Reddit mentions of Gen Wii & DS Lite Tri-Wing Triwing Screwdriver Tool

Triw-wings aren't that uncommon. Even Airbus uses them. The screwdriver costs less than $2. If you're serious about taking shit apart just get a bit set that has every bit ever for like $20. Things are a lot easier when you have the right tools.

This is step-by-step guide I put together after I saw /u/oldSAP's post. It's pretty easy to do and looks cool when you're done.

Here's the [link] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VPBYS6/ref=cm_sw_su_dp) to the tri-wing screwdriver I used and here's a [video] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEpISFBoGDg) of a disassembly if you want to reference it (it's in German).

I could probably make a video tutorial if there is a lot of interest. Have fun!

Edit: Thank you to whoever gave me gold!

This is a great low tech solution, just keep in mind the head will break if you use it too much, and this completely bypasses the cons of making it in the first place.

Actually buying a trihead is always the best solution (I have 4 of them), especially since they sell for almost nothing on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Tri-wing-Screwdriver-Nintendo-Gamecube-Gameboy/dp/B000S6AG9G/

That's one I bought for a buck and a half, but it took almost a month to arrive, haha. They ship it all the way from China. If you spend another $1.50 (gasp!) you can get it with Prime and in 2 days shipping though.

http://www.amazon.com/DS-Tri-Wing-Triwing-Screwdriver-Nintendo-6304900/dp/B000VPBYS6/

tl;dr I highly encourage people not to use the melted plastic method.

You crafted a screwdriver by melting a plastic pen? You can just buy a triwing for like $3...

EDIT: I have this one and it works beautifully.

I have two black and two white. I took one black and one white, opened them up and switched the buttons around. Now I have one white with white buttons, one black with black buttons, one white with black buttons, and one black with white buttons. It's fairly easy to do, but you will need to order a special tri-wing screwdriver to open them up.

I've taken apart my 3DS to repair broken parts a couple of times now, and if there's anything I've learned it's that the L and R buttons are very simple to remove/replace. Whilst I'm pretty sure that taking apart the 3DS yourself voids the warranty, doing it by hand can save you a lot of money since the Nintendo repair can cost rather silly amounts of cash.

If you feel confident that you can remember what goes where and put the 3DS back together again afterwards (Which is very simple) then the easiest way to do it is to buy a small Tri-Headed screwdriver to unscrew the screws that Nintendo uses. They're very cheap and can be found on amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/DS-Tri-Wing-Triwing-Screwdriver-Nintendo-6304900/dp/B000VPBYS6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1405183226&sr=1-1&keywords=tri-wing+screwdriver

The next step is to open the back of your 3DS, making sure not to lose the screws. Since the shoulder buttons are merely slotted onto the board, they should come off easily. They consist of the button and a small metal spring. You can take a look at the broken button this way to see if it is truly broken or just jamming.

If it's jamming: Problem solved! Putting it back in place how it should be will solve it (In order to see how it "Should" be positioned, just look at the other button).

If it's broken: You can easily find a replacement button from parts dealers on e-bay or other websites. You may only be able to find replacement shoulder buttons that come with the trigger also, but usually it's still a darn sight cheaper than paying Nintendo to do it for you.

$5.99 $1.68

$2.99

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VPBYS6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

Here is a link to the one I bought

This is the one I have, it's cheap and it gets the job done.

The R button failing is a fairly common issue with the earlier 3ds models. I have one of the smoke black ( I suppose ) models and had to open it up and replace the switch in mine.

They are very easily replaced and fairly cheap as well. Here is a set from amazon. Go ahead and watch a tutorial on youtube first if you're hesitant. Oh you'll probably need a tri-wing screwdriver. Most Nintendo stuff requires one. Here is another amazon link to a cheap driver.

Good luck and have fun!

Don't buy a new controller, clean/ fix your existing one. It will cost a lot less (~15$) and you will be able to clean/fix all of your other controllers as well. May sound weird because I'm telling you to fix your existing one but don't buy replacement joysticks... the rubber will just fall off on those too... =[ Ive wasted some $ on shitty "replacement" joysticks that don't even last a day. Buy 1 pack of these [ **.com/Cyber-%E3%83%BBPremium-Slide-Cover-Clear-Black/dp/B00UURTXK6/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1479033751&sr=8-1&keywords=3ds+circle+pad+cover ] and glue it to your joystick. I used an epoxy resin because i figured it would do the best gluing plastic on plastic but super glue would probably work too. You should still buy a tri-wing screwdriver [ ***.com/Gen-Lite-Tri-Wing-Triwing-Screwdriver-Tool/dp/B000VPBYS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479034061&sr=8-1&keywords=triwing+screwdriver ] and some wet-wipes to get inside the controller and clean up a bit. Mine works like brand new but even better because the joystick will never wear down. I'll never part with my original orange GC controller >.<

I guess the moderators dont want people posting links so they deleted my original post... lol anyways just replace "****" with "https://www.amazon" if you want to see those items

You can email any of the sites that have a shell that you like. And you'd just need a small triwing and a small Phillips head.

