Fixing up an old Trackball unit

[Wyluli]

I'm working on my mame arcade cabinet, and I think I will have room for a nice Trackball unit.  I was wondering how hard it would be to buy a used trackball and fix it up.  Is it hard to find the parts?  I know Bob Roberts has lots of parts, but are all trackballs different internally?
Here is an example of one on ebay that looks pretty bad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6146788669&rd=1

Would it be possible to find parts for this?  Can anything inside the trackball be broken beyond repair?  (never had the chance to take one of these apart before to examine it)

Thanks.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'm working on my mame arcade cabinet, and I think I will have room for a nice Trackball unit.  I was wondering how hard it would be to buy a used trackball and fix it up.  Is it hard to find the parts?  I know Bob Roberts has lots of parts, but are all trackballs different internally?
Here is an example of one on ebay that looks pretty bad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6146788669&rd=1

Would it be possible to find parts for this? 

You can find them, but it's really not worth it to me.

You're going to pay minimum $18.00 for that one, as-is.
Then you are going to pay $21+shipping ($6.00 usually, iirc) at Bob Roberts for the bearings/rollers.
If you don't like that ball color, add another $15.00 at Bob Roberts.
That puts you at $45 without a ball, $60 with.

You can get a BRAND NEW Happ's one HERE for $60+$9 shipping.
The Happ's ones are generally regarded as a better trackball anyway, so I don't see the purpose to rebuilding one, unless you get it free in a cabinet, or something.

Can anything inside the trackball be broken beyond repair?

You CAN buy everything for the trackball at Bob Roberts, but again you are getting into a price vs. return issue.
At some point it becomes cheaper to buy a complete new unit.
The pieces to build one are about $90+shipping at Bob Roberts.

[NoOne=NBA=]

You can get other brands of trackballs too, but they have tended to be noisier and not as smooth as the Happ's ones, based on the reports on the board here.

THESE are ready to go, with PS/2 and USB, and considerably cheaper than the Happ's ones.

I'm not sure who makes that particular one, but my bet is that it will work well, but not as good as the Happ's.

[stevejt]

It's a chance you have to deceide for yourself if you want to take.  Last year I bought a lot of 5 used happ 3' trackballs.  I think it was about $65 with shipping, maybe $70.  2 just needed a good cleaning to work like new.  1 needed a good cleaning and the rollers sanded,(with 1000 grit, they sparkle like new) and the last 2 needed rollers.  I is missing optic boards.  Just one of the 3 that cost no money to get working is cheaper than a new one.  One more cost $12 for rollers.  And last one will cost $42 after optics.  I found a great deal.  Those deals are out there, but sometimes take time find.  I have no experience with that trackball, but the happs are solid, and after new rollers and/or cleaning bearings, work like new.  Its easy to rebuild, and easier to clean.  I would try this one for $18 if I didn't have mine already, but like I said it's a chance you have to deceide foryourself if you want to take.  If you just can't afford a new one, a used one might end up costing the same in the long run...

Steve

[spidermonkey]

The one in the Ebay link is a Betson Imperial. I have two of them and they work great for me. I don't know what the Happ ones feel like but people around here seem to prefer them over the Betsons and the Wicos so my guess is that they are very nice. Happ trackballs have always been a tad more $ then the other brands. You really can't go wrong with any of these brands. You're better off finding one that is ps2 plug & play otherwise you'll have to buy an optipac or a premade mouse hack to interface it. Unless you're handy and can hack a mouse yourself.

[Wyluli]

The plug on these trackballs look like they are maybe wired to hook up to the Jamma harness.  Is that correct?  Is it possible to hook a trackball up to a Jamma harness or do you have to go with a PS/2 or USB setup. 

Sounds like it is a gamble on fixing up vs. buying new.  I'll have to think about it.  Probably end up saving and buying new.  Thanks for all the good info.

[Ken Layton]

Bob Roberts has several good sections on www.dameon.net/BBBB/ on rebuilding old trackball units and one describes the differences between brands. The various brands use different size/length roller shafts and bearings (sometimes the optical circuit bords are different).

Considering repair/rebuild parts prices sometimes it might be cheaper to buy a whole new unit. Of course if you shop around for the various parts and can find decent prices and shipping charges then it might be worth it to rebuild old units.

[_) (V) (-)]

Just updating this for my own benifit.
The new link for Bob Roberts  is:
http://homearcade.org/BBBB/

Thanks for the tip Ken Layton, this is a great resource!