Author Topic: Trackball costs make me cry! (Read 5064 times)

TheWeasel · « **on:** January 04, 2003, 04:55:27 pm »

I want to add a trackball to the cabinet I am building, but the 3" Happ that everbody seems to like is so expensive! $100 for the trackball plus $40 for the interface (or trackball with the USB connection already on it for $150 direct from Happ).

I was wondering if there is anything else out there that has the heavy feel like that without the need to sell a kidney. I tried the Compusa crystal one that a few people seem to be using, but it just doesn't feel right. It should be a heavy ball that has some inertia. Not a lightweight one that feels like a PC trackball. Does anybody have any recommendations? Or is Happ the only thing that feels like the originals?

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2003, 05:09:57 pm »

here is one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=752195553
it comes with interface.
i saw these go for even cheaper but this is still a FAIR deal.

ripzone · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2003, 05:13:01 pm »

You can get an Imperial/Suzo/Wico TrackBall or a Craiola KYE KidsBall.

Don't pay 40$+ for the Happ's Interface, get an Opti-PAC instead.

They can connect 4 rotary devices (trackballs, spinners, optical/mechanical rotary joysticks, and more) and are better.

You can only connect mechanical rotary joysticks using Druin's interface.

You can get them at Ultimarc. (http://www.ultimarc.com)

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2003, 05:30:34 pm »

If you want arcade quality simply get an arcade ball, but don't get it at happs. (Never buy anything from happs for that matter, unless you HAVE to.)

Ebay is a good route (got my tb for 15 bucks), but often the optics are bad. Well that's no problem, go over to ultimarc.com and see andy's tutorial on how to make optics from about $2 worth of parts and next to no soldering skillz. And guess what?.. these el-cheapo homemade optics will work on a mouse hack as well as the optipac. So depending upon how much effort you want to put into it, you could probably convert a used arcade trackball for about 40 bucks... 60 if you use the optipac.

IMO this is much better than some pos comp usa trackball. Now don't get me wrong they are nifty little devices (the lighted one's are purdy too), but compared to the real thing they are useless.

MKL · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2003, 05:30:58 pm »

Quote from: ripzone on January 04, 2003, 05:13:01 pm

get an Opti-PAC instead.

They can connect optical/mechanical rotary joysticks

Only the optical, not the mechanical (there's Druin's interface for that).

TheWeasel · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2003, 06:11:34 pm »

I talked to my wife, and she is picking up the 3" Crayola trackball on the way home. They had it at fry's for $25 and they have the most relaxed return policy ever. If I don't like it, then I'll return it and get the one that Snaaake pointed to on ebay.

Thanks for the help guys!

eightbit · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2003, 08:07:32 pm »

Quote from: SNAAAKE on January 04, 2003, 05:09:57 pm

here is one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=752195553
it comes with interface.
i saw these go for even cheaper but this is still a FAIR deal.

I got 2 of those for $22 each in November, I've seen them go for as low as $20. For like 2 months there was a glut of them on ebay and there haven't been almost any for the last couple weeks. If I could get $90 each for my 2 I'd sell them in a minute.

They are a lot better than the crayola ball but still not as good as like a marble madness ball. I've been meaning to order a translucent blue replacement ball for mine and put a light under it but I haven't gotten round to it yet. Does any one know if they replacement balls have more heft to them than the stock ball that comes in these?

TheWeasel · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2003, 08:30:05 pm »

I have to say, I'm pretty happy with the Crayola ball. It is a heavy hard plastic ball (unlike that CompUSA crystal piece of crap) and it rolls fairly smooth. If you give it a hard roll it keeps going, just like I remember from the classics. It does pick up a small vibration when the ball is moving fast, but I think I can fix that by changing the mounting.

Truth be told, I think its perfect considering the price! Thanks again for the suggestions!

OSCAR · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2003, 10:14:20 pm »

Quote from: eightbit on January 04, 2003, 08:07:32 pm

They are a lot better than the crayola ball but still not as good as like a marble madness ball. I've been meaning to order a translucent blue replacement ball for mine and put a light under it but I haven't gotten round to it yet. Does any one know if they replacement balls have more heft to them than the stock ball that comes in these?

The translucent trackballs are less dense than the standard white cast polymer, so going to a translucent ball would be a step in the wrong direction if you are looking for a heavier ball.

For those that use a 2-1/4" trackball, a billiard ball would work very well in place of a standard trackball. Quality billiard balls are made from a phenolic resin which is denser than the cast polymer that trackballs are made out of, so they are a bit heavier.

madk · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2003, 12:21:00 am »

Anyone have any detailed info on hacking and mounting the crayola ball? I picked one up and plan on using it in my new cab. I'd like to know what I'm getting into before I start designing the cp.

rock345 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2003, 12:44:23 am »

does anyone know where you can pick up a croyla trackball on the east coast/new england? or a good place on the net?

