A couple details: 1. I highly recommend silicone grease, it is very stable and safe on plastics. White lithium grease gets kind of crusty over time. 2. I use compressed air on the joystick parts to remove the dust. Does a better job than just trying to wipe it off. As long as you do not breath in the dust :p
@@1122markj It is faster and easier to not miss spots in the nooks and crannies of some of the small parts. But if you don't have air duster don't sweat over it just wipe it off.
@@EvilMaxWar what brand sillicone grease do you use? I've tried white lithium in a spray can and a tube and neither really seem to provide much lubrication.
Thanks for the white lithium grease tip! Although from my experience, the problem lies not in the white "bowl" piece, but rather the two black swiveling geared pieces. I'm fairly certain the white dust (although it is white) actually comes from the wearing down of the openings of these black swiveling geared pieces caused by the grey joystick. Adding to the bowl will definitely prevent the looseness of the joystick, but doesn't quite get to the root of the problem. The root of the problem, to me, is the fact that as the joystick wears, it is creating a larger and larger "dead zone", of which the movement of the stick is not being registering. What I ended up doing was applying JB weld across the holes in these black pieces, and carefully using a router to sculpt it back to it's original, non-worn, shape. That along with the lithium grease, they work like new!
In my experience the problem is with both parts. I fixed those two black gears on my controllers using epoxic putty and sanding them to shape and while it improved how the control worked and felt it still wasn't enough, the joystick still was a little limp and wasn't as sensitive in some directions while playing, so i fixed the white bowl part too and now it works as new, it still has some little details but other than buying a new joystick i think this is the best i could fix it.
Man every time I try to repair any game items, I end up spending 3-4 hours either with no results or making the thing worse. I really respect you Luke haha.
Too much work man. I found this video AFTER I permanently fixed mine. I just used my girlfriends acrylic nail polish and uv light. I just painted on as many coats as I needed and cured it with the UV light between coats. Checked the fit as I went. Worked like a charm and its super smooth. No holes. No dremel. No sanding nothing. Only q-tips, alcohol, phillips screwdriver, and an acryllic nail polish kit. Maybe I'll do a vid if I ever get a camera.
Hey I realize you wrote this comment a while back but if you could go into descriptive detail because that would be great as my mom and dad own like all the things you described plus it sounds easier to do the way you make it sound.
@@alisont5335 does nail polish last forever on nails? No it doesn't he just extended the life of his controller, he did not permanently fix it. It will still eventually wear down like the original. Best thing to do is to yearly clean and grease. Not a thin grease that the dude in the video used but something like silicone/ white lithium.
thingiverse has the N64 joystick model for free. I just ordered a 3d printer and have 5 good controllers. just need to measure, model, and print the parts and clean everything up. It might have some problems with the gears though.
I did this to my favorite N64 controller, and now it works like a charm! It's as good, if not better than when I first got it way back in 2000, Very informative video. Good job!
I always thought it was my fault specifically that seemingly EVERY controller would get loose. I started going 'easy' on controllers to prevent it. Wished I knew this back in the day.
while you're at it, i would recommend giving all spots where plastic rubs on platic a little wipe with a greasy cotton swab, just to minimize future wear. white lithium grease is perfect, for it's aging resistance.
When he started counting screws on the back I thought "uh oh", then you did an awesome job with dremel and glue, you're a great hobbyist and it was very clear.
Thing with living in Norway.. just getting the rest I need for this (lube and glue) will cost me more than 4-5 joystick replacement parts from Amazon.. so yeah..
I've been looking for a permanent repair for the N64 Controller thumbstick for years. Thank you very much, there isnt anything like this on the web! I've looked!
Great stuff! I thought my controller was in good condition but when I took your advice to grease it, I discovered powder within - now cleaned and greased hopefully future proof!
I'm repairing one of these controllers right now. I love the information presented in your video! Some of it seems contradictory, but it is really just a matter of resolving the problem which you cover very clearly. Thank you for being so thorough in your details.
Hey lukemorse, I just wanted to comment and say your video was the best tutorial on repairing n64 controllers I could find. I used your method on all 4 of my controllers and its as if they are brand new! Thanks so much!
Great method. One pointer though, there is no need to tape the bowl to a corner. Simply remove the two gear wheels and set on a flat surface until dry.
I was playing took a break for lunch came back 10 minutes later and played for 1 minutes the video was starting to go checked the AV cables came back 20 seconds later it just shutdown and didn't work since. And thanks for replaying back it's a honor to talk with you :)
I’m going to give this a shot. Got nothing to lose, mine is totally shot. I got one of those GameCube style replacements, way too sensitive. Thanks for the video!
thanks for all your videos man, you're a real gem among all the uncountable gaming channels on this place. It's nice to see videos from a real, genuine hardware expert.
Edit* there is a second half where you show the exact thing I was typing about below. If you are watching, skip to 11:45 and that is where the real fix is. You should grease it after it is fixed and feels correct. Not sure why the first 11 minutes of this video exist. Old Post: How does this work for any duration of time?
The fault in the stick is that the bottom of the stick rubs against the bottom of the bowl that you put the grease in. Over time it hollows out the bottom of the bowl and the stick essentially sinks further into that housing. As it sinks, there is less pressure holding it up and it begins to wiggle. Your short term fix maybe gave a little bit of padding to push the stick back up temporaraly. However, as you use it, it would quickly push the grease away and the padding would disappear and the stick will sink back again in no time at all.
