Neo Geo CD Controller Pro Ball Top

Neo Geo CD Controller Pro Ball Top

When I made my MV2FS ready for home-use, I also added a ball top to my Neo Geo CD Controller Pro. This was supposed to be handled in an article in 2018, but it somehow got lost. Anyways, here it is:

The SNK Neo Geo CD Controller Pro (aka kidney bean stick) doesn’t have a regular ball top like the arcade stick. Instead, it has an indented head, probably to rest your thumb on.

SNK Neo Geo CD Controller Pro
SNK Neo Geo CD Controller Pro

I never got used to it and eventually bought a Sanwa LB-35-K ball top to replace it. Because the stick rotates freely, I couldn’t just unscrew the old top. I had to open up the controller and secure the other end with a big, flat screwdriver (for example, the coin-sized Anex AHC-1511 screwdriver bit).

However, I didn’t know this back then and accidentally removed the snap ring (e-clip) to take the whole stick out. This is not needed at all if you just want to replace the top, but a good opportunity to clean the whole assembly. Before I put the stick back in, I attached the new ball top. I didn’t screw it too tight though and can still swap the top without having to open the controller again.

Neo Geo CD Controller Pro - stick with new ball top
Neo Geo CD Controller Pro – stick with new ball top

And this is the order to put it back together:
First, the spring. Next, the white plastic sleeve to hold the spring down. And finally, the snap ring. In case it jumped away before, and you’re in need of a replacement, it’s a 4 mm e-clip.

This looks and plays much better:

SNK Neo Geo CD Controller Pro with Sanwa LB-35-K ball top
SNK Neo Geo CD Controller Pro with Sanwa LB-35-K ball top

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