@@TheHighlander71 I looked on RUclips and found Jan Beta did a repair on one of these. It uses a similar rubber centering grommet but uses a brass ball to short contacts in a ring for directional control. A very interesting approach, much better than the old Atari unit. ruclips.net/video/EOudtF34KGQ/видео.html
I think all the Wico joysticks with leaf switches use these bushings/grommets. There are two types though. One is for a 1/4" the other for a 3/8" shaft.
@@HeyBirt For the buttons it has leaf switches as for the stick it looks kind of like a plastic cage best description I can give I'll see if I can post a photo of it later on but I'll need to open it up again
I may have worked on some of them back in the day, I can remember repairing loads of Atari controllers. A very common issue with any controller is some of the wires breaking near where the cord enters enclosure. You have to open the unit up and then ohm out each wire to the DB9 end of the cord while trying to flex the cord at that spot. Pots do wear out and could also suffer from cracked solder joints. Hope that helps.
@@HeyBirt Somewhat, although I'm just gradually familiarizing myself with the terminology. Based on videos I've watched of general pot repair in volume dials and guitars, I'm hoping that the pots are just corroded and I can clean them up with a little Deoxit F9. Is it likely that the pots are not that much different from any other pot, to the extent that I could order some new generic pots from somewhere and replace them if necessary?
As I recall Atari, Commodore, etc. all used 470K linear taper pots in paddles so I'm guessing they would do something similar in an analog joystick. You'll have to loot at them to be sure though. I did a video a few months ago about restoring a pair of Magnavox Odyssey 300s. The pots on these were very dirty and after a good cleaning worked well. If you are curious: ruclips.net/video/x8b5vxDyXCs/видео.html
Do you possibly know another source for the centering bushing? The source you listed is out of stock, and I can only find one other source, which is also out of stock.
I'm sorry I don't. They pop up on eBay every once in a while but they are about 2x what I paid. Since they are a standard arcade joystick part I would search arcade machine parts places.
@@HeyBirt Just found some on Ebay. For some reason they didn't show up the first time I looked. They were a little more expensive, but not too bad. Might not be any more expensive depending on shipping costs. $11.50 a piece plus $5 shipping. I got two, and shipping dropped to $7 for both. Anyway, thanks.
@@HeyBirt For anyone else asking about these, I just got a message back from arcadeshop.com, and they say they will have a new batch in 2.5 weeks, so other people won't have to go searching hopefully.
That is a good idea. The arcade parts shop I got the centering bushing from carries the Wico switches too and I suspect you are correct they are a common part in arcade type machines.
Had one of these back in the day for my C64, never really liked it, too much movement and no clicky action. It came with 3 different cool handles though.
Yeah, different folks like different controllers. I do have to say though that these have really held up over the years. My original two only came with the bat handle though.
@@HeyBirt absolutely, it's a fairly high end joystick and very good quality compared to the cheap QuickShoot etc. I believe mine came with an arcade like ball handle, the handle you show in the video plus a flight simulator like handle. However my absolute favorite joystick back then was The Arcade, very tight and microswitches on all actions. Anyway, thanks for the video, brings back good memories.
nice! i'm shocked that the centering grommet replacement parts still exist! thanks for the link to that!
Interesting stuff, Jeff. I have fixed several Atari Joysticks, but they are a lot less complicated than this one.
That was a perfect video. I couldn't figure out how to get mine apart for cleaning. Thanks! Did you ever find a source for replacement feet?
I did find the feet and have been buying them in bulk and have added them to my website: www.soigeneris.com/rubber-feet-round-05-diameter
Good information, thanks! I have one of these sticks too and you have reminded me to go check it out.
This was super helpful :) Thanks friend
I've always wondered how these joysticks compare to the TAC-2 controllers. Do you have any idea?
I've never used a TAC-2 so I'm not sure...
@@HeyBirt I think they work with spring leaf switches as well, so I imagine they would feel much the same.