A hard resin filler in the bottom of the bowl has potential.
This solution is a waste of material and time.
If you get a cavity, you don’t put a bunch of toothpaste on it. You fill it with a hard material that will withstand impact.
Greatly appreciate you putting in the time to make this video. I have a new appreciation for my controllers and you probably saved my 4 favorite controllers.
If anyone is going to try this method please be aware that all Japanese products use Jis screws ( Japanese industrial standard)they may look like your everyday Philips/pozidrive Screws but they aren’t ,if you use any other screwdriver other than a Jis you will run the risk of stripping the screw head,always use the correct tool for the job The drivers you can purchase from amazon or eBay.
ive been opening my controllers for years and greasing them with lithium grease. but using glue to fix the bowl. impressive :P personally i think professional grade super glue with a calcium like powder mixed in would work pretty good too.
@@Eskilz40 maybe not in our lifetime but it will, also you still want to do a yearly clean and reapply of the grease cause dust, dirt, sweat will still seep into the joystick and contaminate the grease
Instead of using a cloth to wipe and rub the old dust out, I'd recommend using a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol. You can get q-tips or cotton swabs that don't fray easily. The rubbing alcohol helps the dust stick to the cotton, and the rubbing alcohol evaporates cleanly and is safe for most surfaces.
Aaaand I just ordered a pair of GameCube style N64 replacement analog sticks. Whatever, I still have a 3rd N64 controller I can try this fix on. Thank you Luke, this is a great idea and a great tutorial!
This is a fantastic guide - thanks Luke! I plan on getting some extra original controllers and replacing the joysticks with good replacements on eBay, but when I put them in, I'll do your maintenance recommendation and put grease in there to prevent future breakdowns.
Hey Dude! Thanks for this. I tried it recently and it works like a charm. Onyl thing is figuring out the right amount of glue to use and how to get it into the right shape, so it doesn't stand out in the middle or it would get the joystick stuck after reassembly. Thanks to the hole in the bottom, however, you can as you said remove the glue and try again. First controller worked at once, but I had to try three times for the second one to get it right. Now they're both good as new. Thanks, man!
I used graphite instead of the type of grease that you used as an example. It did make the joystick MUCH smoother, however, it didn't fix the looseness of the joystick.
I did this back in the days, I remember that there was a white powder in it when I open it so I used baby powder to replace it. It may be not permanent, but it felt like new it terms of feels and sound when using the joystick. Also it's dry. I found it worked great for me
If you don't happen to a have a dremel, you can get that center plastic thing of with anything sharp like a box cutter, just make shure it's pretty plane. For the drilling I suggest using 1.5 mm drill. Seemed to be the best size for me.
a little bit of life in it?? the joystick isn't done untill your thumb is BLEEDING, but seriously though, this is the most definite repair tutorial ever, thanks!
Hi Luke, I love watching your videos. Today I bought an Ice controller with a bad stick for $3.50. I had also replaced a stick previously with a gamecube-style analog. I tried your method to good success in fixing both the Ice Controller and the left-over analog from the previous project.
People actually exist that will take time out of their day to comment "lousy camera work" the universe is fuckin wild . Great video, thanks for sharing!
I never really thought about the white "bowl" being a worn out piece. Thanks for posting this video, because I wanted to restore loose Nintendo 64 Control Sticks, but never got good at it. I'm actually not sure if I should keep them anymore...
20:01 : Instead of reshaping it, just put a small drop of glue on the end of the joystick. It will make a round shape like the original. If your joystick ends up with too much tension, sand down the glue ball until satisfied. Also mind the black cage shape, as explained in the video. There are a lot of variables you can play with when fixing up loose joysticks, mind them all and go with the one that makes the most sense for your particular situation.
I like your thinking, but I think the wear and tear on the bowl tends to be mostly around the center. Effectively extending the stick would cause it to feel normal in the center, but too tight around the edges.
Jake Dooley You are actually partially right. I tried it on two of them and it worked really good for one of them, but the second one did exactly as you described. So the wear pattern of the bowl also has to be taken into consideration when choosing a method, and they happen to mostly wear down the center. So I also like YOUR thinking cheers
Check that the little black sensor wheels are not damaged. That's what sits in front of the chip. There might be something wrong with the one that controls the left and right movement.
I normally just buy a 3rd party replacement stick, but if you don't feel like paying or if you don't want to wait for it to arrive from Hong Kong this is a good alternative. Even with the lubricant though, eventually the lube will be used up and you will ruin it and need to fully replace the stick.
Awesome vid Luke, love these repair vids. You really know your stuff and explain it in an easy to follow way. You also make sure we see exactly what you're doing (got to love those repair vids with the camera at the other side of house so you have no clue what's happening at the fingertips). Very handy fix and one some of my N64 controllers surely need! Thanks man!
Excellent video! You also speak with experience, confidence and fluidity. I can't express my gratitude enough for your solution to this age-old problem. Thankyou.
Thanks for listing this site because this is way cheaper and quicker! Hell, a dremmel tool is $100 alone. Sure you could do this repair without one, but it's a handy tool.
