tweekin a trackball?

[Lilwolf]

I have a used happs 3" trackball.  And well... I need to push down on it a bit to go up/down.

I'm not sure why... it has new rollers (could use new bearings but I don't want to spend that much on them)...  

It could be that my controlpanel is on a slight angle..

but anyway, if you just move them up/down slowly without pushing it, it doesn't make contact to the bottom roller.

Should I mount it upside down?  (that would make me drill another control panel, but not the end of the world)..

Or can I get away with putting a bit of paper or something under the bearings to raise them up a bit?

Thanks

[u_rebelscum]

I doubt it's too tilted.  If it's a "too tilted" problem, the TB misses often when you roll down, but usually there is no or little problem rolling the ball up.

If it's equal problems up & down, it could be one of many other problems:

the up/down roller is greased (wipe all oil off the roller),
the up/down roller is too smooth and needs some breaking in,
the bearings need lubricating/replacement,
the up/down or idle roller or bearing is rubbing on some part of the case,
one roller (either the up/down or idle roller for you) is more worn than the others (try swapping the X & Y rollers),
one or more bearings on any of the other rollers sit too high or too close to center (maybe dirt, gunk, or a broken stand), or
one bearing on the up/down roller sits lower or away from center than it should (maybe a broken stand).
[shrug]

Try pulling off the top of the case (& remove the PCBs so they don't get rubbed by the wheel).  Check how the ball sits on the rollers at rest, as you gently turn the ball, and as you turn and press down on the ball.  Make sure all the bearings are seated all the way down, don't spring up, and are all the same size.  Clean and lub the bearings, especially the up/down and the idler ones for you. Clean all the rollers.