2-1/4" boltless trackball mounting plates?

[darktemp]

How well do these work?  I know Bob Roberts said he had a lot of trouble with them a while ago.  Also does anyone know of a good source other than happ for these?  Bob Roberts only carries 3" models and I would rather not have to place an order with happs for $20+ just for the plate.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I couldn't find them anywhere else, so I ordered one from Happs.
Mine worked perfectly.
After reading Bob Roberts reviews, I was on alert for potential problems, and I think I avoided a few by doing the following.

1) I drilled the holes that mount the plate to the CP a little larger, so that I wouldn't have to force the bolts into holes they didn't really want to go into.
The called for .2" was snug to the bolt, and I don't think it needed to be.
I think some people may have been snapping off these bolts, and/or bending the mounting plate, and/or not getting the plate flush to the CP because of this.

2) I prethreaded the screws into the studs that the trackball screws to, BEFORE putting the trackball on them.
The studs were full of paint, and probably wouldn't have threaded well with the trackball installed.
As it was, I had trouble with two of them, but got it handled before installing the trackball.
Once the paint was cleared out of the threads, they went together smoothly.

3) I CAREFULLY installed the trackball a little at a time onto the studs that secure it.
I can see this one going really ugly quickly if done wrong.
I had to be very careful to keep the trackball parallel to the mounting plate.
The studs fit very tightly, but worked perfectly once I was done.

Hope this helps others going this route.

[darktemp]

Great advice, thanks NoOne=NBA=!