Rebuilt a couple CX40s tonight

[Bill Lange]

I rebuilt a couple of CX40 joysticks tonight using the gold plated PCB boards from Best Electronics. Of course I also replaced the orange fire button, the fire button spring, the white inner handle and the black outer handle cover.

 

The gold plated PCBs and new handles have a great feel to them. I played a few games of Centipede to take them for a test spin.

 

More and more I am finding that the four rubber feet and even the black outer handle cover are turning to that black inky goo like the 410 drive belts and the 1027 printer heads.

 

Now I need to find some more worn out CX40s to rebuild!

 

Bill

[+Ripdubski]

Good to know. I have some of the PCBs awaiting install.

[Muzz73]

I have four CX-40 bases and two or three complete CX-40s that need rebuilding. I have been rescuing them from flea markets and swap meets, just knowing that they aren't going into a dumpster somewhere. I have already rebuilt some CX40s for my dad, my son and myself, so I don't need them all. Let me know if you're interested in any of them.

 

I love the gold PCBs from Best! They have a nice, clicky feel to them, unlike the stock mushiness of the original CX-40 board contacts.

 

B&C carries the black rubber feet, if you need those, but I think you'd be better off just going to a hardware store and picking up some of those little, adhesive silicone feet. They are more durable and will stand the test of time better.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Muzz73

[Subby]

Monday I was talking to another guy in AHCS, we're going to try to have a joystick rebuild "party" at our next meeting. I've got half dozen Wicos that need some TLC.

 

BTW, on a similar note, anybody got a vaccuform machine that will do thicker plastic?

I have a joystick related project.

[Bill Lange]

I picked up a package of these little clear rubber pads made by Scotch at Home Depot. This fit perfectly on the bottom of the CX-40 joysticks. I scrapped the old black gooey ones off with a screw driver and applied these. Works great. Lets see how long they stick.

 

Bill

[Lynxpro]

That's cool stuff. I'd love it if the local Maker groups or Hackerlabs in my area would have a rebuilding party for classic gaming controllers.

 

Has anyone added micro switches to the Best gold plated PCBs? I know there's videos on YouTube of adding microswitches to regular CX-40s as well as the ProLine joysticks, but I haven't seen any that specifically added them to the Best boards...

 

I'd like to see people paint the CX-40s in the same color scheme for their specific computers just as Atari Corp did for the XEGS pack-in version of the CX-40. Say painting some CX-40s to resemble the 400/800, or the XL lines...