PSW Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I've been pondering ways to modify an original 5200 joystick so as to be self centering, and would like to know if anyone has tried using a conical spring under the boot (or without the boot). The picture shows the type of spring I'm talking about: I've searched the forums but haven't found any mention of doing this, so my question is has anyone attempted this before? For those of you that are mechanically inclined, could you comment on any pitfalls you may see with this design. The springs are rather expensive, 10 springs for $20 bucks from amazon, and I can see burning through quite a few until I get the right spring tension, thickness, height, and base width. Any comments or suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohoki Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 i tried and failed to make it work with a flashlight spring and making a flat coil out of stainless wire my maybe i just suck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seethransom Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 No Bo knows 5200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Isn't the 5200 kiosk joystick self centering? Maybe you can use that to help you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geotrick Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 (edited) I have had this controller boot for a 5200 for several years. I just thought it was a variation I had not seen before. Is it familiar to anyone? It acts like a spring. The controller in the video has no pots, so there is no resistance. I will put it on a working controller tomorrow and give it a try. http://youtu.be/jelKxXMhPR8 There is a part number on the bottom: C021084-4; the standard one I have is: C021084-3 Edited February 16, 2015 by Geotrick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Put a thick rubber band around the bottom and up around both sides of the joystick and it will return to center.. ..this is the ooooold schoool way to go about it.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geotrick Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 (edited) I am not sure how you're applying the rubber band. I just tried a broccoli rubber band which is kind of thick. It just stayed in the direction I was pushing. I was thinking that a new controller boot could be designed. With a higher boot with some bridging across the top and maybe arcs following underneath. This would be molded into the boot. The bridges would push back to help over come the pot resistance. Edited February 16, 2015 by Geotrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tron Unit Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Aren't the reconditioned CX52's from Best Electronics self-centering? I have one of their gold controllers and it is like night and day compared to the OEM controller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geotrick Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 I have two I bought from them in 2006 with gold contacts, Their not self centering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 You place the rubber band under the joystick and pull some up on both sides. Then wrap the band around the stick on both sides. When you pull in one direction the rubber band will pull it back when you let go of it. I didn't say it was a good way, but it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Here ya go.. I used two, but if you have a looong thick band then it works better. A little oil at the crossing makes the return smoother and less cumbersome. It works to a degree.. ..I got this idea from a joystick someone was selling on eBay some time ago. They said that the joystick didn't spring back anymore so they used rubber bands (I think it was a Tandy TRS-80 joystick with a broken bottom switch). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas10e Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) Here ya go.. I used two, but if you have a looong thick band then it works better. A little oil at the crossing makes the return smoother and less cumbersome. It works to a degree.. ..I got this idea from a joystick someone was selling on eBay some time ago. They said that the joystick didn't spring back anymore so they used rubber bands (I think it was a Tandy TRS-80 joystick with a broken bottom switch). I put rubber band INSIDE controller was a little tricky but shot a good few pics http://imgur.com/a/nx3it also needed to figure out how to remove handle it isn't prefect but hopefully getting there .... centers a bit better than before, waiting to see how that spring will work .... possibly all 3 will make it better was hoping to find a way for the pots to self-center as a Vectrex controller has Edited February 17, 2015 by chas10e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I put rubber band INSIDE controller... I've done this as well. Indeed, it's tricky and a little ghetto, but it worked reasonably well, Problem is rubber bands break over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas10e Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 my twin nephews had a box of neoprene rubber bands or something like that ... if I could find my flashlight I'd try the conical spring under there as well thinking maybe something from Dollar General or the like ... the trick seems to be keeping everything UNDER the actuator plates what I like so far is no destruction to the original Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas10e Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 found a spring & didn't have best results, it works ok but what I discovered ... very little room for a spring between the pots , up & down movement may loosen the pots & need to be fully seated the coil of the spring needed to be twisted so pot wouldn't interfere with shaft when pushed up & down hot melt glue to keep spring in place when moving shaft left & right pics here: http://imgur.com/a/1lkT2 there are a couple different boot designs ( I only have 2 controllers ) originally the boot is to get it to center but the boot puckers at times I'll be pulling that spring out with the glue & keeping the rubber band after awhile what I would LIKE to find are the pots for the Vectrex controller that self center anyone have a supplier for these ? pretty sure THAT's what they used on this prototype http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/5200/5200joy.