SE controller mods

Tee Bee · #1 09-21-2003, 07:49 PM

Been lurking again for a while reading the new posts and waiting for the new SEs to arrive at my local store. Got a yellow Enfini today and like it. Nice addition to my Zip collection. Here's the question. Has anyone had the new controller apart, yet? The steering wheel seems very stiff and I wanted a look at the spring to see if I could soften it up a bit to make it easier to operate. Thinking of putting a rubber ring around the steering wheel as well to make it easier to grip like those on bigger RC transmitters. I took the 4 screws out of the back, but couldn't seem to get it to pry apart without it wanted to break, so I gave up for now. Didn't want to tear it up on the first day.

This time last year, I was having fun tracking down and buying ZipZaps and modifying. I drove 2 hours each way for a Fast/Furious Tuner Set. Made cool little rubber-covered joysticks for my controllers as well. Here we go again.

crazydave · #2 09-21-2003, 10:37 PM

The only mod I plan to do to my controller is get some of this Crayola stuff, Model Magic. It's a modeling compound kinda like clay, but it dries into foam rubber. I'm going to use that to lengthen the part where may hand wraps around, and then squish my fingers in it, so it will be custom formed to my hand.

The controller kinda makes my hand cramp up as it is now.

sessiz10 · #3 09-22-2003, 01:32 AM

Damn it.

I was cuttin styrene and puttyin earlier today. Making my self a grip for the controller and you go ahead and come out with crayola modeling clay which woulda've been alot easier and saved me my time and tamiya putty.
Thanks dave.

mcojoc · #4 09-22-2003, 10:37 AM

Concerning the Steering wheel, Perhaps under the center black dot there is a screw that is holding the wheel to the controller like standard controllers. The question is, how do you get it off to access the screw underneath? drill it out?

dr1zz · #5 09-22-2003, 01:27 PM

i pulled apart the controller.............
there is a screw under that black circle in the middle of the steering wheel....
i popped that off with a screwdriver.......

so far all i did was added some wire to the antennae which got me better range.......

as far as adjusting the steering radius of the wheel, i dont think i can do it........prolly need some resistance between the sttering control and the pcb....i dunno

well heres a pic of the guts of the controller.......

i was gonna pull the charging base off, but theres 4 wires that go to it now, prolly to sync the chassis with the controller selectable channel....

i guess one of my contollers is gonna be scrapped for the charging base......

crazydave · #6 09-22-2003, 01:39 PM

I hadn't considered the charger base, and how it syncs the cars frequency.

Bummer too, I like a separate charger.

I think I'm gonna just drill holes in my controller to install jacks for what I need.

crazydave · #7 09-22-2003, 05:16 PM

Ok, I did the foam rubber grip.

Here's what that Crayola Model Magic package looks like,

and the finished product.

I wanted to do Black, but that only came in the deluxe kit for 10 bucks. I don't how much this one was supposed ot be, because it was mismarked and I got it for a buck.

I have to let it dry 24 hours before I can report if it's durable enough, but it sure is a lot easier to hold now.

Bad Company · #8 09-22-2003, 06:31 PM

Nice work crazydave. Let us know how it turns out, I might have to do this myself. You could always wrap it with some of that tennis racket grip stuff to get the color you want and possibly give better grip.

crazydave · #9 09-22-2003, 08:35 PM

When it dries it's like squishy foam rubber, should grip great.

The box says you can color it with markers. I think I might take a Sharpie to it, and hope it doesn't come off on my hand.

If it doesn't stay on after it's dry, I could use some of that tennis racket stuff to hold it on.

Steve · #10 09-28-2003, 12:46 AM

For the love of Pete...somebody make the controller usable!!