Controller mods?

brianpipa · #1 10-01-2002, 11:27 AM

After playing with the ZZ for about 20 minutes (see my post about ZZ games) I have "Nintendo thumb" - i.e. my left thumb is sore. I was thinking about changing the uncomfortable lever on the controller into something easier on the thumbs. I have an old gamepad with soft buttons - maybe I could use those buttons. Idunno. Anyone else done this or had this idea? Maybe even transfer the controller guts into a differetn controller (video game gamepad).

brian

lowerdfool · #2 10-01-2002, 11:50 AM

I made joysticks for mine with a couple small screws. it helps for turning as well.

wild03 · #3 11-01-2002, 01:01 PM

Quote:

I made joysticks for mine with a couple small screws. it helps for turning as well.

I was thinking of using screws, Then I bumped into an old serial mouse, the screws the serial port plug were perfect, So I opened the controller and drilled a slighly smaller hole on the middle of the pads, the screws screwed right in. 100% better.

john · #4 11-01-2002, 02:33 PM

I opened it up, and ran some 1" drywall screws out from the back so that the joysticks were extremely sharp and threaded. I had to cut away some of the plastic on the inside of the original controller to accomodate the heads of the screws.

Since I figured that the pointy end of the drywall screws would be terribly uncomfortable, I screwed a pair of wire nuts onto them. They're big, they're round, they're bright yellow, they're available in many sizes and colors, and their quite comfortable. And if someone beats me in a race, I take off the wire nuts and jam my controller into their chest. j/k. I leave the wire nuts on at all times.

wild03 · #5 11-01-2002, 03:14 PM

this are very similar to the ones I used. The length of the thread is not that long so you can screw it in until you see no thread, All you get is a shiny shaft and the rubber head.

kam_pennzoil · #6 11-01-2002, 07:21 PM

lol @ john!! that serial plug thingy is a good idea wild03 ill give it a good too

lunatic7 · #7 11-01-2002, 07:44 PM

saw the idea earlier on the fourm and found great thumb screws on "Belkin" brand cables. I havent got to use them alot yet but, so far its much better than stock.

Controller Picture

wild03 · #8 11-02-2002, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kam_pennzoil
lol @ john!! that serial plug thingy is a good idea wild03 ill give it a good too

Thanks, Here a picture of how it actually looks

Check out some pictures of my Hot ROd PT Cruiser

http://www.geocities.com/wdiaz03/miniRCstuff.html

john · #9 11-07-2002, 09:24 AM

Heh, another old thread bumping. Sorry. But I took a pic of my deadly controller. And I think they were actually 1.25" drywall screws. Here's the gratuitous pic.

Clint · #10 11-08-2002, 04:03 AM

i used thinkpad nubs on top of motherboard spacer screws.
very comfy. i think the short throws are easier to control than using the serial port screws and no fear of cracking them off while the controller is in your pocket.

wild03 · #11 11-08-2002, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clint
i used thinkpad nubs on top of motherboard spacer screws.
very comfy. i think the short throws are easier to control than using the serial port screws and no fear of cracking them off while the controller is in your pocket.

Great idea, I thought about the spacers at first, but had nothing to put over them....then I found the serial port screws and used that, I can control them easy enough you get the feel of the expensive remotes, But it gets bulky to carry around, a since there's only 3 possible positions on the stick your idea would be the way to go!
How much ore those nubs??? any other ideas on what to use on those screws?? I was thinking of rubber end caps sold by autoparts to cover carburator vaccum ports

Clint · #12 11-08-2002, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wild03
any other ideas on what to use on those screws?? I was thinking of rubber end caps sold by autoparts to cover carburator vaccum ports

yeah..vacuum caps will work great...
the thinkpad nubs came with my laptop..but u could probably find them online for real cheap.

wild03 · #13 11-10-2002, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clint
yeah..vacuum caps will work great...
the thinkpad nubs came with my laptop..but u could probably find them online for real cheap.

Alright, I had some more time to look around on my garage for something to use, I came across some Nob screws, similar to the ones used at the back of PCs...and some gromets. so here it is, Superconfortable and it feels like a gaming console control!

Tee Bee · #14 11-11-2002, 01:16 AM

Since I've been playing with larger RC cars a while, I had a box of assorted hardware that Kyosho sells (Car Aid?). There were some small metric screws that I installed from the inside out after drilling larger holes. I then tightened a standard nut down to the original control stick and followed it with a nylon lock nut. The length was perfect. I found some small rubber light bulb covers at my job(chemical plant operator) that are available in different covers. I slid them over the lock nuts, red ones on my 49Mhz. transmitter and yellow ones on my 27Mhz. Looks like it came from the factory that way and is very comfy. I don't have a digi-cam to take any pics of it, but I'm happy with the mod. Hope it helps.

Tee Bee
Gimme my little cars.