Fix N64 Joystick - Failed Attempt - Plus other Tips

[CRTGAMER]

If you edit the thread title to read joystick instead of thumbstick (or add joystick in it) and possibly even add the word 'fix' in the title too, I'm sure this thread will be in the first few hits on many peoples googles.

A good idea. Google word "joystick" will definitely get more hits over "thumbstick". Maybe even throw in common word "controller" in your title as well.

[optmusprimenumber]

so anyone try this out? any constructive criticism?

[torbinski]

Hello all, I have a method that is a little different to the tinfoil method described, but works well for controllers that are lightly worn.

as many have said one of the main reasons for wear in the 64 controller assembly is that the groves in the plastic gimbals that the control stick travels inside of gets worn, this happens most heavily in the middle sections of each gimbal.

If the wear within each of these groves is minor, the solution can be very simple.
You obviously must disassemble the controller, and then remove the thumbstik assembly. Take the assembly apart, and clean all the plastic components with warm soapy water.
Then you take the two X,Y gimbals and inspect for wear, if they are not damaged and worn paper-thin you are good to go.

Heat a soldering iron up and let it get really toasty, then hold the gimbal to be repaired over the tip about 8mm away from it and allow it to slowly heat up from the radiant heat. Obviously you have the bottom of the half circle of the gimbal facing upward so as to heat the gimbal more evenly.

you do not want to get it to the point of melting or distorting, the aim is to heat it enough so that with pliers you can press the groove in the gimbal closer together. It comes down to judgement , but if you make it too tight you can always reheat and try setting it again.

Once cool check with the actual thumb stick to make sure that it travels smoothly up and down the whole distance of the grove in the gimbal, there should be no sideways slop at all.

Once you have done this for both the X and Y gimbals reassemble the thumbstick assembly as you would normally. I find that using silicon grease helps reduce future wear, and that the lack of a lubricant is most probably the reason for the sticks wearing so heavily in the first place (that and incorrect types of plastics) Silicon grease is very good on plastic-to-plastic contact surfaces, however in dusty/sandy conditions I would avoid it as it as sand and grit could fall into the stick and cause even quicker wear
Be sure not to go nuts with the silicon grease however, if you smear it on the optical sensor you will be confused as to why the controller behaves erratically.

This method is effective on lightly worn thumbsticks, If the gimbals are heavily worn and paper thin in the walls, this method will not work

[optmusprimenumber]

that's some good thinkin there. i like that. so it's probably safe to say that using the silicon grease would prevent any further wear... radio shack?

edit:

so it's probably safe to say that using the silicon grease would prevent any further wear...

haha, wow, you literally pretty much said exactly that.. derp

[torbinski]

Yes, that white grease that you see in RC car gearboxes is also used in lots of consumer electronics where there are nylon or plastic parts making contact, next time you take a CD-ROM drive apart you will see it being used on the disc tray mechanism and gearboxes

[flamepanther]

I must be the only person in the world who doesn't have this problem in the first place

[Curlypaul]

So, does the tin foil method work or not? How about the heating and distorting method?

Somebody out there must have found a method to restore these things by now

[Ziggy]

Somebody out there must have found a method to restore these things by now

Yeah, it's called replacements.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/REPLACEMENT-Joy ... 588e2ce33b

So called "quality" replacement. We've talked about these particular ones (Gamecube-like) in several threads now, but I don't believe any one (here) has actually tried one yet. They look decent. I'm planning to pick up a couple very soon.

As far as fixing a busted stick goes... you can fix it up a little, but it's NEVER gonna be like new again.

[BoringSupreez]

I must be the only person in the world who doesn't have this problem in the first place

If you spend much time at all playing N64, it's gonna happen to you too. It's even more inevitable than RROD with the non-slim 360 models.

[Ziggy]

Yeah. If it didn't happen to you, then you didn't play on your controller enough.

The only way it's not gonna happen, possibly, is if you lube your joystick before it breaks down. The reason why the N64 sticks get shitty is because the plastic is constantly grinding itself down while you're using it (if you open a worn joystick up you'll find a great deal of powdered plastic inside). If you lube a stick BEFORE it wears too much, then hopefully it'll keep it from breaking down.

Once a few of my sticks wore down, and I read about the problem on the internet, I immediately took preventive measures with my OK sticks. Opened them up, cleaned them, lubed them.