Valve Index Controller Right Hand Strap Replacement

Written By: Sam Omiotek
  • Comments: 5
Valve Index Controller Right Hand Strap Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

5

Time Required

15 - 30 minutes

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the hand strap or adjustment strap for the right-hand controller of a Valve Index VR headset.

Power off your headset and controllers before you begin your repair.

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    • Press and hold the elastic band adjustment button.

    • Slide the elastic band out of the controller.

    • During reassembly, pinch the elastic band near the tip of the loop and slide it into the controller.

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    • Insert an opening pick under the round plastic cover next to the A and B buttons.

    • Do not insert the opening pick more than 5 mm (0.2 in) into the controller, or you may tear the touchpad ribbon cable.

    • Slide the opening pick around the top of the controller until all three plastic clips are disengaged.

    How do you get that pick under there, I can’t fit mine in there

    RØZ3 Gaming -

    Same. The gap is just too tight.

    Benjamin Frey -

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    • Carefully open the top of the controller to access the screws inside.

    • Be careful not to strain or tear the ribbon cable connected to the touchpad.

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    • Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 6.1 mm screws securing the adjustment strap to the controller.

    • Once the adjustment strap is unscrewed, the spring underneath may fall out.

    • Make sure the spring is installed during reassembly, or the ratcheted adjustment mechanism will not work properly.

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    • Slide the adjustment strap out from the controller to remove it.

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Valve Index Answers community for help.

Author

Sam Omiotek

Member since: 25/02/19

75131 Reputation

3 comments

This guide doesn't go any detail on replacing the spring that is prone to flying out during the strap replacement. I offer anyone who attempts this repair luck and a cautionary tale: even with the photos and a working controller to compare it to, I was unable to tension the spring correctly or find the correct procedure for replacing it. The spring was too small for me to properly manipulate, and I ended up losing it in the controller casing.

I appreciate Sam putting this guide together, but not having instructions on replacing the spring on reinstall was a mistake that might cost me a couple hundred dollars. Please consider updating this guide.

ChaosMarine -

I'm a few months late, but just in case I figured I'd toss a reply just in case you were interested in the imgur guide I made to help out anyone else struggling with this. It's posted as a separate comment on this post. Hope your repair went well otherwise!

VaporStrike -

I appreciate the guide, but as someone noted above, you are seriously lacking in the spring instructions, which might be the most important part of this assembly. However, I managed to find a way to get the spring seated back in on my own, and so for any other unfortunates stumbling onto this guide, I made my own crappy Imgur gallery guide for re-seating the spring. Each image has a small paragraph beneath it explaining the steps to take. I hope it manages to help anyone else struggling to swap out a strap.
https://imgur.com/gallery/RQYtS5e

VaporStrike -