Fixing an analog stick

[SpaceBooger]

My buddy gave me a Pelican wireless PS2 controller to fix. I would like to use it but the left analog stick goes to the left by default. When ever I play a game the character moves at a medium place to the left making game play hard.
I took the thing apart and don't see anything glaringly wrong. Any suggestions to fix this or any ideas of what I should specifically be looking for?
Thanks in advance.

[CRTGAMER]

Is the shaft connecting to the pot sheared? You can tell is the white plastic at the potentiometer spins when moving the stick.

Though most newer controllers don't have this option (Atari 5200 does), see if you can spin the pot slightly to re-center the neutral position. One of my controllers had a problem not pushing to the left enough. I used a file to open the hole where the stick goes thru. Stick now travels a little more to the left.

[fvgazi]

This happened to one of my friend's Ps2 controllers. I couldn't find anything wrong. I'll take a look as well.

CRT - by any chance, would you happen to know if any resistors or anything is needed if I were to completely remove the pot off the PCB? For 360 I remember having to stick some in series to set them to neutral. I guess it would depend on the version of the controller and maker.

[CRTGAMER]

This happened to one of my friend's Ps2 controllers. I couldn't find anything wrong. I'll take a look as well.

CRT - by any chance, would you happen to know if any resistors or anything is needed if I were to completely remove the pot off the PCB? For 360 I remember having to stick some in series to set them to neutral. I guess it would depend on the version of the controller and maker.

Curious why you would want to remove the pots? But yes, with the pot in neutral position there is a resistance value being read. A couple resistors would have to be placed between the points. The trick is to get the exact resistors so a game character won't move.

[fvgazi]

The reason I thought about removing one was because I couldn't find anything wrong with the stick while looking at it. My friend had thrown his controller and his shoulder buttons had gotten stuck.

I made the mistake of not testing the controller before I opened it up. After I fixed the buttons I tried using it and found that the Left stick was all sorts of messed up and constantly going left. I didn't see anything wrong on the PCB, so I figured I might just remove the pot.

Is there anyway of determining the resistance? I'm not to savvy on circuitry yet. All I have is my multimeter and soldering iron.

I will definitely try the first suggestion you had made.

[CRTGAMER]

Can you move the stick to the right a little so the game character doesn't move? If that can be done, maybe opening the hole in the controller case to the left might help. The PS2 calibrates the end movements of the stick to determine the center neutral point. To recalibrate a stick simply roll it all the way around at the extremes.

[fvgazi]

I tried the calibration when I first noticed it and it didn't work. It actually wont let me even move it right. Either left or nothing at all (neutral i guess).

[CRTGAMER]

I tried the calibration when I first noticed it and it didn't work. It actually wont let me even move it right. Either left or nothing at all (neutral i guess).

If an Atari 5200 controller you could actually spin the pot in relation to the stick. Older PC Joysticks also have a calibration slider that did the same. Your controller probably has a fixed pot like my earlier reply pic, or it could be an internal sensor wheel setup like a ball mouse. Maybe a sheared mechanical pin between the pot and the stick, unfortunately not an easy fix.