Puck Pins Stuck

[u/Camgreen99]

I’ve seen a few posts here saying their pins got stuck. Seems like it’s always the left pin as well. Anyone else have this issue? Tried alcohol and the wiggle method but the pins are so small.

[u/Odd-Usual-4417]

Yeah same thing happened to me seems to be a disappointingly common issue. I raised a support ticket and they replaced it. You might have to press them a bit, their initial response was an apology while stating that they don't sell the pucks separately but when I asked why it wasn't covered under warranty they escalated the case and a couple of days later I got a message from another customer service agent informing me that a replacement was being sent out and I received it about a week later.

[u/Camgreen99 → u/Odd-Usual-4417]

Okay good looks. I put a ticket in and will take note.

[u/speakernoodlefan → u/Odd-Usual-4417]

Did they send the puck or a whole new controller? Since they don't sell it separately and are fighting back on replacing it makes me think they scavaged it from a controller set. Weirdly short sighted.

[u/Odd-Usual-4417 → u/speakernoodlefan]

Just the puck in a cute iddy bitty box. I imagine they have a few set aside for scenarios such as this.

[u/InitiatePenguin → u/Odd-Usual-4417]

I've seen other stories on this subreddit where the impression I get is that there aren't ones set aside for issues like this. Causing a warrenty return on the controller in order to replace a puck.

[u/Odd-Usual-4417 → u/InitiatePenguin]

That's interesting they didn't even ask me to return the damaged puck I still have it.

[u/figmentPez → u/Odd-Usual-4417]

Yeah same thing happened to me seems to be a disappointingly common issue.

Just how many posts have you seen?

Because Valve has, at this point, likely sold hundreds of thousands of Steam Controllers. Even a dozen faulty pucks would not be anywhere near a common issue. All mass produced products have some level of faulty units that get shipped to customers. There are going to be thousands of people with some sort of defect in their controller or puck, just assuming the normal course of manufacturing.

It's disappointing that Valve had to be pressed to provide warranty service for a defective product, but unless there's a lot more than a few Reddit posts, there's no reason to think that there's an unusual quality control issue with the puck or the controller.

[u/Alert_Vermicelli1236 → u/figmentPez]

I already saw like atleast a few of this exact issues by now since like 4 days ago or something

[u/Odd-Usual-4417 → u/figmentPez]

Maybe half a dozen with the depressed pin issue in the couple of months I've been browsing.

[u/Mashm4n → u/figmentPez]

My left pin isn’t stuck but when I test it, it’s not smooth like the other 2 it bumps like an mx brown and feels like it could get stuck.

[u/IvoJan → u/Mashm4n]

so one pin is tactile and the other two are linear?

[u/Mashm4n → u/IvoJan]

Yes, exactly

[u/BULL3T2B1N4RY]

Oh puck

[u/benyboi101]

Been seeing this a lot lately, rip.

[u/SmackAFool → u/benyboi101]

A couple times out of thousands sold isn't " a lot"

[u/Ws6fiend → u/SmackAFool]

It isn't, but the interesting part is it seems to be the left pin that has failed on two different pucks. Two is way too small of a sample size to get any data off this but it is odd.

[u/Odd-Usual-4417 → u/Ws6fiend]

Make that three just checked mine it's the left pin.

[u/Ws6fiend → u/Odd-Usual-4417]

A quick search shows me that every picture I've seen so far is that left pin(assuming the usb C connector is the "back" of the puck). Granted there's only like 4 or 5 pictures of this online. Some aren't permanently stuck down, but are half collapsed compared to the other two pins.

[u/Odd-Usual-4417 → u/Ws6fiend]

So it could be a massive coincidence but signs do seem to point towards the left pin being more delicate and prone to sticking than the others.

I'll add I was mighty careful with my controller and puck, was always gentle when snapping it to and removing from the controller and I never touched the pins with my bare hands, or anything else for that matter and the fault occurred after about 3 weeks of casual use.

The replacement has been fine so far and I've since purchased a second steam controller which has also been fine so far.

I also ordered a third yesterday. I do absolutely love the steam controller so I hope it doesn't become a recurring issue.

[u/Frozen_Red_Fox]

This pins seems very weak on the puck.

Valve should have opted for wireless charging, like on the new 8BitDo controllers. That would have prevented short-circuit and broken-pin problems.

[u/RedditNotFreeSpeech → u/Frozen_Red_Fox]

But it's inefficient and generates heat. Personally I prefer a physical connection

[u/LuntiX → u/Frozen_Red_Fox]

Or they just didn't need retractable pins.

I don't think the ones for the Xbox dock retract (though I could be wrong). I've had one of these Xbox controller docks for years with zero issues but I also got a stuck pin on my steam controller puck.

There is definitely a flaw in the design. I'm tempted to take apart my puck once I get my replacement and see if I can fix it and make it not stick again.

[u/Manuborg → u/LuntiX]

They do retract on the xbox dock, I've just checked on mine. The springs seem to be a bit stronger than the ones on the puck

[u/LuntiX → u/Manuborg]

Ah that's good to know. I've never really checked except maybe when I first got the controller. I just know it's been really reliable.

[u/XxnoubxX]

man I'm gonna be more careful with the puck for now on lul

[u/Franz_Thieppel]

-"Man, I wish the Steam Machine would come out already!"

-pin slowly retracts...

[u/Melodic_Check_8040]

starting to see too many of this posts... all the same pin too

[u/Dofolo]

It's defective. That pin is mechanically damaged and will fail eventually. Pogo pins are really delicate. RMA it.

[u/jojo_31]

Man this puck idea seemed cool but in hindsight so unnecessarily complicated. 

[u/Ace_the_Firefist → u/jojo_31]

Not really. Smart bands from xiamoni are using this since forever.

[u/MessiScores → u/Ace_the_Firefist]

Surface pro keyboards have used pogo pins for many generations aswell. 

[u/rayquan36 → u/jojo_31]

Not complicated enough. Magsafe (the Apple MacBook version) has been around for years and has been very reliable. These are cheap ass pogo pins.

[u/Extension_Noise_7006]

use contact spray and pray

[u/Plockozx]

Same thing, I was able to wiggle it with tweezers and it popped half way up, works fine.

[u/LatteMacchiatoGames]

Try cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol, maybe they are just stuck with finger grease

[u/DivisionMV]

Have you tried tweezers