CX10 Joystick Repair - Help Needed

[hbomb]

Can anyone give me tips on repairing two CX10 joysticks? The fire button or directional was not working on one controller, but was working on the other. I took both apart to clean and try and fix the one. The springs looked good on both controllers as did the six electrical connections to each joystick PCB.

 

On the first controller that works, all I did was take apart and clean with a q-tip and alcohol. I did not remove the six electrical connectors. The metal contact pieces on the PCB looked good and functional. I put it back together and now it does not work.

 

The second controller that did not work, I took it apart and cleaned with a q-tip and alcohol. I noticed on the PCB that the metal contact pieces had been flattened. I took a very small flathead screwdriver and gently popped them up a bit to get them functioning again. Then after looking at the board's comments on joystick repair, I decided to swap out the PCB with another CX40 joystick that I had. The operation was successful as all of the six connectors unhooked and hooked back up again easily. They were not damaged and I did put them back in the right order. I put it all back together and the CX10 joystick still does not work. Funny thing, the CX40 joystick still works just fine with the CX10 PCB installed.

 

Does anyone have any tips or things that I should look for or line up that I may have missed to get these working? The problem doesn't "seem" to be with the PCB's, but I could be wrong I suppose. These things seem to be so simple and yet so aggravating.

 

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Christophero Sly]

Sounds like a problem with the cord. Maybe one of the pin holes on the plug is to loose inside to make a connection to the controller port pins. I've had that happen before. I never figured out a way to fix it though.

[AtariLover!]

Sounds like a problem with the cord. Maybe one of the pin holes on the plug is to loose inside to make a connection to the controller port pins. I've had that happen before. I never figured out a way to fix it though.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

[hbomb]

Well, I did take them apart again and loosened the screws to the PCB as CPUWIZ suggested and it worked! So now I have one controller that completely works and the other one almost does, but it still has one directional issue. I ordered a new PCB from CPUWIZ, so hopefully that will correct the problem. I'm glad it wasn't a wire issue. I guess the second one could still have a wire issue from the directional problem if the new PCB does not work.

 

Funny how I'm repairing these so I can store them away for my collection. I'll get some common ones to actually play with. I'm trying to figure out the best way to glue this Atari hex disc back on the joystick boot. Any ideas?

[A.J. Franzman]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to glue this Atari hex disc back on the joystick boot. Any ideas?

You'll need something very flexible, that sticks extrememly well to both the boot and aluminum. I'm not sure what the boots are made of but I know it is not natural latex rubber. It's probably PVC (vinyl) or urethane. You'll also want to make sure the boot is as clean as you can get it before making the attempt.

 

A good quality silicone caulking might do the trick.