having rotated them just a couple of days ago). I actually have two, new Verbatim spindles....that I recently opened. Predictably, I threw out those little rings...so, I'm SOL for a little while. Anyhoo, any shared experience with that substitution would be greatly appreciated! P.S.- Where did the original blog go? Okay, I just re-read this post...LORDY, am I a MORON! Forget it....it was a foam ring on the CD-R's....AARRGG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovalbugmann Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I am really digging these ProLine sticks (sounds like I'm one of the very few) If you hold the PAIN-Line controller with two hands which I'm sure you do then one hand probably your left hand (if your a right handed person) will have the palm facing upwards as you hold the base of the pain-line controller. This keeps that wrist in an unnatural position, twisted for the entire time you play a 7800 game. I try not to think about it and just play, but after an hour or two I find myself holding the pain-line controller on it's side to return my wrist to it's normal position. I guess their OK but a tad bit uncomfortable, I will definitely buy the Europeon 7800 controllers when I have the cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisaperfectdayelise Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I am really digging these ProLine sticks (sounds like I'm one of the very few) If you hold the PAIN-Line controller with two hands which I'm sure you do then one hand probably your left hand (if your a right handed person) will have the palm facing upwards as you hold the base of the pain-line controller. This keeps that wrist in an unnatural position, twisted for the entire time you play a 7800 game. I try not to think about it and just play, but after an hour or two I find myself holding the pain-line controller on it's side to return my wrist to it's normal position. I guess their OK but a tad bit uncomfortable, I will definitely buy the Europeon 7800 controllers when I have the cash. I'm right-handed, and my method is holding the base in my left hand with the stick facing my right. For games that just use 1 fire button, I use my middle finger....I have not experienced any pain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovalbugmann Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Ahh, the stick facing the right, I see now - that would be good. Then that's what I was saying about holding the controller on it's side, that puts the stick in a horizontal position. That would be good for play as long as on-screen movements don't get confusing since the controller is no longer straight up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.