Trackball.......

[Darke]

I was wondering what you guys thought about replacing the plastic trackball with an 8-ball from a billiards set.  The 8-ball is heavier and so therefore will likely spin better.  I am having some problems with my new trackball I got from Happs.  Its a 2-1/4 PS2 interface.  The thing will not spin like it should.  Can't even play Marble Madness too well.  I sent Happs an email about it.  Maybe the bearings are defective.  What do you guys oil your trackball bearings with?  I know you cant use grease....its too heavy and the thing will never spin after that.  Any ideas or suggestions on this topic will be appreciated.

[OSCAR]

A billiard ball should work very well in place of a standard trackball.   Quality billiard balls are made from a phenolic resin which is denser than the cast polymer that trackballs are made out of.  Just make sure you use a 2-1/4" billiard ball and not a 2-1/8".  I'm no expert in this field, but I believe that there are two different sizes.  I believe that cue balls and bumper pool balls are 2-1/8", but you should verify that.

For the bearings, light household oil works best for trackballs.  3-in-1 oil is what is typically used on trackballs, because (as you mentioned) heavy oil or grease only adds resistance.  Shelf life of trackball bearing lubrication is about 1 year without use, meaning that you should lube the bearings once a year even if you don't use it.  The oil will leak out of the bearings in the form of a light film and you may not even notice.  Under heavy use, it is recommended trackball bearings be oiled every 3 months.  A few drops on the dust shield next to the inner & outer race should be sufficient.

[Darke]

The main thing I am looking to improve on is the spin of the trackball.  It doesn't spin very well now and I was thinking added weight of the ball would help that.