Love the Nes Max But Hate The Cycloid (Add A D-Pad)

[A2600]

I know may of you like myself love the max because of its form factor and turbo buttons, but hate the cycloid disc thingy.

 

In the past we have used Xbox 360 thumbsticks and some have super glued gamecube d-pads (really super glue?)

 

I had a thought and it worked add a NES D-Pad to it.

 

First we sand the back of the NES D-Pad to eliminate the bump in the back and make it flat

 

 

Once is all nice and Flat we move on to the ring of the Max where the arrows are and we start sanding and test fitting

 

 

Remember we are looking for a tight fit, Sand and Test Sand and Test until it pops right in

 

 

Im planning to mod another one in the next couple of days for a local buddy so I will take more pictures then.

I will try to record a video, it feels very natural LIKE IT BELONGS THERE

[+GoldenWheels]

I've done both this mod and a similar one (a Genesis D-pad fits over the TOP of the entire black circle almost perfectly) and still wasn't happy with either.

[Tanooki]

Good job I'd use the MAX I've had since it came out if it had one of those, as you said, just because of comfort and turbo buttons.

[Skippy B. Coyote]

Very nice work! I modded an NES Max with a red Xbox 360 analog stick a while back and really liked the way it came out. The procedure was pretty much the same as your mod, just sanding down the bottom of the analog stick until it fit comfortably into the recess that the cycloid pad used to sit in.

 

[phoenixdownita]

QQ: why did big N think the "cycloid" was a good idea?

[Tanooki]

Same reason the geniuses at the Turbo Touch company with their crap NES, NES and Genesis controllers thought it would work too -- comfort.

[+Black_Tiger]

I bought a Max new bitd and was horribly disappointed. It was everything I wanted it for... except the unusable d-pad.

 

I might give this mod a shot if the Max isn't overpriced today.

[0078265317]

Very nice work! I modded an NES Max with a red Xbox 360 analog stick a while back and really liked the way it came out. The procedure was pretty much the same as your mod, just sanding down the bottom of the analog stick until it fit comfortably into the recess that the cycloid pad used to sit in.

 

 

I did the same thing but it would not stay shut and always cam loose. So I tried to fix it and crack the black thing holding the red disc. And I lost the disc anyway.

[0078265317]

Also these look cool.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NES-custom-Max-controller-3-colors-1-controller-/272754245122?hash=item3f816b7e02:g:44gAAOSwhQhY2AtU

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BPS-MAX-Famicom-Controller-FC-Nintendo-JPN-NES-US-Seller-/122583583904?hash=item1c8a8d0ca0:g:tgsAAOSwux5YVHuC

Edited July 26, 2017 by 0078265317

[A2600]

I have seen maxes on the bay from 7 to 10 shipped, the guy who sells them modded thats still not a bad price and with cool colors too

[0078265317]

Introducing the basic mod. I only put a little white out so I remember which way to position the black piece under the red disc. I lost the red disc. But the black circle around the red disc cracked. One of the tabs broke so it no longer stays together. And I lost it. So I unscrewed it and put it back together with just the black thing and the rubber over the pcb. No red disc or top cover with arrows. It still works. I press the black part up, down, left and right and it goes all directions. And all buttons work. I call it the basic mod. No need for the red disc or thumbstick.

 

[atarilovesyou]

Wish there was a way to put in a real OEM Nintendo D-Pad in there.

 

I always wondered just what the hell they were thinking with that controller...awesome, but what, built for Gyruss? Just didn't make any sense. We all loved the turbo buttons...just a great little pad, other than, you know, the MAIN GIMMICK

[A2600]

Wish there was a way to put in a real OEM Nintendo D-Pad in there.

 

Thats what I did with my mod, Im plannjng to do anotherone for a buddy in the next few days I will use an OEM D-Pad

 

Here is an example of one using a black d-pad

 

https://imgur.com/PhPggTP

[A2600]

 

I would try a Genesis D-Pad

[0078265317]

I would try a Genesis D-Pad

 

Yes but I don't have top cover. Only the bottom half of the black thing. So genesis or any dpad will not work. But just as is it works pretty good.

[A2600]

That I am aware let me see what I can think of for you

[atarilovesyou]

Thats what I did with my mod, Im plannjng to do anotherone for a buddy in the next few days I will use an OEM D-Pad

 

Here is an example of one using a black d-pad

 

https://imgur.com/PhPggTP

 

Looks great! ...but, does the outer black ring move with the Dpad?...I haven't played one in many years. If it is somehow isolated, that would be perfect...if it moved 'with' the directions on the Dpad, then at least it would have the right feel. Speaking of feel though, what's going on under the pad?...is there something like a rubber gasket thing (like the original dpad controller) to give the dpad the right feel?

[A2600]

Looks great! ...but, does the outer black ring move with the Dpad?...I haven't played one in many years. If it is somehow isolated, that would be perfect...if it moved 'with' the directions on the Dpad, then at least it would have the right feel. Speaking of feel though, what's going on under the pad?...is there something like a rubber gasket thing (like the original dpad controller) to give the dpad the right feel?

 

The D-Pad moves with the outer Ring, as the fitment is tight enough that she moves as 1 whole unit, under the pad nothing as the D-Pad is flatt tonsit inside the ring assembly, under the ring assembly we have the rubber pads that help it make contact with the PCB and thats what gives it its natural feel. I promise you will not be dissapointed

[Jess Ragan]

It'd be nice if the cycloid was more like the stick on a Neo-Geo Pocket. That offered circular movement, but was much more responsive, to the point where playing fighting games was a breeze.

[BawesomeBurf]

Very nice work! I modded an NES Max with a red Xbox 360 analog stick a while back and really liked the way it came out. The procedure was pretty much the same as your mod, just sanding down the bottom of the analog stick until it fit comfortably into the recess that the cycloid pad used to sit in.

 

That looks really nice, may have to try it myself.

[Skippy B. Coyote]

That looks really nice, may have to try it myself.

It's not a hard mod at all, you just have to go very slowly when sanding down the bottom of the analog stick and test fit it between sanding. There's about a 1/16" difference between too tight (which will cause the retaining piece that the stick sits on to pop out during use) and too loose (which will result in the stick rattling around in it's recess). You want the fitment to be just tight enough that the stick can't wobble around but still loose enough for the stick to able to turn freely if you twist it.

 

Getting the fitment down can be a little tricky so I'd recommend buying a two pack of analog sticks in case you mess the first one up. I'd also recommend using fine grit sandpaper to manually sand down the bottom of the stick rather than using a power tool like a belt sander, since you do need to be really precise with how much you take off to get a good fit.

[A2600]

I have been working on more Max'es

 

Here is a Pair with RED D-PAD's

 

Trying out black

Edited April 25, 2018 by A2600

[Tanooki]

Looks very nice and while the black I thought would work it's a bit overpowering, yet the red stands out just perfect along side those B and A buttons. I have a Max here, and had I the tools to properly do what you're going at there without looking all butchered I'd do that.

[derFunkenstein]

Wish there was a way to put in a real OEM Nintendo D-Pad in there.

 

I always wondered just what the hell they were thinking with that controller...awesome, but what, built for Gyruss? Just didn't make any sense. We all loved the turbo buttons...just a great little pad, other than, you know, the MAIN GIMMICK

 

There is. I had one when I was in jr. high and high school. Just took sandpaper to the inside of the black ring until the D-pad fit. For the most part it seemed to work. Occasionally the D-pad would start to rotate, so I'd rotate it back.

[Blazing Lazers]

So, might these nifty pads be for sale in the near future? Or could I possibly send in my Max to you and have it made proper? I know this is a service that would garner interest!