Wico Command Control joystick doesn't work.

[NightSprinter]

Does anyone know how to fix a dead leaf switch for the Wico Command Control joysticks? I'm sort of attached to this thing when it comes to playing Atari games (I've had and used it for over twenty-two years), and after I cleaned the leaf switches out, I discovered the "up" switch no longer works.. I kinda need help here.

[+Mitch]

Did one of the wires come loose? What happens if you close that leaf by hand, does it still not work?

 

Mitch

[NightSprinter]

I have a Wico "The Boss" joystick that works just fine, but I don't want to take a switch from it just to test in the Command Control. If I swap out switches I'll still have a non-working stick.

 

[Edit] That particular joystick won't work, just opened it up again and the switches are soldered onto the circuitboard. Does anyone know where I could buy an arcade leaf-switch for a replacement?

Edited November 7, 2005 by NightSprinter

[D.Yancey]

It's likely a broken wire like suggested above or you may have bent one of the leaves so the action of the stick no longer closes the circuit. Try making some adjustments to the leaves on the direction that is not working. Also you can test the continuity of the circuit when the switch is open and closed with a multimeter. I think it would be very abnormal for the switch itself to go bad. Sometimes those tiny wires even break inside the insulation, so you cannot physically see the break in the circuit. You can test for this with your meter also. I use all Wico's and I've NEVER had a switch go bad. Hope this helps.

[NightSprinter]

Turns out the wiring to the "up" arrow went bad it would seem.. all directions and both buttons work. It's just the black wire to the "up" direction that I cannot use.

[D.Yancey]

Solder or splice in a new wire and you're off to the races!!

[NightSprinter]

Forgive me for sounding like such a newb, but whre would one get a wire with a quick-release end connector like the ones in the joystick itself?

[+Mitch]

Unsolder the bad wire from it and solder on the new one.

 

Mitch

[+-^CrossBow^-]

This is assuming that his break in the wire is within view? In my experience most of the wires break internally inside the cable. And while you know there is a break by using a meter on it. You don't know exactly where. So, I would try and get a known back 2600 joystick and use the cable from that for your Wico. But if you can see the actual broken wire, then all you should have to do is just scrape back some insulation and then solder what wire there is back to the switch.

[+Mitch]

Since he said it stopped working when he cleaned the switches I would assume the break is most likely in the last couple inches of wire.

 

Mitch

[NightSprinter]

Ok, also is there any way to get another one of those wires or the end-connector at least? I wound up with a loose one for the "left" switch, and broke it while trying to tighten it down.. *grumbles, doesn't want to have to buy another one after the only one he has worked for 22 years*

[D.Yancey]

You could just solder the bare end of the wire to the switch if it's long enough. It's easy to disconnect it later with the soldering iron if you have problems later. Forget about the connector end. If there's not enough slack to do that, just get a piece of stranded copper wire about 24 or 28 guage and a few inches long. Solder that wire to the bare end of your short wire without the connector. Tape over that connection with electrical tape, so it cannot make a connection and make sure it doesn't get in the way of any moving parts. Solder the other end to the pole of the leaf switch and viola!! This is what I meant before when I said splice in a piece of wire. Send it to me and I'll repair it for you if you want. PM me for info in that case.

Edited November 8, 2005 by D.Yancey