Gamerade - Cleaning and Restoring a Nintendo 64 Controller - Adam Koralik 

A method I have found that works pretty well is to take the Controllers apart and put the halves into the dishwasher (just make sure heated dry is not on) and they come out like new. For the buttons and rubber pads, I put them into a mason jar filled with rubbing alcohol. Shake it for a minute or so and it will remove all the dirt and grime from the buttons and rubber pads. I do this process for all my systems and controllers and it works very well and it's pretty quick as well.

Thanks man. First, you taught me how to restore an NES, now an N64. Between you, Nintendrew, and Retro_VG, I now know all things N64.

A major cleaning like in this video? Maybe once every five to ten years if you take even decent care of it.

Thank you! I've been trying to find out what it is and what it does for two weeks now! The internet needs more people like you, thank you again!

I recommend opening the console and cleaning the controller ports. I had the same issue and addressed it in my system cleaning video.

Happy to help.

Wow this was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. Awesome video!

Thank you Adam, because of your videos, I was able to refurbish these classic game consoles. Last night I refurbished my N64 following your video and now I am refurbishing my N64 controller. Keep the videos coming. Without your videos I wouldn't have the courage to open them up and clean them. Thanks! Peace!

thanks again adam I restored 2 64 controllers so far and more to come. it feels good to know how to maintain my retro consoles and controllers

Happy to help!

Hadn't really thought about it. Generally cleaning the contacts is easy. Just use a q-tip and Windex. Casing varies based on the severity of the problem. Battery on the other hand, that's more of a problem.

My pleasure.

About to take apart & clean my first controller, & the N64 one is my fave for its ridiculous design, fun colour variety, & comfortable D-Pad. I'm laughing that an older vid of yours was the first result when I looked up some vids on the process since I've been subscribed for years, but I guess I overlooked this one lmao

Haha Adam, just watching this back and.... interlacing much? 😅 I love learning and thank you for signing my Mega Drive when I got to meet you! 8) 👍

Thank you so much! I had so much trouble putting the back cover on because of the wire!

Very cool. I know my N64 controller is all dirty from ages past. I think I'll clean it up and play some stuff this holiday break. Thanks for the vid!

Some people below said something about using tape to fix it, I suggest read those comments.

Thanks for the video, as well as the one on restoring a N64. They look brand new again. :)

Yeah, just take it apart, it's way less likely to cause any damage and will be more of a complete cleaning.

Some people suggested using tape to add resistance, though I haven't tried it myself.

The video response area is the comments box. When you click in there a little bit of text should appear just above and to the right of it that says create or post a video response. As for Wiimote, I really don't work on those.

EBay is loaded with them. Look up the Gamebit. Don't pay more than the initial bid price, there are so many up there just find one that no one has bid on.

Thanks a lot, this is looking like the best solution so far.

I opened my controller and i was so surprised how much shit was in the controller thanks Adam!

Thanks! Used this video to clean my first N64 controller.

I find your channel extremely helpful. Subscribed.

That's pretty normal with N65 controllers. It's just the plastic wearing down. You could wash it, sure, but that won't make it stiffer or anything.

Thank you Adam. Your video was very helpful!

I haven't done one on a Dreamcast controller, I never thought to keep a dirty one around to clean later. All mine are clean right now.

Thanks for watching.

Thanks a lot Adam, you're basically the doctor for my systems:). I would like to ask you if I could wash the rubber pads with soap and water too? Sometimes it's very old and dirty and Isopropyl alcohol actually will harm it. THANX

Nice! I found Kirby Super Star there once and snatched it up. Goodwill can be a treasure trove if they aren't greedy or ignorant about pricing stuff.

I subscribed. I just bought an N64 2 weeks ago at a swap meet. They have some good stuff there, but a lot it's pretty beat up. Your videos may come in handy.

There was some sort of black residue stuck on the inside. That's pleasant. But I just finished cleaning everything, so hopefully everything will work now. Thanks for your help.

Thanks a bunch for this! You wouldn't believe the amount of gunge there was inside where the (handlebars?) were, it was nasty.

A few people have said in the comments below that tape is the solution.

Me too, love when that happens.

Definitely worth noting, thanks.

Hm, not that I know of. I didn't have that problem so I didn't take that apart. There aren't a lot of options since it's usually because the plastic is worn down.

Sorry, that's a separate mechanism and I never really tried to take it apart.

I appreciate that.

Good luck man, thanks for watching.

Sure thing, hope it works.

That's entirely possible. If it's just not working, then you have nothing to lose by cleaning the board. I suggest opening a working unit and comparing it to the non working unit. You may see a discolored area that might just need a simple cleaning. If it does, use Windex and hope for the best.

Can you tell him he needs to clean it?

I'm not an expert on N64 controllers, but it sounds like someone just mixed and matched. Either for creative reasons, or because they had two broken controllers, but combined them to make one working unit.

Good.

hey I'm not technically trained lol so would I have to ground anything or myself while taking it apart and trying to clean it? also how do I ground stuff or myself. and is it okay to use 70% running alcohol to q tip wipe around the plastic and use CC to blast around the electronic part and plastic? it would help a lot

That was very helpful. Thanks!

could you an in-depth video on how to clean and restore an n64 cart? (contacts, batteries, casing, etc)

I had the same problem as Chris. I disassembled the controller as instructed by your video and everything seems to be going well so far as I can tell. However, I wanted to ask what you recommend as far as cleaning individual buttons. Should I just rinse them with water, or do you recommend other substance? Thanks for the upload!

You could try a dry paper towel and just doing a spot cleaning.