You'd be surprised at how inexpensive a lot of these materials actually are. Some stuff, like toothpicks or cotton swabs, you've definitely already got lying around, and other stuff, like the lithium grease, is very cheap to buy. Other items, like a dremmel tool are just fantastic tools to have around the house for a bunch of different reasons. If you don't have one, and you're not convinced it'll give you decades of solid repair work for a ~$100 tool, then ask around. Someone nearby in your family or friend group likely has one that they'll be willing to let you borrow. The 2-part epoxy stuff is likewise probably inexpensive, but it's the most niche item. Probably super-useful in these restoration tasks, but not something I think I'd be pulling out every month to do repair stuff with. If that's all too much, then instead of repairing small parts like a joystick, you might have better luck buying a replacement for something like $8 online, and then squirting some white lithium grease into it as shown in the video for some preventative maintenance, or you could use silica grease or graphite. You have options for tons of different complexity levels and how long you need the repair to last. These are the options and techniques that make repair/restoration such a fun subject to learn about and practice!
He's using a two part epoxy. They are available in any hardware store and come in many brands. The main thing you need to make sure of is that it is meant for plastic. Usually you mix A into B in equal parts and that activates the epoxy and causes it to harden into plastic basically. Epoxy is more permanent than glue.
those U shaped things gets stretched out word on ours because the kids still try pushing the analog farther then it can really go (which can also give it that slack with the stick) .. i use a hair dryer on it while lightly squeezing it towards the stick with needle nose tool.. then keep it held like that till it cools down :)
you have to cut it to where it lays flat over the bowl and both ends of the casing so that when you close it, it will overlap and keep it in place. cut the excess fabric though! plus you have to put the x & y pieces on top of the fabric. You can just leave x on the joystick though wont harm it. test it and see what you think.!
Awe dude, it's much easier to fix using melted nylon. This is a good tutorial but you made it more complicated than it needs to be. Then again, I'm not posting any tutorials, so good work. :)
Mommy_Hunter Yes, that and that bitch ass rowboat paddle game. The crucified bloody center of your hands afterwords was pretty sweet too. Damn that was a good game..Kids don't even know these days.
Awesome! but unfortunately that is not usually the case. These days most kids are playing some sort of COD Modern Stoolfest and in their opinion about everything else is that it's either kiddie, lame, gay, or the graphics suck. But good for you, It's cool to see that there are still people gaining interest in the classics. Have you beat Zelda OOT yet?.
Hey Lukemorse1, thanks for sharing this great instructional. One little addition: It is important to use PLASTIC SAFE grease. Otherwise the plastic will soften and be damaged easily in the long run. Nonetheless great video and I'm definitely going to try this method!
Excellent video. I just happened to try to fix one stick 2 days before you published the video (using the so-called tape method) and the result was far from being satisfactory. Yours makes much more sense and it seems to be a more durable and reliable one. Thanks for sharing mate.
I can understand for the Pokemon Stadium mini-games; the Ekans mini-game and Hitmontop in my opinion are the 2 main mini-games that would wear out the Control Stick. Mario Party would also be a suspect of worn Control Sticks.
I put white lithium grease on my n64 joysticks when I first got them and to this day are very tight compared to most out and about nowadays. Wasn't looking for A fix but was wondering what other people did to preserve the sticks and this guys tut is the best as I basically did the same thing once I got my 64 years ago after playing others before I got mine and noticed this was A problem. As with another comment on here the white lithium works well in the long term and isn't really crusty but I can see what he is saying with that. Go with silicone i'd try that even after doing the white lithium. But I can't comment about the second repair he did at all.
I recently bought the Gamecube style replacement analogue sticks for my N64 controllers. And the experience is way better than with the originals where those were new.
Totally disagree with this, it's personal opinion but you must agree that they are much more sensitive and in games where you only need to 'walk' instead of 'run' for example is way too hard. good for mario kart, not good for smash bros or goldeneye
they input in 2's instead of 1's. The sensitivity of the OEM N64 controller goes from 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 while this 3rd party replacement inputs 2,4,6,8,0 so half the inputs equals very sensitive controller.
I looked away from my screen right there to take a drink and I realised it and died a little inside! Btw, going to try this, I have three controllers and all of them are useless, thanks for putting this up!
Excellent video-you may want to add not to put much grease since it could get to optical sensors if someone puts gobbs on there. Also you could make a perfect mold for the glue by getting a good joystick and putting very light layer of lubricant then plaster of paris or some other similar substance then pulling out when hardened then putting glue then mold into the bad joystick then pressing down for perfect amount of glue(you would use extra glue to be sure it didn't go too thin.
