Replacement Stickboxes

[enzo27]

I have 2 original gamecube controllers with loose control sticks. One is really bad, the other is just pretty bad. I'd love to have them both like new, but I only really need one. They both have type 1/2 stickboxes (soldered, not screwed). I have experience soldering/desoldering the boxes from a time when I replaced an analog stick an a 3rd party controller, and I'm looking for a project. I need something to do with my hands.

I saw in the technical knowledge thread that the type 2 boxes are the same as Nunchuk boxes, so I could scavenge some of those. But I figured I'd ask before I start anything: are there any other viable alternatives? I read somewhere that PS3 stickboxes are also compatible—don't know if that's with 1/2 or 3, or if it's even true—and Alex19 was showing off a controller tonight which looked like it had Wii U gamepad/pro controller sticks. It could have been just the caps; I don't know if the stickbox stems are the same as the gc. I bought a few Gaming Generations boxes, and actually put one in a third party controller I was repairing for a friend. It felt okay, I think, but I didn't get to use it enough to really say. But I've heard they last about a month each so I think I'm shelving those for good.

I know that it's possible to keep the potentiometers while changing the stickbox, so that's one compatibility hurdle out of the way, but the form factor could still be wrong for any of those besides the Nunchuk. It also seems like Nintendo has moved toward the newer type 3 stickboxes, so that could easily nix the Wii U mods for me.

So…has anyone seen/tried these mods? Unless one of them is confirmed to be good beyond belief, I'll probably just pick up some Nunchuks, considering the risk and price of the other paths.

And I just remembered: I can also switch the c-stick and control stick. Is a wobbly c-stick manageable? I would think so, but again, just looking for some experience/opinions. It would also suck if I pulled the c-stick ribbon cable off (it's happened before…I still have nightmares).

Thanks! It's good to be here.

 

[iAmMatt]

First of all, welcome to SmashBoards!
Second of all, I think it would be in your best interest to research what kinds of stickboxes the different controllers use, and to go with whatever is cheapest. I'm no expert on this, but I would try the Nunchuk stickboxes. If you're fairly certain they'll be compatible, I would go for those. Nunchuks are fairly cheap, you could grab a used one from Gamestop for ~$6.

 

[Pauer]

I think the first thing I would try is exchanging c-stick and control stick stickboxes. The c-stick stickboxes are slightly looser than the control stick ones out of the box. But they are probably much less worn out. To test them, you can just quickly replace the c-stick cap with a control stick cap and see how it feels without having to do any soldering.
Before changing the stickbox, i would first try cleaning it and if that isn't enough, re-thicken parts with epoxy glue like Kadano describes in section 2.6.3 in the technical knowledge compilation thread. Maybe that will solve your problem already.
Alternatively, you can just buy a new controller, and replace its bottom side, buttons and rubber pad below the buttons with the ones from your old controller. Doing so, you effectively only change the two sticks and stickboxes.

 

[enzo27]

Thank you both for the input! I slept on it, and I think I'll just get some nunchuks for cheap. I'm not too hot on the epoxy plan only because I don't have any, and it looks pretty expensive—also, I'm inexperienced with epoxy compared to solder, so there's a higher chance I'd have to get a new stickbox anyway. I'll try cleaning them, but considering the mileage on them, I doubt that's the only problem. As for buying a new controller, it doesn't seem as economical, and I have a certain attachment to my childhood controller. To everything except the stickbox, anyway.

I can't find anything on the boxes in Wii U controllers, but I'd guess that they're type 3 like the late-run white and Smash 4 controllers (and classic controller/pro iirc), unless there's an entirely new kind of stickbox that is completely undocumented that Nintendo spontaneously switched to. It sounds like stickbox stems are mostly standardized, but I've heard of people having problems with the dome part rubbing against the case, or the pad being too low, etc. depending on the stick. Honestly, on second thought, I'm not sure I really want a heavily modded controller, I just want one that works well.

…Just writing that out so I don't forget later. I appreciate the help.