Those Odyssey 2 joysticks...

[2600Lives]

Well, I pulled out the ol' Odyssey 2 last night, and some problems arose. I've got one of the systems with the detachable controllers (thank GAWD for that). After looking online and finding out how to replace that awful proprietary video cable, I hooked it all up and, well, the joysticks were having some issues. Now, if I take the plastic top off, they actually work very well, as the movement of the stick isn't restricted, but with that top on, only left and right will work (with both sticks). I've looked everywhere I can online and found no info on how to do maintenance on these joysticks. The bottom part of the stick (where the circuit board and the stick itself is) doesn't seem to come off at all (if it did, I'd just do some basic contact cleaning). What I'm thinking about doing is borrowing my buddy's Dremel and simply making the hole on the top casing bigger so that the stick will have less restricted movement. I'd like to avoid doing that, though, if I could find out how to do some repair on the sticks. Anybody know, or know of any websites that give info? How about converting an Atari stick for the O2? Is that even possible? Putting an Atari stick in doesn't seem to work, as down and right don't function properly. Thanks in advance.

[PsychedelicShaman]

Hit the Action button.

 

I haven't seen any sites on how to repair the joysticks, but I'm pretty sure it's possible to hook atari controllers up to it. I think I saw an example on the Midwest gaming classic photos here on AA. Wish I had more information...

[kirin jensen]

your best bet would be to replace them of course - providing you can actually find a nonfunctional O2 with working joysticks.

 

There are instructions online for replacing an O2 joystick with one from a 2600, but in my opinion that's a little like replacing a V-12 engine with one from a lawn mower

[jbanes]

I think I saw an example on the Midwest gaming classic photos here on AA. Wish I had more information...

Yeah, the guy hosting the O^2 display (sorry, I didn't catch his name) had spliced some Slik-Stick joysticks with an Odyssey^2's joystick cords to provide an alternate control method. If Marty (wgungfu) is around, he might know who the name of the guy so you can ask him for a wiring diagram. I know he has an AA account, but he doesn't come around here often.

[2600Lives]

Maybe it was Earl Green, of Phospor Dot Fossils? I e-mailed Earl about this, but it seems that his PDF e-mail is no longer valid. I figured if anybody knew how to do this kind of stuff, it'd be him.

 

I've pretty much decided that I'm gonna just dremel the hell out of the top casing. I'm gonna send the system off to be A/V modded anyway, so I'll do it while it's away.

[Retro Rogue]

I think I saw an example on the Midwest gaming classic photos here on AA. Wish I had more information...

Yeah, the guy hosting the O^2 display (sorry, I didn't catch his name) had spliced some Slik-Stick joysticks with an Odyssey^2's joystick cords to provide an alternate control method. If Marty (wgungfu) is around, he might know who the name of the guy so you can ask him for a wiring diagram. I know he has an AA account, but he doesn't come around here often.

 

That was Ozyr. He had the Odyssey2, and Videopac stuff set up. You can find him over at the Videopac.org forums,w hich is probably a good place to go to get the answers.

 

Honestly though, for how cheap O2 units go for, its easy enough to just get a new one. Or at the very least a beat up one to rip off new sticks from. Even on the "hardwired" version of the O2, its still not permanent. If you open up the unit, they're not soldered directly to the board. Just slide off the old pair and slide in a new one.