Shapeways also has a polished silver bowl you can get. Though it requires using a step-down drill bit and making a 7/16 hole. If you don't have a spare, get a bowl from Kitsch Bent and drill into that, and use plastic friendly superlube. I'm pretty much going all out for mine, and unfortunately paying the price for it lol. You can get brass cages, which I ordered, and a SteelStick64 bowl. Once everything gets here, my stick is gonna last forever lmao
back in the 90s, i used epoxy coated with super glue, the key is to let the superglue dry as much as you can before use it, i left the repaired parts out in the sun for 2 or 3 days, the glue becomes WAAAAYYY to hard and up to this day the controllers still work like new... took me a lot of trial and error but worked...
i don`t know how is called in your country, google "plastiacero" and you`ll see it, it`s twin srynge with a white and gray liquids: use 2 parts of hardener with one of epoxy (2 white per one gray) and fill the worn parts (not the stick, just the black thingies, once it`s hard, use a thin file to gently scratch the epoxy enough so the stick can get in, now use a small amount of super glue on the epoxy and let it dry, really really dry, on the sun, once the super glue is set, use the file to smooth it and that`s it. the white thing on the bottom is a little tricky to fix but if it`s too worn down you can try this: put it on a flat surface and pour super glue on it, enough to cover the worn part, now don`t move it and let dry, it will take a long, long long time since it`s a thick layer of glue but be patient. after a week or so when you are sure it`s dry, use some sand paper with you finger and make it as smooth as possible..
Thanks. All this time, I never knew what the white powder from around the stick was. Have you tried the new hall effects joystick for this controller? Less maintenance.
I found some N64 joystick assemblies on AliExpress. They were about 3 bucks each and they have the plug-in harness. I ordered 5 and all were tight. They just take about a week for delivery.
Many thanks Luke, this is very informational and thanks for the excellent tutorial. I know a few of my N64 controllers will require some repairs and thanks to this, I can make them almost like new again.
Never use white lithium grease. If it's anything like the stuff my employer buys, it will harden into a gummy solid and seize up whatever you put it on.
Yes I second the silicone grease. Please don't use white lithium grease or any sort of graphite grease as they are not safe for plastics and will eat into it making it brittle over time.
A couple details:
1. I highly recommend silicone grease, it is very stable and safe on plastics. White lithium grease gets kind of crusty over time.
2. I use compressed air on the joystick parts to remove the dust. Does a better job than just trying to wipe it off. As long as you do not breath in the dust :p
KITTY!
What mskes the compressed air method better than wiping it off? I'm about to all this and could use some help understanding
@@1122markj It is faster and easier to not miss spots in the nooks and crannies of some of the small parts. But if you don't have air duster don't sweat over it just wipe it off.
@@EvilMaxWar what brand sillicone grease do you use? I've tried white lithium in a spray can and a tube and neither really seem to provide much lubrication.
What about joy con butter?
Thanks for the white lithium grease tip! Although from my experience, the problem lies not in the white "bowl" piece, but rather the two black swiveling geared pieces. I'm fairly certain the white dust (although it is white) actually comes from the wearing down of the openings of these black swiveling geared pieces caused by the grey joystick. Adding to the bowl will definitely prevent the looseness of the joystick, but doesn't quite get to the root of the problem. The root of the problem, to me, is the fact that as the joystick wears, it is creating a larger and larger "dead zone", of which the movement of the stick is not being registering. What I ended up doing was applying JB weld across the holes in these black pieces, and carefully using a router to sculpt it back to it's original, non-worn, shape. That along with the lithium grease, they work like new!
he did mention something about the black swiveling gear pieces at 19:18
What about buying a replacement stick?
@@masonbaker2377 this wouldn't be a repair video then.
This makes more sense
In my experience the problem is with both parts. I fixed those two black gears on my controllers using epoxic putty and sanding them to shape and while it improved how the control worked and felt it still wasn't enough, the joystick still was a little limp and wasn't as sensitive in some directions while playing, so i fixed the white bowl part too and now it works as new, it still has some little details but other than buying a new joystick i think this is the best i could fix it.
0:00 - Intro
1:45 - Things you'll need
2:50 - Prevent this from happening
10:35 - Fix a joystick
Man every time I try to repair any game items, I end up spending 3-4 hours either with no results or making the thing worse. I really respect you Luke haha.
Dude, you deserve way more subs! The information you're sharing is invaluable!
Too much work man. I found this video AFTER I permanently fixed mine. I just used my girlfriends acrylic nail polish and uv light. I just painted on as many coats as I needed and cured it with the UV light between coats. Checked the fit as I went. Worked like a charm and its super smooth. No holes. No dremel. No sanding nothing. Only q-tips, alcohol, phillips screwdriver, and an acryllic nail polish kit. Maybe I'll do a vid if I ever get a camera.
plz do
Hey I realize you wrote this comment a while back but if you could go into descriptive detail because that would be great as my mom and dad own like all the things you described plus it sounds easier to do the way you make it sound.
Wouldn't that wear down pretty quick? Unless nail polish is meant to last forever.
@@alisont5335 does nail polish last forever on nails? No it doesn't he just extended the life of his controller, he did not permanently fix it. It will still eventually wear down like the original. Best thing to do is to yearly clean and grease. Not a thin grease that the dude in the video used but something like silicone/ white lithium.
I guess some major Mario Party was played on some of these controllers.
+Brandon_Da_Mandon_87 Nope. Heavy Goldeneye and Perfect Dark did this for me.
+Tywin Lannister same here!
worst blister of my childhood
Donkey kong 64 and rayman 2 did this to me
The vast majority of wear on mine can be attributed to "so long gay Bowser."
So, MOST of the important stuff happens off-camera/out of focus. :/
cant wait till this can be 3d printed perfectly for an actual perfect solution
+Eddie Tupy I know right
Shapeways sells 3D printed bowls for these n64 joysticks. I haven't bought one to test. Anybody wanna be the Ginney pig lol?
thingiverse has the N64 joystick model for free. I just ordered a 3d printer and have 5 good controllers. just need to measure, model, and print the parts and clean everything up. It might have some problems with the gears though.
