N64 Controller Repair?

[Lashek]

So I pulled one of my extra controllers out of storage recently and much to my dismay, I found it in this condition:



Any suggestions for repair? I can't solder and have no soldering/desoldering stations.

My initial thoughts were simply to splice the wires back together as a temporary fix, but I'd like to do something more permanent.

[Kriegspire]

but I'd like to do something more permanent.

Buy a new one

[Lashek]

But this one has countless hours of GoldenEye 007 racked up on it with my hands! Blood, sweat, and TEARS! Manly tears.

I'm currently exploring my options that do not require full controller replacement. I'm curious if I can get the dongle itself taken apart and borrow a buddies soldering iron to redo the pins as the controller itself still has a decent length of cord.

[irvgotti452]

2 options. 1. You can switch out the chord. 2. You can repair the chord. Should not be hard at all either which way you choose. I've done the repair for a genesis and snes controller which I still use (for the 2nd player  ).

The cheap repair will be electrical tape and matching colors. That easy. For more secure job a dab of solder on each cable and shrink tubing.

[wiggy]

This is your excuse to learn how to solder and wire in an extension cable while you're at it

[quickfingers8188]

n64 controllers nowadays are fairly cheap and affordable. I would just buy one instead of putting too much effort into soldering that back together, although I can't imagine it being too difficult

[StrangeBrownie]

I've picked up countless N64 controllers at goodwill and the Salvation army for as much as $2.  get one and replace the cord with a newer one. 

[Thom Grayson]

Are there any good 3rd party controllers? All the first party ones I have have loose analog sticks, and the used ones I find around here aren't much better. The 3rd party ones I've used have all been lacking as well.

[wiggy]

I've picked up countless N64 controllers at goodwill and the Salvation army for as much as $2.  get one and replace the cord with a newer one.  

That's not an option for everyone. It sure isn't for me. No goodwill stores within 30 minutes of me and none ever have video game stuff.

They sell for ~$20 at local game stores, so a 15 minute repair job would be worth it IMO.

[Kriegspire]

Are there any good 3rd party controllers? All the first party ones I have have loose analog sticks, and the used ones I find around here aren't much better. The 3rd party ones I've used have all been lacking as well.

You can replace the stick with gamecube-like quality sticks, works perfectly for platformers and mario party and the like. Not so much for shooters cause your aim will be all over the place

[Thom Grayson]

Are there any good 3rd party controllers? All the first party ones I have have loose analog sticks, and the used ones I find around here aren't much better. The 3rd party ones I've used have all been lacking as well.

You can replace the stick with gamecube-like quality sticks, works perfectly for platformers and mario party and the like. Not so much for shooters cause your aim will be all over the place

Do you have a place I could get these replacement sticks? I'm sure there's a tutorial on how to do the replacement somewhere on TCP, but I'd appreciate it if you could point me towards it.

[Kriegspire]

Are there any good 3rd party controllers? All the first party ones I have have loose analog sticks, and the used ones I find around here aren't much better. The 3rd party ones I've used have all been lacking as well.

You can replace the stick with gamecube-like quality sticks, works perfectly for platformers and mario party and the like. Not so much for shooters cause your aim will be all over the place

Do you have a place I could get these replacement sticks? I'm sure there's a tutorial on how to do the replacement somewhere on TCP, but I'd appreciate it if you could point me towards it.

Pm'd

Tutorial: Screw open N64 controller, remove old thing, insert new thing.

It's as simple as that, no soldering required.

[quickfingers818]

Are there any good 3rd party controllers? All the first party ones I have have loose analog sticks, and the used ones I find around here aren't much better. The 3rd party ones I've used have all been lacking as well.

You can replace the stick with gamecube-like quality sticks, works perfectly for platformers and mario party and the like. Not so much for shooters cause your aim will be all over the place

Do you have a place I could get these replacement sticks? I'm sure there's a tutorial on how to do the replacement somewhere on TCP, but I'd appreciate it if you could point me towards it.

Pm'd

Tutorial: Screw open N64 controller, remove old thing, insert new thing.

It's as simple as that, no soldering required.

Yes, its that simple. And most of the newly upgraded joysticks are far superior to the original one in terms of build quality