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geotrick Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 The pots are just too stiff. If they could be adjusted to lower the resistance in movement. I like your rubber band underneath. If you notched the backside of the risers you go around, you should be able to keep it from creeping up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 The design must have been a way to blend the paddle controllers with joysticks for games like Centipede. I really like the system, too. Like the Jaguar, it just needed more controller options for the consumer. I've had a LOT of these stop working on me. I pawned my last 5200 years ago. I still have several games for it and often play the XE or emulate systems for those rare games that were actually different than the computer counterparts. The joystick was left over from a lot and I was using it to demonstrate the idea from long ago. The band on the inside seems to look like it would function better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas10e Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) either the rubber band alone OR the spring alone but not both The pots are just too stiff. If they could be adjusted to lower the resistance in movement. I like your rubber band underneath. If you notched the backside of the risers you go around, you should be able to keep it from creeping up. the rubber band hasn't creeped up , I think the risers clamp flush with top of controller also the square actuator adapter keeps rubber band pushed down ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- with the spring installed , I discovered the rubber band causes the coils for the spring to bind I removed rubber band & it works better I think if I remove the boot from the top of the controller the spring alone would be the better option can't quite figure out how to unclip retaining ring for boot ( I don't want to destroy it in the even I want to put it back) Edited February 24, 2015 by chas10e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seethransom Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 There are some good ideas. I have a controller with a heavier boot. It helps. As a kid, I would recenter it without thinking about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Ditch the stock joystick and mount one of these on top somehow? What I would love to see is a new 5200 gamepad with a thumbstick nub on it. If someone could pad-hack a PS2 controller for the left analog thumbstick to controll the movement, and the four shoulder buttons or the pad on the right for action buttons, with a pass-through for the numeric pad, that would be awesome. The horrible joysticks are the main reason why I've completely avoided the 5200 system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybercylon Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Ditch the stock joystick and mount one of these on top somehow? What I would love to see is a new 5200 gamepad with a thumbstick nub on it. If someone could pad-hack a PS2 controller for the left analog thumbstick to controll the movement, and the four shoulder buttons or the pad on the right for action buttons, with a pass-through for the numeric pad, that would be awesome. The horrible joysticks are the main reason why I've completely avoided the 5200 system. I mounted a PS 2 thumb stick onto the disc for an Intellivision controller. Makes your thumb last much longer. Now if I could only figure something out for the crappy side buttons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynxpro Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Ditch the stock joystick and mount one of these on top somehow? What I would love to see is a new 5200 gamepad with a thumbstick nub on it. If someone could pad-hack a PS2 controller for the left analog thumbstick to controll the movement, and the four shoulder buttons or the pad on the right for action buttons, with a pass-through for the numeric pad, that would be awesome. The horrible joysticks are the main reason why I've completely avoided the 5200 system. Even better…mod a Jaguar JagPad with that and then use an adapter - people have built them - for use with the 5200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddUGA Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) I had toyed with the idea of replacing the joystick mechanism with a small industrial analog stick when I had my 5200. They seem to be readily available online. Imagine replacing the stock stick with a self-centering analog stick that looks like this... Edited April 11, 2015 by ToddUGA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari-dna Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Interesting thread: subscribed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wongojack Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Why do you want the stick to center exactly? None of the analog games would be better with centering. Kaboom - not better Star Wars - centering bad Super Breakout - stay where I put you, paddle Centipede - track balls don't self center Missile Command - don't want the resistance of centering Do you want this behavior only for the "digital" games? Then use a digital controller. I realized that self centering was not desirable for me when I got an old PC joystick out of storage and started using it. You need a fairly simple adapter, but it has the ability to switch the self centering off. I always want it OFF for the analog games. For the digital games, the centering is useful, but I just use a digital controller for that. This is the kind I'm talking about: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281307966422 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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