Trackball very hard to roll - need help

[pcdoctor]

I just received my Betson trackball and it's very hard to use.
I'm using Mame32 plus and trying to play Crystal Castles.
Any ideas?
I have the PS/2 version of the Betson trackball.

Thanks!

[pcdoctor]

I think my trackball is defective.
When trying to roll left or right, it's very difficult.
I think the left/right axis is messed up.
Up and down is fine.

[SirPeale]

Brand new ball, right?

Break in the bearings.

See Bob Roberts site.

http://www.therealbobroberts.com

[cdbrown]

Have you had a look inside to check the rollers.  Spin them with your fingers and see how they go  - compare the left/right spin with the up/down spin.  There could be something restricting the roller.  How does the trackball feel when using it as a mouse in windows? Do you have the same problems?  Also remember there are sensitivity settings for trackballs and they are different for different games.

[pcdoctor]

Yes, brand new.
The left and right axis must be messed up or either the roller that controls the left and right function is not rolling properly.

[pcdoctor]

Just to really see what was going on, I removed the four screws from the case.
The up/down roller really spins fast.
The left/right roller doesn't spin as fast.
I tried Marble Madness, Crystal Castles and windows.
I assume I don't need the buttons hooked up to see how well the mouse moves.
Thanks for the help guys.

[pcdoctor]

I'm reading this right now.

http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/moretb.html

I wish they made optical arcade trackballs.
Has anyone ever converted a Microsoft or Logitech optical trackball to work with a 2.25" or 3" arcade trackball?
If so, please post pics!

[pcdoctor]

I emailed my Betson/Imperial salesperson yesterday.
He gave me a name and number for assistance.
I'm going to call the guy sometime this afternoon.
I will let you guys know.
Maybe they will send me out another trackball.
It almost takes 10 strokes to move from the right side of the screen to the left.
Up/down is ok but could be better too.

[Minwah]

I'm reading this right now.

http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/moretb.html

I wish they made optical arcade trackballs.
Has anyone ever converted a Microsoft or Logitech optical trackball to work with a 2.25" or 3" arcade trackball?
If so, please post pics!

I don't know if it is possible to hack a trackball to an optical mouse, but I did hear that optical mice are very bad for MAME as a rule...

[PaulG]

It sounds like your really need to reem the bearings (Follow the advice of the links provided).  And isn't an optical arcade trackball an oxymoron?  There's no way you could have a big ball and have it's movement measured any other way that rods, is there?  I recently thought about this too and came to the conclusion its just nonsense.  It'd be cool if you could, but to my feable brain it seems impossible.

[mp2526]

It sounds like your really need to reem the bearings (Follow the advice of the links provided).  And isn't an optical arcade trackball an oxymoron?  There's no way you could have a big ball and have it's movement measured any other way that rods, is there?  I recently thought about this too and came to the conclusion its just nonsense.  It'd be cool if you could, but to my feable brain it seems impossible.

Go to your nearest computer store and take a look at a Microsoft optical trackball.  The ball itself has little dot like particles imbedded in the ball and an optical sensor reads the position of the mouse based on these dots.  It still has BB type bearings for the ball to roll on, but that is strictly to keep the ball off the surface where the sensor is and not to measure any axis movements.  I would assume you could do this on a larger scale for an arcade trackball.  But maybe there is a limitation that prevents it, but I can't see what it would be.