Hardware R Button Issues

[X_Frost]

Here is my problem.

After playing yesterday, I noticed that my R button was stuck. I did the usual, clean around with compressed air and a toothbrush.

It's responsive now, but I notice that it's less resistant to input. My R button that was springy is now soft and mushy.

What should I do to return the button to normal?

 

[WallK]

I had the same issue with old DS. Contacts of the button (that metallic legs), that is registering your press, just bent, and the button is slightly far away of the plastic exterior button.
Temporary solution was adding little pieces of paper or something thin between plastic and button. Later I desoldered that, straighten up those legs and soldered it back. Haven't had a problem since.

 

[legofan623]

I would put a a tiny dab of hot glue on the part of the R button that contacts the electronic button, or try stretching out the spring just a bit..

 

[SmileCitrus]

There are two (or possibly more) types of switches used in the o3DS for the shoulder buttons. They're basically identical except for the material the button is made of. One type is made from a rigid plastic that can't be easily removed. But the other type has a rubbery button that activates the switch when depressed. This type can be removed easily with your fingernail to clean beneath with isopropyl alcohol.


You can then put it back in by squeezing the rubber bit with some thin tweezers so you can quickly force it back into the switch before it regains it's normal shape.

If you open the 3DS and you find you have the rubbery type you can carefully remove it and clean inside the switch itself. This won't make the button feel like new, but it can help a bit to restore somewhat the feeling of "clickiness" when you press it.

The other option, of course, is just to replace the shoulder buttons with new ones.

 

[X_Frost]

Temporary solution was adding little pieces of paper or something thin between plastic and button. Later I desoldered that, straighten up those legs and soldered it back. Haven't had a problem since.

How temporary are we talking about here? I have little soldering experience and I don't want to make any mistakes.

I would put a a tiny dab of hot glue on the part of the R button that contacts the electronic button, or try stretching out the spring just a bit..

Considering the glue idea, it seems like it could work.

There are two (or possibly more) types of switches used in the o3DS for the shoulder buttons.
...
The other option, of course, is just to replace the shoulder buttons with new ones.

It's a New 3DS, and parts aren't available for that as far as I can see.

 

[SmileCitrus]

How temporary are we talking about here? I have little soldering experience and I don't want to make any mistakes.

You don't have to do any soldering to replace the shoulder buttons on the 3DS. They connect to the motherboard using a little plug. Easy as pie to replace.

The switches themselves can be desoldered from the ribbon cable so you can replace them, but on the 3DS it's really not worth it unless you already have some compatible switches lying around, since you can buy replacement shoulder buttons that are already soldered to the ribbon cable for next to nothing, so you won't really be saving any money by replacing the switches individually and reusing the original ribbon cable.

EDIT: Ah, new 3DS. Haha, I think you added that piece as I was writing my reply. I haven't yet tried this myself, but I'm pretty sure you should be able to use the same switches for the New 3DS as for the old 3DS. If you look at them side by side, you can see they're almost identical. But you do need a little bit of soldering experience to do it.

Replacement shoulder buttons are available though. But they're more expensive than for the old 3DS.

 

[WallK]

It wasn't that temporary, really. I used a piece of 0.7mm PET sheet.
I like the hot glue idea, that's gonna work like a charm!
About soldering: you need a really sharp soldering iron or that hot air gun (I don't know how you call it).
You are not gonna loose anything tho, so try with hot glue first, you can clean it later with the same hot air gun or even a regular hair dryer.

 

[X_Frost]

Sounds like a plan, I'll see how it goes.