A and B buttons are absurdly sensitive.

[coryetzel]

I finished my build and everything went surprisingly smoothly; however, my A and B buttons are insanely sensitive. I could practically blow on them and they would press. Is this common?

[Flavor]

I would say that most people don't mention problems with the A and B buttons at all. When people do, it's typically the opposite problem. Anyway, button issues are often related to the silicone rubber pad, and those can actually vary quite a bit in both feel and sensitivity. Some of the aftermarket buttons have a different feel and sensitivity than others.

One test you could do is, with the machine opened up, try using the START/SELECT or the DPAD silicon over the top of the A or B contacts on the circuit board. Then you could press them to see if they feel less sensitive. I hope that makes sense. You could also try using the A/B pad on the START or SELECT contacts to see if you think it changes anything.

Did your silicone rubber pads come with your shell or did you get them separately?

[coryetzel]

I have an original Gameboy Advance, I'll try swapping those in to see if it changes anything.

[coryetzel]

I put the rubber pad on a little straighter this time, seems to be better. It's pretty manageable now. Thanks.

[Flavor]

Good deal, Cory. I'm glad you got it figured out!

[malakian]

I have this same problem, and it seems to be a problem with inadequate travel once the board is affixed to the front of the case/the case is closed. While the case is open and the board isnt screwed into place, if it is slightly lifted at that side the A and B buttons will travel and feel as you would expect, but once it is affixed they (particularly the b button) do not feel like they are travelling and are extremely sensitive, often triggering of their own accord. Unfortunately this is making it unusable. I can't really work out why. The silicone pads are aftermarket - @Flavor seems to suggest this could be an issue. However, the holes line up with the case to keep them in place so I'm puzzled as to how or why. Can anyone shed any light on this? Really cant see what I can do about it. Thank you.

[Flavor]

Hey malakian! I was hoping someone else would write in, because I don't have any real epiphanies here. I feel like maybe something isn't mating up properly, but I really can't say without holding it in my own hands. Would you want to post a bunch of photos or a video or something like that? Maybe there's a chance we'd notice something wrong.

Is there a chance that the volume wheel or headphone jack "wires" that stick through the PCB are contacting the plastic and pushing it away? That's KINDA near the buttons.

With the shell apart (just the PCB), can you boot it up and actuate the A/B buttons? Do they feel proper then? Do they register on the emulator properly then?

[malakian]

Thanks for the reply flavor. Yes, with the case open they feel great. Even with the front completely assembled. I've narrowed it down to being something to do with the back closure on the side of the buttons pushing somewhere it shouldn't, but unfortunately I haven't managed to work ito where... I've taken a photo, is anything obviously aberrant on the right hand side of the rear shell? Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/nvE2VDw

[malakian]

I take it nothing is jumping out here as off? This is so strange... unfortunately I can't use it as a result drat

[Flavor]

I'm really sorry, malakian. I was out of town all last week, and we were in a place that didn't even have WiFi. Today I am swamped with all the things (like this) that came in while I was out.

The way that you have routed your speaker wires could (possibly) put pressure in the battery compartment area. You can route the wires around the board near the outside of the shell. There should be enough room for them that way, and they won't have any pressure from the plastic shell.

On your first photo, I can see the plastic posts that would rest on the circuit board just under the A and B buttons. The post that would be under the B button looks different than the A post. The photo isn't clear enough to tell why, but I am wondering if it has been deformed in some way. If it was smashed or something and had ANY added height to it, it could cause the problem you are mentioning. I can also see this in the second photo, but, again, I can't tell for sure what the issue might be. In THEORY you could cut this post off to see if it helped, but it could also have a negative effect on the button feel (in the opposite way).