Atari Logo Joystick Disassembly

WarLordAG

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This is frustrating.

Does anyone have a trick to take these apart? I can't get the bottom ball of the joystick. I bought punch pins from Sears and the smallest one broke trying to get the bottom pin out of the joystick shaft. They don't budge.

I'm about to give up and buy refurbished ones, but it's for a Gauntlet,so I'd need 4 and the cost increases significantly.
 
Sometimes a drop of oil on the pin hole and letting it sit for a minute or two will help in the removal.
I've rebuilt dozen of these sticks and only have a problem with 1 or 2 over the years.
 
What kind of oil?
I think the only oil I have on hand is for air tools.
And you're using punch pins? or something else?

Thanks!
 
3 in 1 should work fine.

I use pin punches. Make sure the shaft is flat on a surface while you are trying to remove the roll pin or put it in a vice. If you use a wood top workbench, drill a hole in it where the roll pin will come out at. That way the pin has a place to go while you punch it out.
 
The oil must be the key.
I grabbed some from Sears when I swapped out that pin punch. Came out most of the way then I pulled it the rest of the way with vise grips.
Horrible joystick design.

Thanks a lot.
 
Occasionally, there's just one of those joysticks that doesn't want to cooperate! I've seen them far too many times...

Since I'm into reproducing Atari controllers, I've spent time figuring out the source of the problem. I can tell you exactly why this happens (some pins refusing to come out). It all boils down to Atari's quality control. The hole size at the tip of those shafts can vary from stick to stick. Some will be too loose or too tight...but most are just right. Unfortunately, the small diameter of this pin does not lend itself to much any variance in hole size. If it's off even the slightest amount, you'll end up with a part which will not fit correctly. Atari's answer? Brute force the part into place. :) I can appreciate that, I suppose.

Then there's a similar situation created by corrosion, though not nearly as common as the cause described above.

Bottom line: when you get a difficult pin, oil it up as Mylstar suggested and brute force that sucker back out! I have a small hydraulic press which I use specifically for inserting/removing roll pins. You can also use a small 1/2 ton arbor press which will achieve the same results. I see them for sale on CL from time to time for less than $100.

Good luck!!

Dave
 
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