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Just got a HAPPS trackball - spinning problems

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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.


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