Here's a place that sells replacement parts. store.kitsch-bent.com/product/n64-joystick-gears
have you tried the replacement part? does it feel "normal"?
I wish there was a service where you could send it in and they'd do it for you
ua-cam.com/video/exN-azYGMB4/v-deo.html&lc=UgygqQQ1lwcawUxhINl4AaABAg.9H_BhrNgAmf9Hb2r2WSu7j
Hell no they can't make in of the worst things on the planet (n64 analogue stick) any easier
I did this to my favorite N64 controller, and now it works like a charm! It's as good, if not better than when I first got it way back in 2000, Very informative video. Good job!
Non tape method, requires tape
+Kyle Comeau But it's not _the_ tape method
Lmao my thoughts exactly
yeah fuck this guys video
@@Vitoamiibo lol human doesn't understand what the tape was used for
ROFLMAO
I always thought it was my fault specifically that seemingly EVERY controller would get loose. I started going 'easy' on controllers to prevent it. Wished I knew this back in the day.
while you're at it, i would recommend giving all spots where plastic rubs on platic a little wipe with a greasy cotton swab, just to minimize future wear. white lithium grease is perfect, for it's aging resistance.
When he started counting screws on the back I thought "uh oh", then you did an awesome job with dremel and glue, you're a great hobbyist and it was very clear.
i machined 4 sticks & the white seat out of aluminum and used a ball bearing on the bottom of the stick.
smooth as silk
God damn. did you do it by hand?
***** nope, need a lathe, die grinder and something to cold press the bearing
SuperDeluxe80 this sounds sexy
Haha that's awesome.
Thing with living in Norway.. just getting the rest I need for this (lube and glue) will cost me more than 4-5 joystick replacement parts from Amazon.. so yeah..
Hori tribute
11:12 Holy crap! It looks like teeny little Gremlins sneaked in there and chewed the hell out of it.
Man, I just watched the whole thing, like it was nothing.
I have never owned an N64, but this was so informative I barely noted the time go by.
Props.
I've been looking for a permanent repair for the N64 Controller thumbstick for years. Thank you very much, there isnt anything like this on the web! I've looked!
Thank you Super Mario 64, Paper Mario and Mario Party for fucking up our N64 controllers.
lol 1080 snowboard did that bro
It's Smash Bros 64 for me! Things get really intense in that game.
Jayrwin LeBlanc yes they do me, my bros and friends used to skip school back in high school and play smash for hours
It was GoldenEye for me, that damn chaotic game
Great stuff! I thought my controller was in good condition but when I took your advice to grease it, I discovered powder within - now cleaned and greased hopefully future proof!
I'm repairing one of these controllers right now. I love the information presented in your video! Some of it seems contradictory, but it is really just a matter of resolving the problem which you cover very clearly. Thank you for being so thorough in your details.
The fact that you have 16k + subscribers and still reply to comments suggests that you are the best at everything.
"Non-tape method."
"So we're going to need some tape, and--" LOL
Just teasing. :P Great video!
Hey lukemorse, I just wanted to comment and say your video was the best tutorial on repairing n64 controllers I could find. I used your method on all 4 of my controllers and its as if they are brand new! Thanks so much!
Great method. One pointer though, there is no need to tape the bowl to a corner.
Simply remove the two gear wheels and set on a flat surface until dry.
I was playing took a break for lunch came back 10 minutes later and played for 1 minutes the video was starting to go checked the AV cables came back 20 seconds later it just shutdown and didn't work since. And thanks for replaying back it's a honor to talk with you :)
I’m going to give this a shot. Got nothing to lose, mine is totally shot. I got one of those GameCube style replacements, way too sensitive. Thanks for the video!
thanks for all your videos man, you're a real gem among all the uncountable gaming channels on this place. It's nice to see videos from a real, genuine hardware expert.
Edit* there is a second half where you show the exact thing I was typing about below.
If you are watching, skip to 11:45 and that is where the real fix is.
You should grease it after it is fixed and feels correct.
Not sure why the first 11 minutes of this video exist.
Old Post: How does this work for any duration of time?
The fault in the stick is that the bottom of the stick rubs against the bottom of the bowl that you put the grease in.
Over time it hollows out the bottom of the bowl and the stick essentially sinks further into that housing. As it sinks, there is less pressure holding it up and it begins to wiggle.
Your short term fix maybe gave a little bit of padding to push the stick back up temporaraly.
However, as you use it, it would quickly push the grease away and the padding would disappear and the stick will sink back again in no time at all.
A hard resin filler in the bottom of the bowl has potential.
This solution is a waste of material and time.
If you get a cavity, you don’t put a bunch of toothpaste on it.
You fill it with a hard material that will withstand impact.
Greatly appreciate you putting in the time to make this video. I have a new appreciation for my controllers and you probably saved my 4 favorite controllers.
Miss all these repair videos watched almost your whole playlist of repairs mostly NEO GEO but still very interesting for me!
