Topic: Nintendo 64 Control Stick Replacement Parts Being Kickstarted

[Traveller]

This could be the first 100% accurate replacement for the original control stick design.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/42033/nintendo-64-control-stick-replacement-parts-being-kickstarted

For a long time now, enthusiasts of the Nintendo 64 have been searching for ways to replace worn out control sticks in their controllers. Finally it seems, someone has undertaken the challenge of completely recreating the original parts.

The Nintendo 64 control stick mechanism was of a mechanical design, it utilised a few plastic gears along with the stick itself moving around inside. These physical movements and positioning of the gears and stick were then translated into the digital input information for the controller.

This poses a problem however; with mechanical parts moving and grinding against each other they slowly wear down and cause the control stick to lose its firmness and full functionality. Aside from the gears that wear, the control stick part itself also rests on a small plastic bowl that is also subject to wear, causing the all too familiar white dust to leak out of the controller.

Enkko is going to be reproducing the stick and bowl so that N64 fans can fairly easily restore their controllers. For now, they are not going to be producing the gears, but seeing as how the Kickstarter has already been funded, a stretch goal for the gears is apparently under consideration and if produced will be provided to backers at no extra cost. The gears will be delayed in shipping as construction and testing will take longer for those.

[Cyrian]

My sharkpad pro is still going strong.

[ghosthunter117]

About that sharkpad, I recall having a 3rd party N46 controller that held up much better than my official ones (the control sticks specifically are in sorry shape). I feel like the N64 joysticks were possibly one of the few things 3rd party controller manufacturers did considerably better than Nintendo as far as controllers go.

[ghosthunter117]

Looked it up. My 3rd party controllers were a Sharkpad Pro 64² and a Makopad. Both still work.

[Khushrenada]

Nintendo 64 Control Stick Replacement Parts Being Kickstarted

Looks like someone's been playing Mario Party!

[Louieturkey]

I've see parts like this for sale online.  Some have even improved it by make the design of the Gamecube controller stick work in the N64 controller.

[JusDBerube]

As someone who has deeply studied the problems with Nintendo 64 Control Sticks I have too many concerns about this project that keep me from backing it. I'd really need to see a set of their finished products in hand in order to decide if it's worth it, which is unfortunate. Also if those black gears aren't a part of it then many people will still be out of luck since those wear down on multiple points of contact adding to the problem of the worn down stick and bowl.

[Traveller]

I think this project will probably come through with something good in the end, it seems the guy behind it really wants to make them perfect. It'd be good if the gears are made too though. I actually spoke to the person behind it the other day, the small informal interview will be on the next Connectivity. The goal also is to eventually be able to sell a bunch of these fairly cheaply.

As for other options, there is not really anything anyway. The GameCube styled sticks you can buy aren't very good, they don't replicate the proper movement of a real stick, they are far too sensitive. The best workaround I've found is to install a PCB and 60 degree potentiometer from a guy named Micro, then it's almost perfect. Although he doesn't sell them all the time, he does do runs of them every so often.

[Lemonade]

Whats the point of this when you can already buy whole replacement thumb sticks?

[Traveller]

Like I said, there's nothing on the market offering a perfect replacment. All the complete sticks you can buy aren't very accurate.

[JusDBerube]

Yeah I made a video years ago which you can find on my own YouTube Channel that compares some of the different sticks and points out the problems with various brands I've acquired. They aren't 100% accurate and some aren't even the correct colors.

I also made an instructional video showing people how to lubricate the control stick pieces to make the parts last longer. If you plan to use a N64 stick I highly suggest you do this.

[Mop it up]

There have been many replacement sticks available from several places for years now, so I'm unclear how this is supposed to be different. I imagine that if they found a way to make these parts out of some sort of metal, they would no longer get worn down or at least it would take a whole lot longer. But if they're just doing plastic again? I'm not so sure about that...

If anyone already has some sticks in good condition, using ceramic grease on them will keep them that way.

[Traveller]

There have been many replacement sticks available from several places for years now, so I'm unclear how this is supposed to be different. I imagine that if they found a way to make these parts out of some sort of metal, they would no longer get worn down or at least it would take a whole lot longer. But if they're just doing plastic again? I'm not so sure about that...

If anyone already has some sticks in good condition, using ceramic grease on them will keep them that way.

Apparently they are looking into using a more sturdy plastic or something. The sticks don't wear down super fast under normal use anyway, my original controllers still have great sticks.

I also think it wouldn't matter too much anyway, if its cheap enough to buy a pack of them, you'll always have replacements for a long time.

I'm interested in seeing the final product. If the mould and the sticks are made well, this will be the best way to fix the N64 controllers.