Topic: classic controller pro dissected (photos)

every now and then i like to take controllers apart to clean them, and i thought it'd take some poor quality pictures in the event that anyone might be interested. knowing this forum i feel like i have to acknowledge that the rules don't allow talk of mods, but there's no modding of any sort being done here (unless you consider removing dirt a mod). anyone who's played a controller with pop spilled on it or just generally sticky buttons can appreciate the reasons for doing this, but you should beware that opening your controller will immediately void the warranty.

first, although i'm using a CC pro the cleaning process is the same as with any older controller aside from the tri wing screws; the pro is actually extremely similar to an snes controller in it's internal build.

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open it up and it looks like this:

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this segment is interesting. the removable gray brackets there for the shoulder buttons look just like the ones used to house the analog sliders in the gamecube and original CC, yet the pro has no analog sliders. whatever their purpose, the two screws holding them in were loose, so i tightened them up and it made the Z buttons a little less fidgety.

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slowly tip it over and all the buttons and pads fall out, try to remember the order they were all in. the blue pads have a crucial role in the way the buttons respond, determining the springiness and depth, and if you've got something sticky in the controller these are your first stop for cleaning. it's especially important to clean any dust or plastic debris off the black contacts on the undersides, which are responsible for sending signals to the circuit board. speaking of, gently wipe the contacts on the circuit board with a very soft, dry cloth if they have anything on them. really pure isopropyl alcohol could be used, but it shouldn't be necessary...

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over time the plastic of the buttons and casing will wear off and leave that light colored dust you see on the sides of buttons on old controllers. just wipe them with a soft cloth or if they're really grimy soak them in warm water (as long as they aren't jeweled, like a and b in this case). it's just as important to clean the empty button slots in the frame as well (lightly damp q tips are perfect). getting that dust out makes the buttons a little smoother and can get rid of squeaking noises. the full body and stem of the analog sticks can also be wiped off easily now, which can go a long way to making them smooth again, especially on the n64 stick.

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by this point there there should be nothing left to clean, so it's time to reassemble. make sure anything you got wet while cleaning is completely dry at this point. dropping the buttons back in is self explanatory; there's no way to get it wrong since nintendo manufactures them so that they only fit when correctly oriented. it's important that all the buttons and pads fit together snugly to keep the buttons feeling tight when you're done, so make sure everything is hooked on everything it's supposed to be before replacing the circuit board and closing it up.

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nothing left to do now but put the back cover on, screw it together snugly and test every button to make you didn't forget something incredibly stupid along the way.

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this process can save grungy old controllers and make them feel new again, so that crappy old controller everyone used to fight not to have to use could actually be like new with some maintenance done to it. the process is easy enough that i've been doing it since i was a kid without trouble, but again, this is warranty voiding and if you have a really serious problem it'd be better to send it to nintendo before opening it yourself.

Is it possible to fix loose sticks on N64 controllers? Figured I might as well ask as you seem to know quite a bit about this stuff.

yes. i've seen genuine nintendo replacements for $5 on amazon... google it if you want to know more. otherwise, not really... cleaning them does help a lot, but that looseness they develop over time is permanent. definitely not the best stick design out there.

Ok, thanks. I never did open them up to see what the cause of the looseness was... I actually have one that will make your character turn right for a second then go left when you push to the left... That one wasn't Nintendo brand, but it did work fine until a few years ago.

Ah, there's nothing more satisfying than opening up a controller and cleaning it up to get it working like new, eh, romulux? I need to get a tri-wing screwdriver sometime so I can see if the reason my Wavebirds freak out at times is due to something internal or just battery-related (and so I can fix my original Lite)...

you know it. the n64 controller stands out as being the one that needs this done the most, partly because that third of the controller with the D pad is a ghost town and crap builds up in there like you wouldn't believe.

and tri wing screwdrivers are awesome. nintendo's bound to keep using those screws in the future so it's a pretty good investment, i think i got mine from estarland for just a few bucks. you definitely shouldn't try using a conventional screwdriver, that's for sure.

It's really hard but there's also a way to fix the analog for people who don't want to replace it. You might think people would want to replace the stick rather than repair but I've had someone demand that I use what's there and fix it. Much harder but it's possible.

i've seen the instructions for that, but that is totally not worth saving the $5. and, i don't imagine the results would be as good. if there were a way to implant a gamecube or wii stick in there, that would be worth it.