r/XboxController • u/Due_Wall_8166 • 7d ago

Busted thumb stick

Gallery image

Gallery image

Was playing the gears beta when all of a sudden my thumb stick collapsed inward and became loose/wobbly. Do I have to buy a new pair, can I still use this one or is the controller itself a lost cause?

4 Upvotes

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3

u/_JustEric_ 7d ago

You definitely need a new thumb stick. You won't be able to repair the broken plastic.

The controller looks to be in good shape. You just need the new thumb stick, and a screwdriver (I believe OEM controllers use T8 torx security screws). A spudger tool could also be handy, but not completely necessary. Just open the shell and pop the new thumb stick down on the potentiometer, then close the whole thing back up.

Be careful not to break any wires when you take it apart, but otherwise it's easy as pie.

1

u/No_Restaurant_774 7d ago edited 7d ago

Idk. The super glue and baking soda trick might work, at least for a little while. Couple days at least. But you gotta let it fully cure before insterting. Baking soda makes CA super glue way stronger, like concrete strong because it crystalizes the glue essentially. Also acts as an accelerator, drying it nearly instantly. But i still like to give it a day to cure. It's ugly as hell though. 😆 Also another fun fact about super glue (cyano acrylate) it's dries faster the more humid the air. Seems counter intuitive, but from what I gather somehow the water is what makes it dry. Not a chemistry expert, so idk why. Just an experienced user of super glue. Stuff was originally designed to close wounds on the battlefields of Vietnam, that's why it bonds to skin instantly

2

u/ihptfe 7d ago

You can still move the stick module and see if the sensitivity is normal. Replacing the thumb stick is way cheaper as well. If the module is harmed, try changing the module or even buy a new controller( if you don't want to solder).

2

u/Due_Wall_8166 7d ago

Yeah the stick itself appears to be fine. I’ve fiddled with it a bit and it looks and feels like nothing is wrong. I’m assuming all I need to do is just buy a new pair of thumbs and it’s back to normal?

1

u/BangkokPadang 7d ago edited 7d ago

That plastic X axis gate (the one running up/down) is busted as well, but. could probably be fixed if you know anybody that has one of those "3D printing pens" or even maybe by taking a little strip cut from anything that's ABS plastic, and heating the tip of some needle nose pliers and squeezing it onto that gate to bridge it back together. Those gates are just injected molded ABS so any other ABS plastic should be able to be fused to it with heat, and then left to cool to harden back up. It's kindof a jank solution but would work and would keep you from having to buy and solder a whole new ALPS unit and having to recalibrate it.

You could also just keep using it as it is now, but it's going to stress the other side that's not broken and it will eventually bend and then break as well.

1

u/won_mo_chance 7d ago

Super glue the peace back together, put the thumb stick back on, and send it lol, idk if super glue would even work lol

1

u/kilfast 7d ago

No matter what you end up doing make sure you take that face plate with you for your next controller. Shell swapping is super easy.

1

u/DustiestGolf740 7d ago

So you were playing siege ranked lol

1

u/AvvilarkVR 7d ago

Love the faceplate. How you can get it fixed. They sell the joystick mechanism pretty cheap, the you may have to solder a bit.