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updated2026-10-04 23:30

 
Atari 5200 Controller Side Buttons Replacement
DeviceAtari 5200
DifficultyModerate
Time15 - 45 minutes
Steps5
This guide is by Alan Abelson on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>

Tools: Phillips #2 Screwdriver; Metal Spudger


Step 1
[step 1 photo] [step 1 photo] [step 1 photo]
• Turn the controller over, exposing the three screws on the back. Use a 6mm screwdriver to remove these screws.
• Carefully slide and pull the two parts of the controller shell apart, exposing the innards.

Step 2 :: A Little Off the Sides
[step 2 photo] [step 2 photo]
• Now that the top of the controller is exposed, the orange, side buttons can easily slide out.
• Realign the buttons over the sensors/clean the sensor contacts.
• CAUTION: Be careful when reassembling your buttons. Make sure the black buttons are aligned properly over the silver sensors on the flex board
• CAUTION: Also, be careful to properly align the bottom of the joystick with the pots (white levers)

Step 3 :: Reassembly Part 1
[step 3 photo] [step 3 photo]
• Use a spudger to remove the top frame.
• Take off the plate.
• Remove the rubber buttons.

Step 4 :: Reassembly Part 2
[step 4 photo] [step 4 photo]
• Pull the circuit strip through the new space.
• Realign the top and bottom of the controller.

Step 5 :: Reassembly Part 3
[step 5 photo] [step 5 photo] [step 5 photo]
• Return the buttons to the top of the controller.
• Snap the frame back into place.
• Screw the screws.

Conclusion
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Credit
This guide is by Alan Abelson on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>
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