No luck at Home Depot...but looks like this guy isn't shipping from halfway around the world, and should do the trick.

Two. A small philips head size ~00 and a triwing
should be all you need. Maybe a thin flathead or something in case you need to pry the case apart.

If you're a computer tech, you should have no problem. I'm not familiar with this issue, so I have no real information to add. Except that I've been opening and cleaning all of my Nintendo controllers, NES through Wii remote. And they're all fairly easy to disassemble and reassemble. My guess would be that you've just got some human dirt/sweat/goo on one of the buttons. A cotton swab and alcohol will make it feel brand new. You'll probably want to invest in a Nintendo screwdriver as well. Mine has proved useful time and time again.

http://www.amazon.com/DS-Tri-Wing-Triwing-Screwdriver-Nintendo-6304900/dp/B000VPBYS6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1422383033&sr=8-4&keywords=nintendo+screwdriver

There is nothing I know of to protect your existing thumbsticks but you can easily replace them. By buying a triwing screwdriver and replacement thumbsticks from amazon or ebay.

Triwing Screwdriver : https://www.amazon.com/DS-Tri-Wing-Triwing-Screwdriver-Nintendo-6304900/dp/B000VPBYS6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467355222&sr=8-2&keywords=triwing+screwdriver+gamecube

Replacement Thumbsticks : https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Analogue-Thumbstick-Gamecube-Controller/dp/B01D0Y63NU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1467354830&sr=8-3&keywords=gamecube+sticks

Happy Cubing!

Malthris

I own two pro controllers and I love them for Wind Waker, Pikmin, and Tropical Freeze. I'm pretty sure it'll be a great substitute for Gamecube controllers. The color scheme is a bit of an issue, as there currently exist only 2 colors, black and white, and if you want every controller to be different, the only thing you can do (which I highly reccomend) is to take the controllers apart with a fancy nintendo screwdriver and trade the buttons around.

despite not having anything on your want list, I wanted to ask about the Wavebirds. have you tried taking them apart and cleaning them? are there dead spots on the actual boards? it might benefit you to take them apart and dust them. that helped me with a wired Gamecube controller that had a sticky X button and one of the sticks acting weird; now it's in perfect working order. if you're able to find the receivers, that would also help you be able to get rid of them. people rarely want controllers with no receivers, and you also can't very well test them without at least one.

if you don't have a tri-wing, you might have some luck taking them apart with a small flathead screwdriver. I did that before spending $3 on the tri-wing one that worked pretty well since I was careful and didn't force it badly enough to destroy the heads of the screws. I know from experience that the tri-wing screwdriver works for Gamecube controllers, the DS Lite, and GBA carts. I've also read that it will help dismantling Wiimotes, the Wii itself, the Gamecube console, and quite a few other of Nintendo's things. it's worth the $4 if you have any technical knowledge and would trust yourself taking things apart. which I understand many people wouldn't, which is also fine.

and actually, upon further inspection, and after clicking the link to your full want list, that was a lie. I do have a spare copy of Wind Waker without a manual, but I certainly won't be trading that for some half-dead controllers with no receivers, especially if the boards are what's shot.

also, I'm pretty sure that Platinum Game Boy Players were Japan only, and are relatively rare, so I wish you the best of luck finding one. I would love to have my Game Boy Player match my beautiful platinum system, along with its controllers and two of my Wavebirds, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be, and I don't care enough to invest in such a swap when there are games I could be getting instead.

>i heard about removing spirngs on shoulder buttons but idk if it would make things better or how to even do it.

Here's the tri-wing screwdriver you need. Or you can ask members of your scene if they have said screwdriver and to bring it to the next event.

Here's a crude but helpful video on how to remove the springs.


And remember, removing the springs will keep you from being able to light-shield in Melee. So keep the springs around in case you want to revert back.