Golden Tee, Centipede, Happ, Wico Trackballs

[IntruderAlert]

I've seen a lot of different trackballs for sale
Golden Tee trackballs ..
Centipede trackballs ..
Happ trackballs ..
Wico trackballs ..
etc. ..

Would any of these be just as good as the others for a MAME machine?
Are there any differences other than manufacturers?

Where can I get bearings and rollers?

[Flinkly]

if you wait another week or so, kevin steele will have finished his trackball roundup and reviewed them all for you.  as for golden tee and centipede, i think they are just the same as the manufacturers balls.  but i could be wrong.  and as for who's balls they are, i don't know either.

[IntruderAlert]

the golden tees look like they sit a little taller or something

[Flinkly]

oh, i forgot about that...those are happs high lip trackballs.  they are the same, but they have a stinkin lip on em.  i don't think you get any extra lift.

[JODY]

The high lips are meant to be mounted under plexi.

[Kremmit]

The Happ high-lip ball typically sells much cheaper than their standard or high ball versions, even though it's mechanically equivalent.  If you don't want the lip, just sand/file/dremel it off- it's just some soft black plastic, after all.

[u_rebelscum]

oh, i forgot about that...those are happs high lip trackballs.  they are the same, but they have a stinkin lip on em.  i don't think you get any extra lift.

All arcade trackballs have lips.  All high lip models (betson and wico have their versions too) just lowered the top of the case body without moving the top of the lip compaired to the "original" arcade standard. (see below).

Happs case tops: High Lip vs normal lip


(You can make a normal happs TB a high lip model by just replacing the top of the case, shown above.)

edit: fixed missing word.

[RayB]

You can make a normal happs TB a high lip model by just the top of the case, shown above

"by just" what?

[Timstuff]

Hmm... Is there by any chance an inexpensive way to hack a trackball to a mouse? I was looking at Ultimarc, and dang, that Optipac interface is expensive! I don't think I can spend $100 on a trackball. Is there a less expensive alternative?

[Flinkly]

um...mouse hack for 9 dollars by...dang, i forgot the name.

[markrvp]

Do a search for Mouse Hack and you will find detailed instructions on this board.  There are also detailed instructions in the PROJECT ARCADE book.  If you haven't gotten this book already, I would recommend getting and reading the book before you get to far in your project.  It will give you all the info you need and answer a lot of questions even before you think of them.

I have an OSCAR controls mouse hack interface and it works very well.  You can also buy a HAPP trackball that is already PS2/USB compatible without using an additional interface like Mouse Hack or Optipac.  Go to the BUY/SELL/TRADE forum on this site and look for a thread by PONYBOY.  He sells these and you can see the prices there.

[u_rebelscum]

You can make a normal happs TB a high lip model by just the top of the case, shown above

"by just" what?

Sorry, "by just replacing" 

[JODY]

I just took a good look at my new 3" translucent Happ trackball because I bought a used 2 1/4" without wires and used the wires off the 3" to test.

Anyway, noticed that my 3" is a high lip.

[Timstuff]

Ultimarc has a trackball for $36, but I don't think that it comes with any sort of interface to connect it with your PC. Basically, I want to know where I can buy something inexpensive ($10-$20) so that I can connect it to my PC like a mouse.

http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/product.php?xProd=24&xSec=2

[Timstuff]

After searching this forum, I found an excellent how to for hacking a mouse for a trackball interface.

http://www.willcoxonline.com/mame/controlpanel/controlpanel.htm

I probably have a spare mouse or two laying around my house somewhere, so if I go with the Ultimarc trackball I could make my control interface have a trackball for only $36.