Ultimarc Trackball backspin probs ~ solutions/mods?

[Mickey Juice]

Hey Everyone!

After a few months off i'm getting back to my mame cocktail cab.... and i've got some backspin problems with my ulitmarc trackball.

The problem: Spinning the ball to the right (the faster the worse) or south-east direction (ie marble madness) the ball doesn't sit properly on the rollers and 'jumps' when you first spin the ball especially when using it flat out

You can play the games fine, but it gets annoying with games with constant spinning ie Marble madness or when you want to flick the ball fast. Me being a bit of a perfectionist I notice it a fair bit.

I've read some people had trouble with backspin when having the control panel (angle) too steep, I think this is my problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a mod to improve the ultimarc T'ball? I dont think rotating it will help (AFAIK the rollers are on the left and bottom (Nth & Est))

Other than that my options are to:
1) alter the CP, and adjust the angle of the mounting plate.
2) scrap the t'ball all together (it is a cocktail cab anyway)
3) buy another t'ball.. I doubt this will improve it, what are the Happs ones like?

Cheers

[Mickey Juice]

Yes i know the ends aren't complete

[mjrsting]

Hmmm...is the ball physically jumping or is the character not reacting the way you want it to?  If it's physically jumping, then the angle could be the problem.  A solution might be to grease the rollers a bit so there's not as much drag when you start rolling really fast.

I can't tell you how mine reacts just yet as I'm not quite done with my machine...I'm trying really hard to get it done, but too much real life get's in the way, plus I've been traveling for work and have to travel again in about a week and a half. :-P

[Minwah]

Try adjusting the Sensitivity in MAME's 'Analog Controls' TAB menu...Lowering it usually does the trick.