If anyone is going to try this method please be aware that all Japanese products use Jis screws ( Japanese industrial standard)they may look like your everyday Philips/pozidrive
Screws but they aren’t ,if you use any other screwdriver other than a Jis you will run the risk of stripping the screw head,always use the correct tool for the job
The drivers you can purchase from amazon or eBay.
ive been opening my controllers for years and greasing them with lithium grease. but using glue to fix the bowl. impressive :P personally i think professional grade super glue with a calcium like powder mixed in would work pretty good too.
Me too lithium grease will not ever wear out
@@Eskilz40 maybe not in our lifetime but it will, also you still want to do a yearly clean and reapply of the grease cause dust, dirt, sweat will still seep into the joystick and contaminate the grease
Instead of using a cloth to wipe and rub the old dust out, I'd recommend using a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol. You can get q-tips or cotton swabs that don't fray easily. The rubbing alcohol helps the dust stick to the cotton, and the rubbing alcohol evaporates cleanly and is safe for most surfaces.
Does the epoxy need to be japanese or can I use a non japanese epoxy with my japanese game system?
hahahahahahhahaa wtf
Christian Kurti rice milk.
Jdm mofu cka
You absolutely MUST use Japanese epoxy on a Japanese system. You risk damaging your system otherwise.
Region compatable epoxy lol
Aaaand I just ordered a pair of GameCube style N64 replacement analog sticks. Whatever, I still have a 3rd N64 controller I can try this fix on. Thank you Luke, this is a great idea and a great tutorial!
Love those dramatic shadows.
This is a fantastic guide - thanks Luke!
I plan on getting some extra original controllers and replacing the joysticks with good replacements on eBay, but when I put them in, I'll do your maintenance recommendation and put grease in there to prevent future breakdowns.
Hey Dude! Thanks for this. I tried it recently and it works like a charm. Onyl thing is figuring out the right amount of glue to use and how to get it into the right shape, so it doesn't stand out in the middle or it would get the joystick stuck after reassembly. Thanks to the hole in the bottom, however, you can as you said remove the glue and try again. First controller worked at once, but I had to try three times for the second one to get it right. Now they're both good as new. Thanks, man!
I used graphite instead of the type of grease that you used as an example. It did make the joystick MUCH smoother, however, it didn't fix the looseness of the joystick.
miss these repair vids luke, thanks so much for sharing
I did this back in the days, I remember that there was a white powder in it when I open it so I used baby powder to replace it. It may be not permanent, but it felt like new it terms of feels and sound when using the joystick. Also it's dry. I found it worked great for me
Always heard this can be done, but never seen it how its done before. Thanks for the upload!
This repair couldn't have been explained any better, thanks for sharing and Nice Work.
If you don't happen to a have a dremel, you can get that center plastic thing of with anything sharp like a box cutter, just make shure it's pretty plane.
For the drilling I suggest using 1.5 mm drill. Seemed to be the best size for me.
a little bit of life in it?? the joystick isn't done untill your thumb is BLEEDING, but seriously though, this is the most definite repair tutorial ever, thanks!
Hi Luke, I love watching your videos. Today I bought an Ice controller with a bad stick for $3.50. I had also replaced a stick previously with a gamecube-style analog. I tried your method to good success in fixing both the Ice Controller and the left-over analog from the previous project.
People actually exist that will take time out of their day to comment "lousy camera work" the universe is fuckin wild . Great video, thanks for sharing!
Another point: This is from 2012. It wasn't as common to have great production quality on every video then.
Interesting that you decided to continue spreading the negative energy, I mean I didn’t even see that comment.
16:00
You could just gently remove the gears and set it right on a flat surface, rather than set it at the edge of a corner.
I was watching that thinking the same thing. They come off... Much easier than balancing it on a corner of a box or table.
I never really thought about the white "bowl" being a worn out piece. Thanks for posting this video, because I wanted to restore loose Nintendo 64 Control Sticks, but never got good at it. I'm actually not sure if I should keep them anymore...
20:01 : Instead of reshaping it, just put a small drop of glue on the end of the joystick. It will make a round shape like the original. If your joystick ends up with too much tension, sand down the glue ball until satisfied. Also mind the black cage shape, as explained in the video.
There are a lot of variables you can play with when fixing up loose joysticks, mind them all and go with the one that makes the most sense for your particular situation.
I like your thinking, but I think the wear and tear on the bowl tends to be mostly around the center. Effectively extending the stick would cause it to feel normal in the center, but too tight around the edges.
Jake Dooley
You are actually partially right. I tried it on two of them and it worked really good for one of them, but the second one did exactly as you described.
So the wear pattern of the bowl also has to be taken into consideration when choosing a method, and they happen to mostly wear down the center.
So I also like YOUR thinking cheers
You should never lubricate plastic parts with petro-based grease. I would use silicone lubricant, personally. Doesn't break down the plastic.
I wonder how many people used WD-40 on the joystick...
@@MFKR696 Yeah. I've known people who thought it was a lubricant in of itself...
@@MFKR696 Nope
Check that the little black sensor wheels are not damaged. That's what sits in front of the chip. There might be something wrong with the one that controls the left and right movement.
I normally just buy a 3rd party replacement stick, but if you don't feel like paying or if you don't want to wait for it to arrive from Hong Kong this is a good alternative. Even with the lubricant though, eventually the lube will be used up and you will ruin it and need to fully replace the stick.
