How To Fix Your Worn Out Nintendo 64 Controllers

This used to be a page, mostly because when I wrote it I had no idea what a page in WordPress now it’s a proper post, even if the content is really old.

What you need:

1. A worn out N64 controller
2. A small screwdriver to open it up
3. Some 2-part epoxy
4. A small file (metal works best)
5. Some tape
6. A place to do this (keeping in mind that epoxy is not easy to remove once dried)

First things first, open up the controller, making sure not to drop the screws and lose them. Losing 1 or 2 won’t be the end of the world though, as I learned. Notice that there are a couple really small screws in the slot where the memory card/rumble pack plugs in. Those need to be removed as well.

Once it’s open, you will notice that the joystick part is pretty much self-contained. Unplug it, remove it from the controller, open it up and remove all the parts. You will probably notice a ton of scraped up plastic inside; that’s from the stick and that inner-core wearing down from use. It’ll probably look something like below.

Notice that the little ball on the end of the stick is pretty worn down. That’s why the joystick feels loose, and that’s the part we need to fix. “But just how the hell are we going to do that” you ask? Well, there’s a reason we pulled out the ol’ 2-part epoxy!

Mix up your epoxy with some kind of “mixing stick” (I just fold up paper and make a point on one end), creating a small pool. Be sure that you mix it really well so that it dried nice and strong. Now, put some on the end of your mixing stick and dap some on the end of the stick; this works best if the epoxy is given a couple second to thicken up. Alternately, you can simply dab the stick into the pool of epoxy so that it collects on the tip. Don’t worry about over-applying, since that’s the reason we have the file. Make sure you do worry about getting the epoxy on the sides of the stick; we want to simply build up a ball of epoxy on the bottom of the stick (see the image below). Once you’re happy with it, hang it so that epoxy is facing down and let it dry. Give it a while to make sure it really is dry (I let it sit for about 6 hours).

Once it’s dry, you want to shape the epoxy ball you created. Using the small file you have, file any loose epoxy off of the flat surfaces (restoring the T shape) and around the sides of the epoxy ball. You basically want the ball to become an extension of the stick and have a round tip. Think about how the top of a tube of Carmex looks (that’s the best example I can think of). If the ball is too wide, you won’t be able to move the stick freely. I wish I took a picture of the end result, but I was just anxious to see if it all worked (and, of course, it did). Damn me and my haste. NOTE: The epoxy files off surprisingly easily. I used a metal file from a Swiss Army knife and ended up filing off too much both times I did it.

Note that you probably won’t get it the first try, especially if the joystick was really loose (like both mine were). When you think it looks good, put the joystick part back together (screws and all) and see how it feels. Don’t waste your time mounting it back in the controller though, it’s not really needed. Just move the stick around in a 360-degree motion and make sure it feels free and doesn’t stick. If there is a restriction in movement, simply take it back apart and file that part down a little more. If you file down too much, or the stick is still really loose, put some more epoxy on it, let it dry, and try again. NOTE: As a time saver, you may not want to file it down on the first time you do it; simply put it together once it dries and see how loose it seems; if it’s still loose, put more epoxy on right away.

As an added suggestion, you may want to think about putting a VERY small amount of oil or graphite or something in that little white core that the stick rubs against. This will prevent it from wearing down as fast and make the joystick last longer. However, keep in mind that there IS a circuit board in there, and that graphite conducts electricity. I ended up using olive oil (yeah, you read that right) since it was all I had at the time. It was like 4am and I just wanted to get it all back together; once again, damn my haste!

That’s pretty much it. If you play your cards right and take the time to do this well, your controllers will feel like brand new and work great. One of mine was still a little loose, but it was a ton better that it was when I bought it! Hope you can get your controllers working again. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Super Smash Brothers (if you can find it), you won’t be sorry!