Ultimarc Trackball

[dabone]

I've got one of Ultimarc trackballs and it very non responsive, no roll on etc..You can really tell it has the plastic rollers, (compared to my 3" high ball in my golden tee.)
 how does the happs 2 1/4" ball compare? And will it fit into the ultimarc mounting plate?

Later,
dabone

[whammoed]

I have used both.  I currently have two from ultimarc.  One rolls and rolls just as much or more than the happs.  The other not as much.  Don't know why.  Anyway, the happs has the same bolt pattern as the ultimarc so I think it would fit.  If you already have an ultimarc one you might try putting some 3in1 oil on the bearings before giving up on it.  They seem to come packed with grease so the oil may loosen it up a bit.  Just a thought.

[AndyWarne]

I don't know what I need to do to kill this "plastic roller" thing on here, regarding our trackballs.
The design of our trackballs is exactly the same as the Happ. They have 5 ball bearings, metal rollers. The difference is that they have plastic sleeves over the metal rollers where they contact the ball. The aim of this is to provide greater friction against the ball than plain metal, and quieter running.
As the previous poster mentioned, they do sometimes have sticky bearings when new, as do the Happ trackballs sometimes.
Andy

[Tahnok]

Hmm... I didn't know there were people from Ultimark on these forums .

Anyway, while we're on the subject of Ultimark trackballs. I am planning my CP right now. I want to use an Ultimark trackball but space is very limited. Could someone tell me the exact measurement around the trackball without the plastic wings pieces?

Also, a Happs 2 1/4" ball can be used inside of an Ultimark, right? I am just wondering if I will have problems during actually changing.

[dabone]

If you are using wood you need 6" X 6" for the plate.

Later,
dabone

[Tahnok]

I'm not going to be using the plate.

[PedroSilva]

I'm not going to be using the plate.

Here are the exact mesures:

http://www.ultimarc.com/controldiags.html

The minimal is 100 mm wich is +- 3.94" plus a little more for the wheels and the edge margin ... I'd say at least 110 mm (4.33")

[Jakobud]

Hmm... I didn't know there were people from Ultimark on these forums .

Anyway, while we're on the subject of Ultimark trackballs. I am planning my CP right now. I want to use an Ultimark trackball but space is very limited. Could someone tell me the exact measurement around the trackball without the plastic wings pieces?

Also, a Happs 2 1/4" ball can be used inside of an Ultimark, right? I am just wondering if I will have problems during actually changing.

Andy, can you elaborate on why your trackball costs only $28 while the Happ 2 1/4" costs $90?  The USB Happ 2 1/4" ones cost $150!  I don't understand where the money going to on these items.

[whammoed]

Wow, the price has gone up, but i had forgotten I spent $142 for my happs usb trackball.  This was before I found the ultimarc site.  After having used both I definitely don't think they are worth that much more and am still undecided as to whether they are better at all.  I will be better equipped with an opinion after I have used the ultimarcs for a while.

[PiNPOiNT]

Has anyone tried using any of the happ replacement balls on the Ultimarc trackballs?  specifically replacing the ultimarc ball with a translucent one and adding a light?  is this easy to do? or impossible?

[Minwah]

Andy, can you elaborate on why your trackball costs only $28 while the Happ 2 1/4" costs $90?  The USB Happ 2 1/4" ones cost $150!  I don't understand where the money going to on these items.

Into Mr Happ (or whoever bought them)'s back pocket.

[whammoed]

Has anyone tried using any of the happ replacement balls on the Ultimarc trackballs?  specifically replacing the ultimarc ball with a translucent one and adding a light?  is this easy to do? or impossible?

Works fine.  I've done two.  The Bob Roberts ones should work too.  Adding a light is easy, there are four holes on the bottom that look like they were made to hold a light socket.

[Wienerdog]

Hmm... I didn't know there were people from Ultimark on these forums .

lol, that IS Ultimarc!  You only get the best here...  

[big_garryb]

Yup - andy is like a god - he knows all and is everywhere all at once etc etc.

[PiNPOiNT]

In terms of lubing up the trackball rollers, to get more momentum out of a spin on the ball, what do you guys recommend?  a bit of axel greese?  i assume that the ball is supposed to continue to spin for at least a few more seconds after your hand comes off right?

[Tiger-Heli]

In terms of lubing up the trackball rollers, to get more momentum out of a spin on the ball, what do you guys recommend?  a bit of axel greese?  i assume that the ball is supposed to continue to spin for at least a few more seconds after your hand comes off right?

Xiaou2 recommended some electronics parts cleaner from Radio Shack a long time ago.

[dabone]

Followup..

I got a Happs 2 1/4 trackball (New off ebay with ps2 board for 50!)

It does not fit the ultimarc trackball mounting plate.
The lip around the top of the trackball is just a hair too large for it the fit into the recess.

But the ball does spin much smoother. So I've yanked apart my ultimarc unit and I'll be picking up some 3in1 today..

Later,
dabone

[u_rebelscum]

Has anyone tried using any of the happ replacement balls on the Ultimarc trackballs?  specifically replacing the ultimarc ball with a translucent one and adding a light?  is this easy to do? or impossible?

Yes, not me but others, yes, and no.

Any 2 1/4" ball will work, so billard balls are good too.  Just open the TB by loosening screws, pull out the old ball, put in the new, and close up the case.

Andy, can you elaborate on why your trackball costs only $28 while the Happ 2 1/4" costs $90?  The USB Happ 2 1/4" ones cost $150!  I don't understand where the money going to on these items.

Into Mr Happ (or whoever bought them)'s back pocket.

These are gueses, but many things go into the differences:

• The Atari license (but happs might have bought it when they bought part of Midway),
• the harder to make case,
• another part is the extra circuits on the optical sensor boards,
• low volume (for happs),
• happs higher volume 3" balls
• and the rest is percentage markups along the way (if manufacturing cost is 1.5x more to make, the markup is probably 1.5x more too).

I'm NOT saying some of it is a higher margin like you suggest, but some is due to extra (and sometimes unneeded AFA we're concerned) costs.

In terms of lubing up the trackball rollers, to get more momentum out of a spin on the ball, what do you guys recommend?  a bit of axel greese?  i assume that the ball is supposed to continue to spin for at least a few more seconds after your hand comes off right?

Bob Roberts has a bunch of info on this on different pages.