I tried the tape method. While the analog stick *feels* right, it still doesn't work totally right (pushing it all the way forward has the same effect as pushing it halfway forward), so I would look for other methods before trying that one.

Thanks for the help! I have a question: I had my N64 almost fully taken apart but I came to one screw on the mother board and it was stuck so when I tried to unscrew it I messed up the head, and now I can't clean the bottom panel of the console :( - how can I get that screw out?

Soap and water should be all you need unless it's got some serious gunk on it.

I just finished cleaning the buttons, the plastic and the rubber things . I dont have compressed air, is there any alternitive I can use to clean the board? its quite dusty.

Not much, someone in the comments suggested opening it up and putting tape there. Personally I've never tried.

I didn't mind it.

Can you do a repair again of n64 comtroller but repair joystick non tape method?

Sorry, I don't know a good solution. I heard using some tape at the base helps.

Any tips on how to fix a really loose analog stick? I understand the N64 controllers are notorious for this; it happened to all of mine. I tried the "tape on the joystick pivot" method, but that didn't really help.

I'm not sure what you're referring to.

Screwdriver and wedging maybe?

You'd think so, but that's the trick of it.

i opened up the joystick compartment and cleaned quite alot of crap from there, that helped quite alot. You wont get em like new but still

Adam, I have one of the Nintendo Power 100 Gold controllers. Not long after I got it years ago, what looks like white powder came out of the analog stick area and the control on it now is sluggish. Do you think opening it to clean it would fix that (or even be worthwhile)?

You could try, my guess is you'll have to open it.

Compressed air and a dry paper towel if you really need to. But unless it's broken, you shouldn't really touch it much.

I'd clean it out, but that's me.

Hi, i got a seethrough blue controller thats the same theme as my N64, and my controller has ben lying around for a while and unfortunately gathered dust, and now the joystick is really hard to press forward, will the quetip thing Clean it out properly, or am i gonna have to disect it?

I'm not sure I could. What's wrong with it?

Sure thing bro.

What is the difference between an n64 controller with the extra thing attatched to the cable and one without it? It's hard to explaing because i don't know the name of it. But there is a black thing attached to the cable of my N64 controller, it's attached right next to the connector that goes in the n64. Please help D:

Is there anyway to repair the joystick on the controller? So it has the stationary position at the center and not have it lazily flop to whatever direction? Because I have that problem with both of the N64 controllers that I own.

Ah that's good, But one final question, How often should an N64 be cleaned? Because I'm thinking either monthly or tri-monthly, Also how would one clean a Nyko booster pack (Yes it is a knockoff brand)? Because I have one and I can see noticeable grim and dirt on it, underneath the small red grate that covers the expansion memory pack slot to keep the dust out.

Do I clean the board with rubbing alchohol or windex?

Yes, meaty and laced with cocaine.

My console won't reconize my controller, so what would I need to do for that?

hey adam could you make a video for cleaning and restoring a gamecube controller? thanks.

Okay, Thanks for the assistance. I appreciate it.

All of my other 3 controllers work though. Could the controller be broken?

I suppose it's possible, but it's not something I know how to do.

Curious how long do you wait for everything to dry?

Hey, thanks so much for the video! I just have a quick question. With my controller, all that's wrong is that the A button is sticky. Some people tell me that all I need to do is take a qtip and put water on it and clean around the A button. However, I don't wanna get the circuit board wet or anything like that. Is it safe to use a qtip or would your recommend taking the entire controller apart and cleaning the A button then? Thanks a lot, gladly waiting a response.

I laughed when you said, "YEAH, I DID YOU A FAVOR!". lol

Thank you for showing me this. Any chance you can do a vidoe on a full proper tear down on a N64 console. Dont cut the vidoe. I know it may be annoying but I cant find a good n64 console tear down and cleaning

I have a Tomee N64 controller. The left shoulder button is stuck in and won't spring back. I took it apart and see the contact inside. Is there a way to get the small button inside to spring back out?

Sweet!! Thank you

there are some replacements for you can search them on ebay or similar sites.

Everyone forgets its not just for the rumble pack it was used for memory cards too

Yeah i prefer to use 91% rubbing alcohol rather than Windex, other than that, this was a very helpful video.

Yes.

hey Adam, I got a "new" n64 controller and I was going to clean it and all that, but one of the smaller screws is pretty worn out so I can't for the life of me screw it open. Do you have any suggestions on what to do? I want that screw to suffer...

Hello Adam, hey, can i replace my original N64 stick for the 3rd party controllers stick? (from those controllers that look equal to the original ones)

I bought an N64 controller and the controller pak is stuck inside. Any tips on how to get it out?

Adam! i bought a new nintendo64 controller at Valuevillage for $3.99, It is jungle green ontop and yellow on bottom. was the green bottom replaced with a yellow bottom? or is this worth something

Sure thing.

Ah, Thank you. Now then the N64 I own is one that me and my brother had as children...I think I was three or four? But I think it may be as old or a little older than I am, I know that it is in dire need of cleaning and such. The problem that I've ran into was that I don't have the screw bit that is prefered and needed, so far I'm attempting to use a Bic pen without the ink well in it. And as a question, How much would one of those cost? Because I'm afraid that the N64 may go soon.

If you get a chance do a video on controllers that freeze during gameplay, i'm not sure if its my system or not, it seems to happen to all my controllers more on some than others. the pausing and pressing triggers and start technique doesn't seem to work. I will be buying another N64 and controllers, but like you i have a growing collection of broken consoles/controllers.

What if the analog stick is loose?