paddle controllers

[metzger130]

I've seen online how to clean and fix the jittery paddle controllers, but it looks a little complicated, many small parts. is this true or is it relatively easy to fix these? I have 5 sets of them, or so, and not 1 work correctly and I'd like to play kaboom and a few other games that require them.

[fiddlepaddle]

It's not hard. Just take a screwdriver, remove screws from one, and look at it. Spraying electronic contact cleaner is the simplest way to fix them.

[Dripfree]

It's not hard. Just take a screwdriver, remove screws from one, and look at it. Spraying electronic contact cleaner is the simplest way to fix them.

This worked on 4 sets for me. Or find some heavy sixer paddles. Mine have always worked perfect.

[metzger130]

There's a difference in paddles?

 

What i was looking at was taking the whole thing apart, not just spraying while all put together. Spraying while all put together works for a while though?

Edited October 6, 2014 by metzger130

[louisg]

I actually had good luck just sitting there and twisting them I think I was able to work some dust out that way. Your mileage may vary of course...

[Dripfree]

There's a difference in paddles?

 

What i was looking at was taking the whole thing apart, not just spraying while all put together. Spraying while all put together works for a while though?

You can take the whole pot apart that is the more "professional" way to restore them I have done this and its not as hard as you may think. Just be careful there are some thin copper tabs that may bend and break easily. You could even replace the pot altogether, just a little, soldering required. If those seem like too much work spray a little contact cleaner into the crack where the solder points exit the housing. I did that and I thought it was the lazy way of doing it and id have issues in a month. 3 years later they still work great!

 

There are only 2 differences in the paddles. An atari logo on the sticker and a different pot inside. The pot in in the heavy sixer paddle seems to be higher quality. Not sure why there really aint much to a pot. But then again I've also never had to open up a h6 pot.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Dripfree

[+SpiceWare]

It's quite easy, have done it many times. Only problem is the 30+ year old plastic is starting to become brittle. This happened last time I cleaned paddles:

 

I ended up buying brand new paddles for the Atari Flashback 4. They work great with a real 2600, no jitter at all.

[Mef]

If I were you, I wouldn't discard those shells but instead put back together and reinforce the "screws'-tubes" with some epoxy glue.

But that's mostly because you won't ever find ANY paddles, working or not, around these parts.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Mef

[Torr]

Just be careful there are some thin copper tabs that may bend and break easily.

 

Yup, I've broken them before... sucks...

[7800]

The best way to fix jittery paddles is to take the pot apart and clean it... plain and simple.

 

If the pot is very worn out to the point where cleaning it doesn't help, you may need to replace the pot.