Awesome vid Luke, love these repair vids. You really know your stuff and explain it in an easy to follow way. You also make sure we see exactly what you're doing (got to love those repair vids with the camera at the other side of house so you have no clue what's happening at the fingertips).
Very handy fix and one some of my N64 controllers surely need! Thanks man!
mine never wore out, still perfect since 96. I opened them as soon as I got it and found that flaw on day one.
So u just added grease on day one? Or what did u do?
@@pjnightingale4423 yep. It came bone dry and thats just asking for premature failure.
cpu64 what did u lube it with?
@@pjnightingale4423 white lithium grease. Its safer for plastics.
@@cpu64 have u ever needed to re apply any?
Excellent video! You also speak with experience, confidence and fluidity. I can't express my gratitude enough for your solution to this age-old problem. Thankyou.
Thanks for listing this site because this is way cheaper and quicker! Hell, a dremmel tool is $100 alone. Sure you could do this repair without one, but it's a handy tool.
THAT CONTROLLER IS A GOOD FIND! As far as N64 controllers are concerned.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUKKKKEEEEEE!!! just got into the n64 again and was looking up fixes for n64 controllers, so glad i'm back on your chanel
This is my main complaint about the N64 controller, it wears out too damn fast
Glad there's a fix for it
Wish I had all of these materials.
You'd be surprised at how inexpensive a lot of these materials actually are. Some stuff, like toothpicks or cotton swabs, you've definitely already got lying around, and other stuff, like the lithium grease, is very cheap to buy.
Other items, like a dremmel tool are just fantastic tools to have around the house for a bunch of different reasons. If you don't have one, and you're not convinced it'll give you decades of solid repair work for a ~$100 tool, then ask around. Someone nearby in your family or friend group likely has one that they'll be willing to let you borrow. The 2-part epoxy stuff is likewise probably inexpensive, but it's the most niche item. Probably super-useful in these restoration tasks, but not something I think I'd be pulling out every month to do repair stuff with.
If that's all too much, then instead of repairing small parts like a joystick, you might have better luck buying a replacement for something like $8 online, and then squirting some white lithium grease into it as shown in the video for some preventative maintenance, or you could use silica grease or graphite. You have options for tons of different complexity levels and how long you need the repair to last. These are the options and techniques that make repair/restoration such a fun subject to learn about and practice!
He's using a two part epoxy. They are available in any hardware store and come in many brands. The main thing you need to make sure of is that it is meant for plastic. Usually you mix A into B in equal parts and that activates the epoxy and causes it to harden into plastic basically. Epoxy is more permanent than glue.
those U shaped things gets stretched out word on ours because the kids still try pushing the analog farther then it can really go (which can also give it that slack with the stick) .. i use a hair dryer on it while lightly squeezing it towards the stick with needle nose tool.. then keep it held like that till it cools down :)
Cool idea
I'm definitely gonna use this method to restore my old N64 controller that came with my system back when.
It's done on my 3 controlers, it realy work better, many thanks Luke
you have to cut it to where it lays flat over the bowl and both ends of the casing so that when you close it, it will overlap and keep it in place. cut the excess fabric though! plus you have to put the x & y pieces on top of the fabric. You can just leave x on the joystick though wont harm it. test it and see what you think.!
Awe dude, it's much easier to fix using melted nylon.
This is a good tutorial but you made it more complicated than it needs to be.
Then again, I'm not posting any tutorials, so good work. :)
Mario Party 3, the destroyer of all N64 Thumbsticks!
mario party 1 is the true destroyer
3? It's 1. The third one has no stick-rotating minigames whatsoever.
tug of war mario party fucked up all joypads.
I literally tore the skin off my palm 2 nights ago in that mini game haha. Now i have to fix the controller too, but i won the mini game 1v3. :)
I used to play that game all the time with some of my friends but eventually the joy sticks got tired and quit working
Mommy_Hunter Yes, that and that bitch ass rowboat paddle game. The crucified bloody center of your hands afterwords was pretty sweet too. Damn that was a good game..Kids don't even know these days.
A n64 is all I ever had and I'm 14
Awesome! but unfortunately that is not usually the case. These days most kids are playing some sort of COD Modern Stoolfest and in their opinion about everything else is that it's either kiddie, lame, gay, or the graphics suck. But good for you, It's cool to see that there are still people gaining interest in the classics. Have you beat Zelda OOT yet?.
Hey Lukemorse1, thanks for sharing this great instructional. One little addition: It is important to use PLASTIC SAFE grease. Otherwise the plastic will soften and be damaged easily in the long run. Nonetheless great video and I'm definitely going to try this method!
Jet Force Gemini was pretty cool, and still an exclusive.
Was this scripted? Your commentary is solid!
Excellent video. I just happened to try to fix one stick 2 days before you published the video (using the so-called tape method) and the result was far from being satisfactory. Yours makes much more sense and it seems to be a more durable and reliable one. Thanks for sharing mate.
I can understand for the Pokemon Stadium mini-games; the Ekans mini-game and Hitmontop in my opinion are the 2 main mini-games that would wear out the Control Stick. Mario Party would also be a suspect of worn Control Sticks.
