do i need to replace my ball?

[gnateye]

my trackball that is anyways.... it fades to  the left when yo utry to go forward in like bowling or golf, it always fades to the left, now granted its not perfectly straight, but its only off by 1/16th at the most. iahve replaced the rollers and bearings already. but the ball is the original millipede trackball.

any thoughts? should i just try to get it perfectly straight?

[Chris]

my trackball that is anyways.... it fades to  the left when yo utry to go forward in like bowling or golf, it always fades to the left, now granted its not perfectly straight, but its only off by 1/16th at the most. iahve replaced the rollers and bearings already. but the ball is the original millipede trackball.

any thoughts? should i just try to get it perfectly straight?

Perhaps you're putting spin on the ball the way you push it.  If you use your other hand, does it fade in the opposite direction?

--Chris

[AlanS17]

Well can you see any imperfections in the ball itself? Nicks, scratches, dents, etc. If not, then I would tend to say the problem isn't the ball itself.

You say your CP tilts to the left by about 1/16". That may not sound like much, but when you remove that inertial force holding the TB still and get it to spinning then it has the potential to go any which way. Is it a 3" trackball? The heavier the ball, the more likely it is to be affected by the tilt.

[Smack]

On one of my cabs, my roommate kept getting the same effect.

It turns out he was stepping up to the panel at a tiny angle.

Have you considered lowering the sensitivity just a smidgeon? Dunno, just a thought.

Smack

[grafixmonkey]

My Happ trackball always rolls to the left too.  Starts out straight forward, but is always rolling straight left by the time it stops.  

I'm going to recommend against getting the HighBall trackball.  It frequently gets bounced up off its rollers because there's more slope available on the side of the ball.  I can even put my fingers around it and pick it up off the rollers entirely.  That, and you have to buy a $27.00 mounting plate, when $7.00 plates are available for every other kind of trackball.  And it's kind of uncomfortable on the palm of my hand, because it's such a big bump.

[RacerX]

My Happ trackball always rolls to the left too.  Starts out straight forward, but is always rolling straight left by the time it stops.  
<clipped>

I can see how that would happen because of the way the Happ trackball sits on the bearings.  The top track and the left track are perpendicular to each other, but the bottom right track runs at a slope (sort of from right center to bottom center).  I would think that could cause the effect you are seeing, especially if the bearing need lubing.

[u_rebelscum]

I can see how that would happen because of the way the Happ trackball sits on the bearings.  The top track and the left track are perpendicular to each other, but the bottom right track runs at a slope (sort of from right center to bottom center).  I would think that could cause the effect you are seeing, especially if the bearing need lubing.

(almost all) Happs TBs are 180 turned around from what you discribe; the wico and betson TBs are like you say.  The happs/Atari TBs should have the X & Y rollers on the right and bottom sides, and the third roller on the upper left "corner".

I'm wondering, for those with twisting TBs, how tilted is the control panel?  Due to the roller locations I would think happs TB would do better tilted more than the wico/betson TBs, and vice versa.


But, yup, make sure all the bearings are lubed and the rollers aren't grooved too much.

[RacerX]

I can see how that would happen because of the way the Happ trackball sits on the bearings.  The top track and the left track are perpendicular to each other, but the bottom right track runs at a slope (sort of from right center to bottom center).  I would think that could cause the effect you are seeing, especially if the bearing need lubing.

(almost all) Happs TBs are 180 turned around from what you discribe; the wico and betson TBs are like you say.  The happs/Atari TBs should have the X & Y rollers on the right and bottom sides, and the third roller on the upper left "corner".

I'm wondering, for those with twisting TBs, how tilted is the control panel?  Due to the roller locations I would think happs TB would do better tilted more than the wico/betson TBs, and vice versa.


But, yup, make sure all the bearings are lubed and the rollers aren't grooved too much.

Hmmm... I could have sworn mine was as I described.  But it's been awhile since I cracked it open.

[u_rebelscum]

I can see how that would happen because of the way the Happ trackball sits on the bearings.  The top track and the left track are perpendicular to each other, but the bottom right track runs at a slope (sort of from right center to bottom center).  I would think that could cause the effect you are seeing, especially if the bearing need lubing.

(almost all) Happs TBs are 180 turned around from what you discribe; the wico and betson TBs are like you say.  The happs/Atari TBs should have the X & Y rollers on the right and bottom sides, and the third roller on the upper left "corner".

Hmmm... I could have sworn mine was as I described.  But it's been awhile since I cracked it open.

Notice I said "almost all".  According to theRealBobRoberts, happs produced trackballs like you said for a very short period, before switching back to the original Atari design after too many complaints from arcade operators.  You might have the "flipped" model.

All changing from one to the other involves is swapping two wires per axis (X1 & X2, and Y1 & Y2) and rotating the TB 180.  If you have the "flipped" happs TB and don't like the ball action, you could "un-flip" it.

[RacerX]

I can see how that would happen because of the way the Happ trackball sits on the bearings.  The top track and the left track are perpendicular to each other, but the bottom right track runs at a slope (sort of from right center to bottom center).  I would think that could cause the effect you are seeing, especially if the bearing need lubing.

(almost all) Happs TBs are 180 turned around from what you discribe; the wico and betson TBs are like you say.  The happs/Atari TBs should have the X & Y rollers on the right and bottom sides, and the third roller on the upper left "corner".

Hmmm... I could have sworn mine was as I described.  But it's been awhile since I cracked it open.

Notice I said "almost all".  According to theRealBobRoberts, happs produced trackballs like you said for a very short period, before switching back to the original Atari design after too many complaints from arcade operators.  You might have the "flipped" model.

All changing from one to the other involves is swapping two wires per axis (X1 & X2, and Y1 & Y2) and rotating the TB 180.  If you have the "flipped" happs TB and don't like the ball action, you could "un-flip" it.

Good info to know.  Thanks!