Topic: Calibrate Controllers (Read 101 times)

xflbret · « **on:** January 18, 2009, 12:34:00 PM »

Hello. Please forgive me if this has been covered elsewhere, but at the time of my posting this question the search feature here appears to be down.

I have two controllers that I'm asking about here, they both have the same problem. One is wireless, the other isn't.

The right thumbstick seems to be off. When I'm playing games such as GTA:SA and HALO 2, the screen keeps spinning and spinning until I manually hold the right thumbstick where it needs to be.

Is there any way I can calibrate the right thumbstick on my controllers so that they'll again be useful for games that I mention above, or should I just throw them away?

Thanks in advance.

Heimdall · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2009, 01:12:00 PM »

Sounds like the potentiometers might be dirty. Take the joysticks apart and lightly spray the potentiometers with WD40, work them backwards and forwards to clean out any dirt, then soak up any surplus with paper towels.

This post has been edited by Heimdall: Jan 18 2009, 09:12 PM

xflbret · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2009, 09:47:00 PM »

so i finally took apart my controler.

the pots seem to be soldered on there pretty good. how exactly do i get in there to clean them? i don't want t o short out other areas of the controller by spraying the wrong area...

Heimdall · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2009, 10:07:00 PM »

Just blow away any dust, spray WD40 into any holes in the pot casing you can get access to (it can be a bit messy, even with the small straw that comes with the can), then work the controller in all directions to clean the dirt off the conductive surface of the pot. Don't worry about shorting out the controller - it's only 5 volts, I'm fairly certain WD40 isn't that conductive, and you're going to soak almost all of it up with paper towels anyway. I've fixed loads of controllers this way, and none has ever shorted out or caused any problems, and so far this fix has worked on all but one (where the spring had gone).

xflbret · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2009, 12:17:00 AM »

well, i gave it a shot. i took it apart, sprayed just a dab under the half-globe like things where the thumbsticks are, worked each all around, tried to wipe away any excess wd50 but there was none, reassembled my controller...

now it doesnt work

it seemed to fit well together, all the buttons feel good and seem to be hitting where they should, but the xbox just wont respond to it. it does other controllers, so I know something went wrong with this one.

any ideas?

xflbret · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2009, 02:13:00 PM »

Anyone? I'd really like my controller to work again...

evilsanta666 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2009, 02:51:00 PM »

QUOTE(Heimdall @ Feb 2 2009, 11:07 PM)

spray WD40 into any holes in the pot casing you can get access to

QUOTE(xflbret @ Feb 3 2009, 01:17 AM)

tried to wipe away any excess wd50 but there was none

typo?
never seen wd50 before but ya never know

-ES

EDIT:
i got the same problem on one of mine, ill have to try that.

Heimdall · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2020, 09:01:00 PM »

Must be inflation!!!

@ xflbret: You need more than "just a dab" - you need enough to dissolve any dirt and residue on the pot, leaving the conductive (resistive) surface of the pot nice and clean! Trouble is, you can't see the pot, so you just have to soak it and hope - but if you don't have to mop loads up after you've worked the controller backwards and forwards quite a few times, then you simply haven't used enough!!

xflbret · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2020, 04:17:00 PM »

Well, it might be a non-issue now, as the controller doesn't work at all...it was my cool Vikings controller, I'd really like to have this one back

Scrufdog · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2009, 11:08:00 PM »

go to radio shack or an auto parts store and get Electrical Connector cleaner. It's non conductive and gets crap out.

Author Topic: Calibrate Controllers (Read 101 times)