Happ trackball question

[noreason]

I installed a Happ Controls trackball a while back and never really noticed this before since i didn't play very many trackball games but the thing doesn't roll well at all... It rolls somewhat decent forward, backwards, left and right but angles suck. Theres a lot of drag when i roll angles and it just tries to straighten itself back to a straight line.  Also the ball doesn't stay rolling for very long at all. When i feel trackballs in use today, or get on a PC with a trackball, the ball feels great. I can roll it in every direction without feeling friction. Is there a problem here with my install/trackball, or am I just missing something here? The thing was $$$

Thanks 

[u_rebelscum]

Sounds like either the grease in the bearings dried/gunked up, or your rollers are worn.  Unless you bought it used, it's probably the former since you hardly used it.  Try rolling the ball around firmly, or any of the other methods of breaking in the bearings discussed in many other threads.  You might want to add grease or oil the bearings, or degrease then regrease if the grease is in bad shape.  WD40 is a great degreaser (some people here use it as a greaser, too, but I don't like to).  I've used dry lithium grease, another here recommends TriFlow brand Superior Lubricant.

Either way, you need to open up the case and look at the rollers and bearings.  If the groove where the ball rests on the rollers is 3/32"-1/8" deep or more, it's time to replace the rollers.  Otherwise, it's the bearings.  Once you have the bearings well greased, playing is a great way to keep the bearings rolling;  you now have an excuse on having to play games. 

[jlfreund]

I installed a Happ Controls trackball a while back and never really noticed this before since i didn't play very many trackball games but the thing doesn't roll well at all... It rolls somewhat decent forward, backwards, left and right but angles suck. Theres a lot of drag when i roll angles and it just tries to straighten itself back to a straight line.  Also the ball doesn't stay rolling for very long at all. When i feel trackballs in use today, or get on a PC with a trackball, the ball feels great. I can roll it in every direction without feeling friction. Is there a problem here with my install/trackball, or am I just missing something here? The thing was $$$

Thanks 

I've had the exact same problem ever since I first bought my Happ 3" trackball about 9 months ag; and in addition, my trackball occasionally jams up, meaning you can roll the ball, but the marble doesn't follow.  Since the problem started with the first use and continues to this day, I'm inclined to think that it's not a problem of worn parts or gunk, but the trackball probably just sucks like that.

My friend got the same thing and his is a little better but not great. 

The Happ folks offered me an RMA to exchange mine, but so far I haven't had time to disassemble my CP.   

-Jason