N64 controller repair

[Frotz]

I recently got on an N64 kick after stumbling across one in my storage unit. Then I remembered the problems many people had with the analogue sticks. I've heard stories of a third party controller that has a metal analog stick. What was its name? If I swap out the analogue stick from a stock controller and lube the new one with white lithium grease, how long will that last? Any other suggestions?

[Spazmonkey]

I played my n64 a lot back in the day, with only one controller. I actively played it throughout the years, and I still own just a single controller. You really have to abuse the thing to ruin the stick. I would say whatever you have is fine, but who knows. Also, it's really easy to fix the controllers if you are having problems, http://mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/n64cont.htm .

[MagitekAngel]

It really just needs a good clean probably. I have four or five N64 controllers lying around the house and I'd say only one of them has a stick that's anywhere near its original operating condition. And that particular controller has a sticky B button

I wouldn't mind finding a third party solution with a better stick, but the ones I have probably just need a good clean anyways. To nintendo's credit, they've either invented or popularized virtually every significant feature of modern controllers today, right down to the humble D-pad. If their first analog stick is a little prone to dirt I can forgive that.

[STICH666]

I recently got on an N64 kick after stumbling across one in my storage unit. Then I remembered the problems many people had with the analogue sticks. I've heard stories of a third party controller that has a metal analog stick. What was its name? If I swap out the analogue stick from a stock controller and lube the new one with white lithium grease, how long will that last? Any other suggestions?

Hori Mini Pad.

 

They are very rare and fairly expensive. It uses the Gamecube analog stick so it will never wear out.

[MagitekAngel]

Dear God those things look so wrong and so right all at once. They do look a little cramped, I feel like your hands would be too close together when you're using the D-pad, like you're holding a game boy pocket or something.

[STICH666]

Dear God those things look so wrong and so right all at once. They do look a little cramped, I feel like your hands would be too close together when you're using the D-pad, like you're holding a game boy pocket or something.

They're just a little smaller than the Gamecube.

[shadow460]

I've had zero problems with the sticks on the two one owner controllers I have had. Beyond that, I have replaced sticks in two others and had zero problems. I found the color pad I wanted, then found pads with sticks that seemed tight and swapped the sticks into the pads I had chosen.

 

This is all with first party N64 pads. I've not found a third party N64 pad that I liked very much. You might try Nintendo's website, as they may still offer the pads for sale. They will cost you a premium, but it's worth it if you want new pads.

[16-bit]

Used to be that you could find replacement sticks on eBay too. It's definitely cheaper than getting a whole new controller.

[nathanallan]

I have a couple, called the Superpad 64 and Superpad 64 Plus, but they're nothing like the originals. The Plus added slow and turbo. My regular non-Plus has the knob missing, and the Plus I have is a bit sticky all around. Great controllers, metal sticks, they just take some getting used to. The pic is of one I found on the net, don't have a pic of mine handy. Those Horis look cool, fun to play with.

Edited August 11, 2009 by nathanallan

[STICH666]

I have a couple, called the Superpad 64 and Superpad 64 Plus, but they're nothing like the originals. The Plus added slow and turbo. My regular non-Plus has the knob missing, and the Plus I have is a bit sticky all around. Great controllers, metal sticks, they just take some getting used to. The pic is of one I found on the net, don't have a pic of mine handy. Those Horis look cool, fun to play with.

Yeah some kid was selling that at Play-N-Trade a couple months back. they feel weird but somehow comfortable.

[Video]

I think the whole "64 controllers suck" thing is WAY overblown. It's not like the 5200 where breathing to close to the thing will cause it to self destruct or anything.

 

I personally bought my first 64, a year before DK64 came out, and I played with that one pack in controller for about 7 years....untill my dumbass lent it out and when I got it back a week later it was completely fucked. I was like "dude, what the hell" and their like "I don't know, maybe you just don't play games as much as I do" Eh...yeah....nevermind I had about 20-1 the games they had, and played every hour that I wasn't working or sleeping. Since then, I've had the same problem, no controller...I did have a third party controller I loved, I don't remember what it was called, a stingray or something? I'll have to look it up. It had cut off handles on the sides, and a ticker middle handle, and I loved the thing....but I lost that in a move about 5 years back.

 

Since then, I haven't played 64 at all, I'd love to start again, I got some third party controller from SAG...the stick feels a little loose, but I can deal with that, since at this point I'd be relearning the controls of the games anyways....but space constraints and to much other stuff on newer systems has kept me from trying them yet.

 

Anyhow, honestly, I ran through two controllers in the years I played the system, one a friend broke, the other got lost...and since then, I just couldn't bring myself to pay more for a 64 controller than I was paying for the average Next Gen controller. I did have one of those Joybox 64 devices (yet another of the many things I had that people tell me didn't exist) it let you use PSX pads on the 64, It worked fine, but I haven't managed to find it or a replacement either.

 

Still...If your breaking the controllers, I'd be willingto bet it's something your doing, not the controller's fault. yeah, they probably are more fragile than they need to be, but don't try to push the stick through the controller when you play and it should last for many years.

[Asaki]

You really have to abuse the thing to ruin the stick.

 

I take really, really good care of my stuff, but those N64 joysticks grinding down to nothing really is unavoidable...unless you just never ever use them. I never even played a single game of Mario Party with them, though the thing has seen its fair share of Paper Mario.

 

Tried stretching the spring out, but no luck.

 

I think the best thing, aside from a clever mod which, to my knowledge, no one has attempted...the best thing would be to just replace the stick (they sell them on eBay) and lube it up.

