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Anything special about trackball bearings?
BadMouth:
Someday I want to add a trackball to my cab but don't think there is enough room inside the CP for a standard one, not even a 2.25".
I was thinking of designing and 3D printing my own trackball setup to fit the available space. I have an Opti-Wiz and some high end optical encoders in the parts bin. Have a cue ball for testing, but would buy a red bumper pool ball if things work out.
The issue is that the optical encoders use a 6mm shaft which I also have on hand.
I was ready to order some 6mm ID bearings to play around with and test the encoders, but then started to wonder if they are going to spin freely enough for the smooth ball to turn them.
Do trackball bearings have lighter grease or is anything else different to give them less resistance than a regular generic bearing?
MartyKong:
While I can't answer all your question - When I took apart and cleaned my trackball, I added a little 3 in 1 household oil and it seemed to help.
Fursphere:
My original cabinet had the same problem - control panel wasn't big enough for a normal trackball. I ended up making the control panel bigger. :)
I've got a 3" Happ trackball sitting in a box if you want me to open it up and check anything out for you. I don't recall anything special about the bearing. (My current cab uses a Ultimarc trackball that has a smaller footprint than the Happ trackball due to the large square top mount plate the Happ uses)
lilshawn:
i soak the bearings in WD40 then work them a bit, the soak them some more in some clean WD40. blow them out with compressed air, then let them dry. a drop of light machine oil on the hub part to get it behind the shield, and they spin good as new.
a few drops of the silicone spray on a paper towel rubbed over a cleaned trackball and put all back together again... works like brand new again.
nitrogen_widget:
i bought new bearings with no shields to replace some extremely crusty and frozen bearings on a 3" arcade ball from ebay
they were all rusted and frozen up.
the roller was pretty rough also.
there were mud daubers in the screw holes on the bottom.
it was filthy.
but really cheap.
I got the new bearings, read here to soak in wd-40 then use a drill bit with duck tape on the tip to spin the bearings like crazy with a drill motor to loosen them up, then 3 in 1 them.
so i did that.
i also put the roller in the drill like a bit and wet sanded it smooth by spinning it while holding sand paper wrapped around it.
i started with a more aggressive grit and worked it smaller.
the shafts still had the bevel worn in from the ball but it seemed to spin smoothly and for a bit like it's supposed to once put back together.
never actually used it though to play anything.