Repairing (or even building) a N64 Superpad Plus Controller.

Ghostpilot · Post by **Ghostpilot** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:39 am

Heyas everyone,

I have a couple of Superpad Plus controllers that have started to go out on me (particularly the down-right diagonals, which tend to stick) and I know from previous experience that they are very difficult to put back together once they're taken apart.

As they're extremely hard to find and I'd hate to toss them, I was wondering if anyone here would be able to repair them, or even perhaps make a heavy-duty version of one.

Seeing that these (as typical of Interact controllers) tend to have a life span of about 6 months, and they're the kind I've been using for games on my PC for 10 years (I've got big hands), it'd be great to have one that I knew wouldn't deteriorate a few months from now.

Here's a picture of the controllers (not of mine, but the best picture of them I've found): http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c276/ ... 0_0455.jpg

Can anyone help? Naturally I'd be willing to compensate anyone interested for their efforts. I've just been using this style of controller for so long and they're one of the very few that fit my hands comfortably.

Thanks in advance!

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:07 pm

Really? This is the controller I am using in my N64/GBA project. I find it very good and responsive.

I bought two more (using them unmodded), which are getting a hammering from my wife and I with Banjo Kazooie and at the moment, Mario 64. They seem very well built.

The controllers do collect debris and dust after a while (as per your pic); they are easy to take apart, clean and put back again; give it a go; it isn't hard.

illustriouschin · Post by **illustriouschin** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:28 pm

all i can say is i have had 4 of those controllers back in the day and they WERE great, way nicer to hold than the first party controllers. the bad part is the analog sticks all stopped working or acted crazy in about a month and no amount of cleaning fixed the problem.

if you just want a good PC controller you cant go wrong with an Xbox controller with an adapter or a 360 controller because being first-party console controllers, they are automatically a million times better than any PC specific controller made. uh also you could use a PS2 controller on the pc those are cool too.

Ghostpilot · Post by **Ghostpilot** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:17 pm

bacteria wrote:Really? This is the controller I am using in my N64/GBA project. I find it very good and responsive.

I bought two more (using them unmodded), which are getting a hammering from my wife and I with Banjo Kazooie and at the moment, Mario 64. They seem very well built.

The controllers do collect debris and dust after a while (as per your pic); they are easy to take apart, clean and put back again; give it a go; it isn't hard.

I tried doing that before, and I'm actually okay at such things, but years and years ago I tried taking a couple I had apart to clean them and I just couldn't get everything situated again. Fortunately I don't use the analog stick at all, so that's much less of a concern. I may give it another go, though.

It's kinda crazy how much they go for these days. I just lost out on a bid this morning on Ebay for a new one (in the box) for $26.

Oh by the way the ones in the picture aren't mine; I'd never let mine get that dirty.

jeroen · Post by **jeroen** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:20 pm

you could just replace the analog

Ghostpilot · Post by **Ghostpilot** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:43 pm

The problem's actually with the d-pad, not the analog stick (I never use the analog).

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 3:14 pm

The D-pad on the SuperPad is very similar as any other. I haven't had any cause to use the D-pad on an N64 controller for anything yet - I use the joystick.

Yes, the D-pad on the SuperPad doesn't appear top-drawer quality (no issue for me for the above reason); however the joystick is excellent and built far better than the official one - it is robust.

I empathise with your comments about putting a controller back together again, (i'm not trying to teach a grandmother to suck eggs here) they do go back together again fine if you are very careful.

If you don't want yours, I am sure someone on this site will buy them for modding work. If the price is cheap.

Yes, these controllers can be expensive - I paid about Â£12 for my first one (using in my mod), then bought 2 for Â£11 combined on a good deal (all via e-bay).

Ghostpilot · Post by **Ghostpilot** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 3:25 pm

Oh I'd rather not sell them, they're hard enough for me to get a hold of. But I use them a lot for practice on emulated fighters, and as it turns out I'm being challenged (and sponsored) to go to a major tournament next summer, however without my controllers being tip-top, I'm not able to do any practicing.

I'm trying to take apart and clean one of them right now, so I'm crossing my fingers in that I'll be able to get it going again. I'd still like to get it properly repaired, made, or even buy if possible, though.

Ghostpilot · Post by **Ghostpilot** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:38 pm

Success! It took a bit of doing but I managed to get one of the back into perfect working order.

I'm nt sure what was different this time than with the other time I attempted it a few years back, but it's back in great shape.

Just have one more to go.

illustriouschin · Post by **illustriouschin** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:08 pm

Ghostpilot wrote:Success! It took a bit of doing but I managed to get one of the back into perfect working order. I'm nt sure what was different this time than with the other time I attempted it a few years back, but it's back in great shape. Just have one more to go.

how did you repair the buttom mechanism? i got several controllers with bad buttons and cleaning them does not help much when the stupid contact pads dont work.

Ghostpilot · Post by **Ghostpilot** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:22 pm

The only problems I had with mine were with the d-pad sticking, never had any problems with the button mechanisms.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 2:19 am

illustriouschin wrote:
Ghostpilot wrote:Success! It took a bit of doing but I managed to get one of the back into perfect working order. I'm nt sure what was different this time than with the other time I attempted it a few years back, but it's back in great shape. Just have one more to go.
how did you repair the buttom mechanism? i got several controllers with bad buttons and cleaning them does not help much when the stupid contact pads dont work.

The contacts under the rubbers - use your fingernail to remove the thin layer of gunk; if you need to improve the contacts on the controller, lightly rub with an eraser (and then remove eraser gunk).

I did this on an old game & Watch I bought - before, the contacts were not working well (hit and miss), afterwards, they were as good as new!

illustriouschin · Post by **illustriouschin** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:53 pm

Ghostpilot wrote:The only problems I had with mine were with the d-pad sticking, never had any problems with the button mechanisms.

d-pad is still buttons, sucker

bacteria wrote:
illustriouschin wrote:
Ghostpilot wrote:Success! It took a bit of doing but I managed to get one of the back into perfect working order. I'm nt sure what was different this time than with the other time I attempted it a few years back, but it's back in great shape. Just have one more to go.
how did you repair the buttom mechanism? i got several controllers with bad buttons and cleaning them does not help much when the stupid contact pads dont work.
The contacts under the rubbers - use your fingernail to remove the thin layer of gunk; if you need to improve the contacts on the controller, lightly rub with an eraser (and then remove eraser gunk).

I did this on an old game & Watch I bought - before, the contacts were not working well (hit and miss), afterwards, they were as good as new!

i highly doubt that is accurate because i have thoroughly cleaned the pads and contacts with zero improvement and a lot of the problems are from the PCB being worn down as well.