 

Those Hori controllers look really cool though. Of course, you'd have to swap back to the official pad for anything that uses the d-pad instead of the stick.

 

The only third party 64 pad I've ever used was one of these...they sure as heck aren't very comfortable >_< But at least the stick works:

Edited August 11, 2009 by Asaki

[Frotz]

Do any of you know anything about these Sumo branded N64 controllers I see on Ebay in large numbers?

[tisaperfectdayelise]

You could always try this: http://www.gaminggenerations.com/store/pro...roducts_id=1026. It looks like they're out of stock at the moment, but my friend Evan (who owns the store) can order them in a jiffy...

Edited August 12, 2009 by tisaperfectdayelise

[TwinChargers]

If you don't mind arcade controllers, you can always pick up an Arcade Shark.

 

 

Its huge and heavy but very well made.

[Frotz]

You could always try this: http://www.gaminggenerations.com/store/pro...roducts_id=1026. It looks like they're out of stock at the moment, but my friend Evan (who owns the store) can order them in a jiffy...

I ordered one a few days ago from somewhere else. Meanwhile, I discovered a hardware hack that involves replacing the analogue stick with one from a Playstation controller. A microcontroller is used to translate resistance into chopper wheel output. See http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3574.0.

[mmbe]

My problem with the analog stick is that it works fine for left and right movement but there's no response to up and down movements. (I may have that reversed but you get the idea.) I have tried cleaning and lubricating the stick but still have that problem.

 

Any ideas?

[Frotz]

My problem with the analog stick is that it works fine for left and right movement but there's no response to up and down movements. (I may have that reversed but you get the idea.) I have tried cleaning and lubricating the stick but still have that problem.

 

Any ideas?

 

The stick operates more like a mechanical mouse than the more commonly-encountered dual-pot. You might have gotten lube where it shouldn't, like the little holes in the wheel, the LEDs, or photodiodes. See http://codebook.potchgult.com/stickrepair/stickfix.htm for a walkthrough on correctly cleaning the stick.

[Video]

Also, the photodiode itself can burn out, I've had it happen in mice before.

 

That Arcade stick is COOL!! Hey, Twinchargers? is either joystic analog? Or they both just digital? (that would seem redundant....

 

The only third party 64 pad I've ever used was one of these...they sure as heck aren't very comfortable >_< But at least the stick works:

 

That's the exact controller I had to, loved the thing. I did have to take it apart once and fix the Z button (pushed to hard, dropped or something, and it jammed into the controller)

[Frotz]

Okay, I've acquired a new analogue stick module and installed it in my controller. I plugged it into one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180392781761 and fired up mupen64plus. Still, even when the stick is centered, the signals coming out of it wander around. It's utterly impossible to start some games, such as Zelda OOT. I've heard that the particular converted I got has bugs in it. How much of this jitter is from the stick and how much is from the converter? I haven't yet tried this on my N64 because I'm waiting on some more components (power adapter).

[STICH666]

Okay, I've acquired a new analogue stick module and installed it in my controller. I plugged it into one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180392781761 and fired up mupen64plus. Still, even when the stick is centered, the signals coming out of it wander around. It's utterly impossible to start some games, such as Zelda OOT. I've heard that the particular converted I got has bugs in it. How much of this jitter is from the stick and how much is from the converter? I haven't yet tried this on my N64 because I'm waiting on some more components (power adapter).

It's not the sticks problem. You need to set up a deadzone.

[TwinChargers]

That Arcade stick is COOL!! Hey, Twinchargers? is either joystic analog? Or they both just digital? (that would seem redundant....

 

The controls on the left are digital and the center one is analog. The joystick can be unscrewed and used on either one as you wish. Its kind of an awkward "d-pad" since it isn't really a pad at all and its much larger, but once you get used to it its nice. One of the better arcade sticks.

[Frotz]

Okay, I've acquired a new analogue stick module and installed it in my controller. I plugged it into one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180392781761 and fired up mupen64plus. Still, even when the stick is centered, the signals coming out of it wander around. It's utterly impossible to start some games, such as Zelda OOT. I've heard that the particular converted I got has bugs in it. How much of this jitter is from the stick and how much is from the converter? I haven't yet tried this on my N64 because I'm waiting on some more components (power adapter).

It's not the sticks problem. You need to set up a deadzone.

 

The jitter I'm seeing is that the stick oscillated from somewhere near the center to full deflection and back. I doubt setting a deadzone would touch that or the problem of random buttons firing when they aren't pressed?

Edited August 16, 2009 by Frotz

[mmbe]

The stick operates more like a mechanical mouse than the more commonly-encountered dual-pot. You might have gotten lube where it shouldn't, like the little holes in the wheel, the LEDs, or photodiodes. See http://codebook.potchgult.com/stickrepair/stickfix.htm for a walkthrough on correctly cleaning the stick.

 

I used that walkthrough when I cleaned the analog stick. I also switched the complete analog with another controller that I know that worked. The previously "non-working" stick worked in the other controller. The analog stick from the working controller did not work in the controller with the problem analog stick. I guess the problem is with the photodiode. Is there any way to fix this?

 

Thanks.

[Video]

That Arcade stick is COOL!! Hey, Twinchargers? is either joystic analog? Or they both just digital? (that would seem redundant....

 

The controls on the left are digital and the center one is analog. The joystick can be unscrewed and used on either one as you wish. Its kind of an awkward "d-pad" since it isn't really a pad at all and its much larger, but once you get used to it its nice. One of the better arcade sticks.

Cool, thanks. I'll definitely have to look into getting one of those. Mind if I ask what you paid for it?