SirPoonga · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2003, 01:00:38 am »

I have a wico shell and two 3" trackballs left over from my machine. might be ebaying it soon. Just needs rollers and optics.

marcopolo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2003, 01:27:26 am »

Guys please be careful. I bought both a Wico and a Happs trackball for my new cab (I could not decide which was best, so I bought both) . The Wico was an absolute piece of crap. It was 1/3 the quality of the Happs. The housing was cheap the ball wasn't even white (looked almost used) and it didn't spin very well. The happs ball is industrial strength and worth the extra cash. I ended up buying the Golden Tee trackball (high lip) from Happs on sale for $69. If you are using lexan on top of your control panel its the best choice because the extra lip height will allow the trackball to mount flush to the lexan. Happs runs sales every month and many times includes their trackballs. You can also check ebay. I've seen a bunch of those Imperial balls going on ebay, but I would be careful, they look a lot like the Wico.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2003, 01:38:14 am »

see, I liked my wico over my happ for quality. I have a black ball though. Plus did you have new rollers? I had new rollers for the happ, that's why I stuck with the happ over the wico. I think the Wico is a pretty solid trackball choice.

isugoat · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2003, 05:57:38 am »

i think those PS/2 and USB adapters are really a waste. for $20 you can grab a microsoft mouse, solder gun and glue gun (to hold solder) and do a mouse hack (I already had a mouse and solder gun so it only cost me $3 for the glue gun). it is really, really easy, and I know mine works flawlessly.

dag2000 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2003, 10:47:06 am »

or for $9 you can buy Oscar's USB mouse interface which is already hacked!

AndyP · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2003, 03:44:26 pm »

I would never buy a new trackball from happs, the prices are nuts. I got a used 4 1/2 inch happ on ebay with new rollers/bearings for about $35. Then again, I was willing to wait a long time until I could snag one at a good price, so it really depends how long you're willing to wait.

Dave_K. · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2003, 04:01:30 pm »

Quote from: marcopolo on January 05, 2003, 01:27:26 am

I ended up buying the Golden Tee trackball (high lip) from Happs on sale for $69. If you are using lexan on top of your control panel its the best choice because the extra lip height will allow the trackball to mount flush to the lexan.

How did you mount this trackball (with the high-lip)? More specifically how much did you route out of the panel and how was it secured? Also how thick is your panel and lexan?

MrBond · « **Reply #18 on:** January 05, 2003, 04:32:10 pm »

I'm using a WICO 2 1/4" yellow trackball right off a Track & Field control panel. It works great for me. Just soldered the wires coming from the trackball optics to the proper points on the mouse curcuit board. Later I soldered two buttons that actually "click", the kind used on poker video games. Works great through the PS/2 port.
I found this helpful in the mouse hack: http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/trackball.html

ashardin · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2003, 12:36:55 pm »

Imperial/Betson sells refurbished Golden Tee trackballs for $30 + shipping. I've gotten two of these so far and both are a great deal. Looks like they put new optics in and either replace or reoil the bearings. The ball was very clean as well. So for that and the Optipac you are talking a little over $80 shipped for everything. Certainly is the way to go.

You can search the archives here for the webpage that lists the refurb balls, but I found the last time I had to call my local office directly and they were shipped out of NJ.

I have also heard good things about the units being sold on Ebay with the interface but have no firsthand knowledge.

ErikRuud · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2003, 04:18:20 pm »

Check 1Up's pagehttp://www.1uparcade.com/ to see how he mounted his Crayola ball or look at my page to see how I mounted mine. http://erikruud.freeservers.com/arcade.

1Up and I are both very happy with our trackballs.

ashardin · « **Reply #21 on:** January 07, 2003, 02:30:09 pm »

I tried the crayola and the one thing I found is that it does not work in Golden Tee PC, Which may or may not be a big deal to you. Other than that it was grea, but I wanted Golden Tee so I went with the optipac.

Strange actually that it didn't work in Golden Tee. I tried it in Tiger Woods 2002 as well and you could use it as a mouse in the menus, but could not use it to swing. Emailed EA and they simply stated that they "do not support the Crayola trackball".

If you just want a trackball for MAME, the crayola is a great choice.

TheWeasel · « **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2003, 08:22:00 pm »

Quote from: ashardin on January 07, 2003, 02:30:09 pm

I tried the crayola and the one thing I found is that it does not work in Golden Tee PC, Which may or may not be a big deal to you. Other than that it was grea, but I wanted Golden Tee so I went with the optipac.

