Just got a HAPPS trackball - spinning problems

[daveg2000]

Hey all... just got a USB HAPPS 3' trackball yesterday.

I fired up my existing MAME cabinet and plugged the 'ol trackball in.

I played a bunch of games and am trying to figure out
about the problems I am having.

I know about the analog sensitivity in Mame.. and I've been
adjusting that accordingly....

But I've noticed that when I spin the ball just slightly off center
of one of the two axis.....
that it sometimes grabs the most prominent axis, and the other doesnt spin.

For example.... I can spin upward towards the 1 o'clock
position, and the result is a straight-ahead shot.
(not always, but enough where you will notice it a couple times a game)
If I watch the wheels spinning under the trackball...
It appears as if one axis doesnt even spin when this is happening.

I can do the same spin 9 out of 10 times, and it will spin right.. but
sometimes it just seems to catch in a groove or something where the other axis doesnt want to spin...

I've also gotten missle command to react in a way that only the Y-axis will work... up and down.... and no matter how fast I move the ball left or right, it will not move at all.  Once again.. this is a
random thing.  I've seen it happen twice in two games of Missle Command.

I've been using USB so far for everything....
but by actually seeing the encoder wheels stay staionary sometimes makes me thing that i'm not dealing with an electrical problem.

Any ideas on how to correct this? 
Its brand new, I shouldnt need to clean anything...
Is something maybe just not 'tight enough' on the inside?

What can I try that won't void my warranty with Ponyboy? 

[mahuti]

I don't know if it really applies here, but trackballs require a bit of "break-in" Most of my trackballs have needed a week of rough play to really get settled in. I'm sure someone will pipe in with a better solution, so sit tight.

[JODY]

I was just about to recommend the same thing.  Just use it awhile and see if it begins to act better.

[Flinkly]

well, breaking in sounds like a good idea, but you might want to check and see if the trackball rods are spinning rfreely in their bearings...it sounds like you don't have good spin in those bearings...but i've never had a trackball, so...

[daveg2000]

Okay.. I would think this test means that there is something
wrong... please let me know what you think....

Started spinning (real fast) straight up on the y axis....
I kept spinning it until I noticed that the x axis dial wasnt moving.
(while I was spinning on the y axis).

Once I had a constant fast spin going on the y axis, I started
to slowly start rotating by spin counter clockwise....
12----11----10-----9-----8------7-----6-----5------4
The X Axis didnt start spinning till I hit 4 o'clock.

That cant be right.

[quarterback]

Once I had a constant fast spin going on the y axis, I started
to slowly start rotating by spin counter clockwise....
12----11----10-----9-----8------7-----6-----5------4
The X Axis didnt start spinning till I hit 4 o'clock.

That cant be right.

That seems really wierd.  By the time you go from 12 to 6 you've basically reversed direction.  So going from 12 to 4 you changed your direction by almost 270-degrees but never got any x-axis movement?

[daveg2000]

That is correct... The wheel did not move at all.
I've been able to duplicate this a few times...
sometimes the x-axis will kick in sooner... like at 10 or 9 oclock,
but still, it should have kicked in way before that.

 

[quarterback]

That is correct...

That sounds a little insane to me.  I think you should take a look at the bearings themselves (like somebody else suggested).  Pull out the rollers and see if the bearings are frozen up or something.

Good luck

[u_rebelscum]

That cant be right.

Right, that shouldn't be happening.  Does it also happen for the X axis as the starting axis?

If not, I bet the Y axis roller is higher than the X axis (as well as not well lubed bearings).  Open that boy up and take a look at the rollers, bearings and how the ball sits on them.  Check out TheRealBobRoberts.com site; there's a couple trackball info link near bottom of page.

[daveg2000]

I would open it up and look around, but its a new ball I just got
from Ponyboy.  Hes gonna send me a 2nd and have me see how
that one works.

I dont want to mess around taking apart something I can still
exchange....

[quarterback]

I would open it up and look around, but its a new ball I just got
from Ponyboy.

[SideShow Rob]

Hey all... just got a USB HAPPS 3' trackball yesterday.

Cripes...a 3 foot trackball!

I could use one of those on my Log Rolling Simulation Cabinet...

[markrvp]

Cripes...a 3 foot trackball!

I could use one of those on my Log Rolling Simulation Cabinet...

[PaulG]

I would open it up and look around, but its a new ball I just got
from Ponyboy.  Hes gonna send me a 2nd and have me see how
that one works.

I dont want to mess around taking apart something I can still
exchange....

It's up to you but, FWIW, taking it apart is a very simple thing.  Take out some screws, lift out the ball, try and manually spin the rollers.

Agreed.  It's incredibly simple and something that a lot of people who buy new trackballs do (Just to be able to ream the bearings and break them in).

And it also seems like a major hassle for you and the seller since you're gonna have to eventually open the thing to do routine maintence anyways.  I don't see how you can avoid this forever.

[daveg2000]

My point was that of the effect that
I dont want to open something that I shouldnt to void
any kind of warranty.

Normally if something doesnt work out of the box... it doesnt
give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.... even if you know you can open
it and fix it.. 
 knowing I"ll be cleaning it out in the future doesnt
 make me want to open it right off the bat.


I talked to ponyboy first and then cleaned the thing out...
seems to be working good so far.
(although nothing appeared to come off when I cleaned it...)

 

[mahuti]

Now that I think about it, I had a trackball bolted in too tight once, and it caused spinning problems. Maybe the case was screwed to tight. Maybe it didn't need a clean, maybe it just needed to have some of the pressure eased off. 

[Javaman]

Sorry to dig up this old post, but I just wanted to add that it may help to clean the trackball and bearings off. I had a similar problem with horizontal movements (right mostly) where it would only occasionally spin. I've got mine apart right now and it seems to be working much better. I only used a piece of paper towel, but you might have better luck with some kind of solvent (be careful not to damage the plastic ball!)  Mine is new, so I wonder if there was a small bit of machining oil on the critical spot of the roller? Another thing to check is that optical spinner boards are fully locked into the notches on the top and bottom pieces. It doesn't take much friction between the optic wheel and sensor to stop movement alltogether.

[Xiaou2]

 Actually,  some of these bearings use a thick oil... and takes a long time to thin out.   If its the wrong lube, it may never fully smooth out.

  To really get your trackball spinning like a top...  Grab some "electronic cleaner"  spray from Radio Shack.    Its a bit expenisve... but upon many diffent lube tests I did - this worked better than all.

1) Take the bearings out.
2) Place a bearing between fingers. Spray cleaner into top of bearing.
3) Let it seep in for about 15 seconds.
4) Slowly spin the bearing, gradually going faster & faster for 40secs
5) Repeat 4.
6) Flip bearing over.
7) Repeat process.

 You should notice that the bearing will spin for several seconds after you clean it well.  If not, try the process again.   If still not spinning well... theres particales too large stuck in there or a dent on the pathway... or some other imperfection thats non fixable.

 Basically, the spray eats the thicker lube and dirt..ect.   By saturating the lube into it, and then spinning some of it out - it will free any left over dirt out the opposite side.   The cleaner itself is also a lube... so there shouldnt be any problems.  If you are really worried about
wear.. you could let a drop of  3-in-1 oil.   The trackballs do not weigh much,  nor spin ultra fast, nor are used constantly, nor under heated conditions...(as such as in a machine useage) so do not need heavy lube.

 The roller shaft should be cleaned as well... and be free of surface
dents..ect.   Make sure the Optic discs that are attached to the roller are snug tight. 

 I believe they also should have a special washer on them that makes a bit of tention on them (keeps them from getting loose).  Its been a while sice Ive looked at one.