@@TheHighlander71 I looked on RUclips and found Jan Beta did a repair on one of these. It uses a similar rubber centering grommet but uses a brass ball to short contacts in a ring for directional control. A very interesting approach, much better than the old Atari unit.
ruclips.net/video/EOudtF34KGQ/видео.html
I had both this one and the TAC-2. They were both great!
do you know if this bushing will work on the Wico Command Control Joystick AT-5200 as well
I think all the Wico joysticks with leaf switches use these bushings/grommets. There are two types though. One is for a 1/4" the other for a 3/8" shaft.
@@HeyBirt Actually I opened it up to take a look and the bushing won't work on this controller thanks
@@smokingunclefrank6037 Does it have leaf switches or micro switches?
@@HeyBirt For the buttons it has leaf switches as for the stick it looks kind of like a plastic cage best description I can give I'll see if I can post a photo of it later on but I'll need to open it up again
My fav joystick in high school.
Do you happen to know how to repair Atari 5200 Command Control joysticks? I have a couple of them, but they seem to have bad potentiometers.
I may have worked on some of them back in the day, I can remember repairing loads of Atari controllers.
A very common issue with any controller is some of the wires breaking near where the cord enters enclosure. You have to open the unit up and then ohm out each wire to the DB9 end of the cord while trying to flex the cord at that spot.
Pots do wear out and could also suffer from cracked solder joints.
Hope that helps.
@@HeyBirt Somewhat, although I'm just gradually familiarizing myself with the terminology. Based on videos I've watched of general pot repair in volume dials and guitars, I'm hoping that the pots are just corroded and I can clean them up with a little Deoxit F9. Is it likely that the pots are not that much different from any other pot, to the extent that I could order some new generic pots from somewhere and replace them if necessary?
As I recall Atari, Commodore, etc. all used 470K linear taper pots in paddles so I'm guessing they would do something similar in an analog joystick. You'll have to loot at them to be sure though.
I did a video a few months ago about restoring a pair of Magnavox Odyssey 300s. The pots on these were very dirty and after a good cleaning worked well. If you are curious: ruclips.net/video/x8b5vxDyXCs/видео.html
@@HeyBirt Thank you very much! I will check it out.
Do you possibly know another source for the centering bushing? The source you listed is out of stock, and I can only find one other source, which is also out of stock.
I'm sorry I don't. They pop up on eBay every once in a while but they are about 2x what I paid. Since they are a standard arcade joystick part I would search arcade machine parts places.
@@HeyBirt Just found some on Ebay. For some reason they didn't show up the first time I looked. They were a little more expensive, but not too bad. Might not be any more expensive depending on shipping costs. $11.50 a piece plus $5 shipping. I got two, and shipping dropped to $7 for both.
Anyway, thanks.
This is a good deal. The ones I saw previously on eBay were about $20/each.
@@HeyBirt For anyone else asking about these, I just got a message back from arcadeshop.com, and they say they will have a new batch in 2.5 weeks, so other people won't have to go searching hopefully.
That is good news. I was very happy with the product, price and service from them. Glad they were able to get more in.
Good job Jeff
looks like you could use pinball machine switches if they needed to be replaced.
That is a good idea. The arcade parts shop I got the centering bushing from carries the Wico switches too and I suspect you are correct they are a common part in arcade type machines.
Had one of these back in the day for my C64, never really liked it, too much movement and no clicky action. It came with 3 different cool handles though.
Yeah, different folks like different controllers. I do have to say though that these have really held up over the years. My original two only came with the bat handle though.
@@HeyBirt absolutely, it's a fairly high end joystick and very good quality compared to the cheap QuickShoot etc. I believe mine came with an arcade like ball handle, the handle you show in the video plus a flight simulator like handle. However my absolute favorite joystick back then was The Arcade, very tight and microswitches on all actions.
Anyway, thanks for the video, brings back good memories.