Strange actually that it didn't work in Golden Tee. I tried it in Tiger Woods 2002 as well and you could use it as a mouse in the menus, but could not use it to swing. Emailed EA and they simply stated that they "do not support the Crayola trackball".

If you just want a trackball for MAME, the crayola is a great choice.

Thanks for the warning. It's just a serial mouse really, so it's odd that it doesn't work in Golden Tee. I don't play Golden Tee or Tiger Woods, so that's not a drawback to me, but I really appreciate the warning.

ErikRuud · « **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2003, 09:18:53 am »

It works very well in the Golden Tee games in mame.

It is just like a serial mouse. I used a serial mouse for my spinner, and I have had no problems with switching between the Crayola ball and the spinner.

By the way, the Kidsball by KYE is the same as the Crayola track ball.

AGarv · « **Reply #24 on:** January 08, 2003, 09:52:06 am »

Try and snag one of the ps2 betson imperials that were floating around ebay a few weeks ago. I paid $85 two years ago for one of these directly from the manufacturer, and still consider it a good deal. Getting one new for $30 is a steal.

eightbit · « **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2003, 11:16:09 am »

Quote from: AGarv on January 08, 2003, 09:52:06 am

Try and snag one of the ps2 betson imperials that were floating around ebay a few weeks ago. I paid $85 two years ago for one of these directly from the manufacturer, and still consider it a good deal. Getting one new for $30 is a steal.

Thats what we've been saying. I bought 2 of these in November for $22 each, I've seen a few go for as low as $20. There was a glut of them on ebay for about 2 months. Now there is almost nothing.

Silverwind · « **Reply #26 on:** January 08, 2003, 07:31:49 pm »

Quote from: eightbit on January 08, 2003, 11:16:09 am

Quote from: AGarv on January 08, 2003, 09:52:06 am
Try and snag one of the ps2 betson imperials that were floating around ebay a few weeks ago. I paid $85 two years ago for one of these directly from the manufacturer, and still consider it a good deal. Getting one new for $30 is a steal.

Thats what we've been saying. I bought 2 of these in November for $22 each, I've seen a few go for as low as $20. There was a glut of them on ebay for about 2 months. Now there is almost nothing.

So those trackballs work pretty well with MAME/Windows?

Birdtales · « **Reply #27 on:** January 08, 2003, 07:42:02 pm »

Note the first line of this auction. He hasn't got any more Ps2 Trackballs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemWithCategory&item=1947165717

I got one but should have bought 2.

eightbit · « **Reply #28 on:** January 09, 2003, 12:07:29 am »

I bought 2 of them from that guy for $22 each, I should have bought 10. I could resell them now and make lots of money.

I don't understand why everybody was trying to dump them so fast, now they are gone.

AndyWarne · « **Reply #29 on:** January 09, 2003, 10:47:00 am »

I have used both the Happ and Wico/Suzo trackballs, the Happ one is consistently good quality but like all their stuff, because they are a reseller rather than an OEM they are pricey. The Wico ones vary in quality, sometimes they are a bit rattly and sometimes don't spin very well. So send it back if it has either of these problems, or you could try WD40 on the bearings. The ball in the Wico is a bit heavier than the Happ and when running smoothly has a nice feel.
So why don't we sell the Suzo trackballs on our Ultimarc site? Well the Wico ball (which is a Suzo shipped from Holland to the USA) costs $24.99. The SAME ball purchased directly from Suzo in the UK costs the equivalent of $45! So I could get them for a better price from the USA despite them having to be re-shipped back to virtually where they came from! I have had endless moans at Suzo about this, why can they not sell them to us for the same price they sell to Wico? But they are just not interested. I can go down to Suzo easily as they are only 2 miles from here, any time I need a vent! If I get them in the end, I can then weed out any duff ones before shipping out.

Mamezilla · « **Reply #30 on:** January 11, 2003, 05:22:41 pm »

For those looking for a Crayola trackball in Canada, I just got one from my local Radio-Shack store at $29.99 can. Those were at $44.95 can. originally. Looks like they are on sale and that they won't have those anymore after they get out of stock.

Chris · « **Reply #31 on:** January 12, 2003, 12:36:20 am »

The trackball I'm using is a 2-1/4" trackball out of a QTronix keyboard with integrated trackbal. It works well, but I never liked the light plastic ball feel.

I noticed the other day that Bob Roberts has 2-1/4 " Atari trackball balls in off-white for only $6.00! He has colored balls for $13, and translucent balls for $15. (See http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/parts.html#tbs)

I should receive my ball on Monday... hopefully it'll bring that arcade feel to my cheap PC trackball...

--Chris


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