2.25" Wico Trackball Questions

[Superdude]

1) To install the track ball without a mounting plate, would I use a 2.25" inch hole saw for the trackball and then drill out the other 4 bolt holes?  I am mounting this on metal and a plexi layer.  Is this way too thick? The metal is thin and so is the plexi.  

2) Is there any molex connectors I can buy at radio shack to fit the 4 pin connectors on both ends of the trackball?  I want to do the cleanest mouse hack possible without buying an optipac. (I cannot buy oscars mouse hack because I am using dos.  (NO USB in DOS))

Thanks
John

[NY_in_TX]

well, I can take a stab at #1 and say that the combo of plexi and the metal is okay for mounting the Tballs.  My track and field had the exact same setup.  Wicos mounted in a metal cp, with plexi on top.  I thought the feel left a little to be desired, but it worked for TaF where all you were doing was slapping the ball.  For centipede or missle command I would want more contact for responsiveness, but it works.  And yes, all you have to do is drill the center hole and the mounting holes.

I would take the Tball to your local Radio Shack or electronics supply store and find one that fits.  You should be able to find one that fits your existing plug, or at the very least find another matching set to replace the one you have. Maybe with an extra paire of connectors so it can include the mouse buttons and be a squeaky clean connection.

[u_rebelscum]

1) To install the track ball without a mounting plate, would I use a 2.25" inch hole saw for the trackball and then drill out the other 4 bolt holes?  I am mounting this on metal and a plexi layer.  Is this way too thick? The metal is thin and so is the plexi.  

The lip of my 2 1/4" wico TB is only 1/16" of an inch high, which is usually the thickness the the metal plate of CPs.  However thick the plexi is will be how much the TB is lower than it should be, IMO.  (Assuming you have a 1/16" think metal CP.)  1/16" plexi isn't that bad, 1/8" is way too think for this IMO.

If you can stand it, though, yes just drill a 2.25" hole.  If the metal is 1/16" think, however, you can drill the plexi hole as small as 2" (if perfectly centered with the metal hole, and you'd want to bevel the plexi edge too).  Make sure the bolt holes form a diamond with the points above, below, left and right of the ball hole (not a square with the edges parallel with the top and sides of the CP).


Ignore first paragraph if the new wico TBs have "golden tee" high lips (3/16").

2) Is there any molex connectors I can buy at radio shack to fit the 4 pin connectors on both ends of the trackball?

Yes, in the better radio shacks.  The smaller ones probably won't have it; I think only two out of four radio shacks around home or work have them, but I wasn't looking for the part you are.  Bring the TB so you can see if they fit, just in case.

[Superdude]

Thank you both for helping me!!!!