I put white lithium grease on my n64 joysticks when I first got them and to this day are very tight compared to most out and about nowadays. Wasn't looking for A fix but was wondering what other people did to preserve the sticks and this guys tut is the best as I basically did the same thing once I got my 64 years ago after playing others before I got mine and noticed this was A problem. As with another comment on here the white lithium works well in the long term and isn't really crusty but I can see what he is saying with that. Go with silicone i'd try that even after doing the white lithium. But I can't comment about the second repair he did at all.
Super glue sprinkled with a little baking soda . . dries instantly rock hard
Great vid, I ordered a new one but figured I would clean this one and put away as a spare. Thanks!
Thanks so much Luke I remember messaging you on this a while back and now you finally made a video :)
i used white lithium grease today. Seems to work pretty well.
I used Cyanoacrylate (AKA Super Bonder here in Brazil) from Loctite, instead of epoxy. Worked perfectly. :) Thank you very much!
I recently bought the Gamecube style replacement analogue sticks for my N64 controllers. And the experience is way better than with the originals where those were new.
Totally disagree with this, it's personal opinion but you must agree that they are much more sensitive and in games where you only need to 'walk' instead of 'run' for example is way too hard. good for mario kart, not good for smash bros or goldeneye
Corky64 i heard that some games aren't compatible with a gamecube analogue stick,
mmm. Not that i've seen. I don't play much of a variety though. Just the classics.
they input in 2's instead of 1's. The sensitivity of the OEM N64 controller goes from 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 while this 3rd party replacement inputs 2,4,6,8,0 so half the inputs equals very sensitive controller.
digitalblasphemy1100 It's very easy to get used to that sensibility.
I looked away from my screen right there to take a drink and I realised it and died a little inside! Btw, going to try this, I have three controllers and all of them are useless, thanks for putting this up!
I bought a lot of like 35 wobbly joystick N64 controllers! this video looks extremely helpful but damn, I'm scared to even get started!
I just did this fix to one of my controllers and love it! Thanks for posting the video. I plan to do it to the others.
I used a craft knife to cut the hole through the bowl. Worked just great!
Excellent video-you may want to add not to put much grease since it could get to optical sensors if someone puts gobbs on there. Also you could make a perfect mold for the glue by getting a good joystick and putting very light layer of lubricant then plaster of paris or some other similar substance then pulling out when hardened then putting glue then mold into the bad joystick then pressing down for perfect amount of glue(you would use extra glue to be sure it didn't go too thin.
Shapeways also has a polished silver bowl you can get. Though it requires using a step-down drill bit and making a 7/16 hole. If you don't have a spare, get a bowl from Kitsch Bent and drill into that, and use plastic friendly superlube. I'm pretty much going all out for mine, and unfortunately paying the price for it lol. You can get brass cages, which I ordered, and a SteelStick64 bowl. Once everything gets here, my stick is gonna last forever lmao
Going to try this out tomorrow for sure. I've got 5 or 6 controllers like that.
Very nice fix man. I've got a couple of N64 controllers that I might well have to try this on.
back in the 90s, i used epoxy coated with super glue, the key is to let the superglue dry as much as you can before use it, i left the repaired parts out in the sun for 2 or 3 days, the glue becomes WAAAAYYY to hard and up to this day the controllers still work like new...
took me a lot of trial and error but worked...
what kind of epoxy did you use? Also what is the glue to epoxy ratio? I think i'll try this
i don`t know how is called in your country, google "plastiacero" and you`ll see it, it`s twin srynge with a white and gray liquids: use 2 parts of hardener with one of epoxy (2 white per one gray) and fill the worn parts (not the stick, just the black thingies, once it`s hard, use a thin file to gently scratch the epoxy enough so the stick can get in, now use a small amount of super glue on the epoxy and let it dry, really really dry, on the sun, once the super glue is set, use the file to smooth it and that`s it. the white thing on the bottom is a little tricky to fix but if it`s too worn down you can try this: put it on a flat surface and pour super glue on it, enough to cover the worn part, now don`t move it and let dry, it will take a long, long long time since it`s a thick layer of glue but be patient. after a week or so when you are sure it`s dry, use some sand paper with you finger and make it as smooth as possible..
would you recommend using wd-40 or something to make it less sticky or is it unnecessary?
i don`t know if the WD-40 can affect the fix... but you must put little oil to prevent further damage...
is selleys 'porcelain repair' the same thing? it says it fixes chips, cracks or breakages for ceramics, bathroom fittings, enamel baths etc
Thanks. All this time, I never knew what the white powder from around the stick was. Have you tried the new hall effects joystick for this controller? Less maintenance.
I found some N64 joystick assemblies on AliExpress. They were about 3 bucks each and they have the plug-in harness. I ordered 5 and all were tight. They just take about a week for delivery.
Many thanks Luke, this is very informational and thanks for the excellent tutorial. I know a few of my N64 controllers will require some repairs and thanks to this, I can make them almost like new again.
Never use white lithium grease. If it's anything like the stuff my employer buys, it will harden into a gummy solid and seize up whatever you put it on.
jonnda TRUE
Yes I second the silicone grease. Please don't use white lithium grease or any sort of graphite grease as they are not safe for plastics and will eat into it making it brittle over time.
wow this is a great idea. saves me from having to get new joysticks all the time.
Very nice Luke! At the beach relaxing and repairing some old friends. Thanks bro.