Happ 3inch TB making alot of noise

[mark6437]

My TB is about 3 years old. Yesterday the kids were playing and it started making alot of noise and it got "rough" feeling, not smooth like the other TB. Any ideas what went wrong and how to fix it?

Thx
Mark

[vettetekk]

Mark,
I also have a 3" Happ ball. There could be a possibility some dirt or maybe even cany fragments got caught between the rollers and the ball. I have kids as well, and I find "debris" on the ball at times (yuk). I just replaced both of the boards in mine last week - had no up or down. While I was in there, I was able to take the ball out and clean it, and cleaned the rollers as well. Think of  it as a mouse - at least when they had balls and picked up particles.
Now, also check your rollers while you have it apart. spin them slowly by hand and see if they feel rough. Theres also a chance that a bearing went out. If so I believe you can get a rebuild kit for them here:
http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/950831wb.htm
good luck.
~V

[xmenxmen]

After 3 years and you still have not done any mantain, I would at least take it apart and give it a nice bath in the dish washer.  As others have mention the tb is still really just a big mouse.  Roller and the ball will get dirty over time.  A nice clean will bring it to brand new again.

[BobA]

Cleaning and lubrication are necessary to maintain a trackball.

[(+_+)]

Sounds like something may have loosened up. I'd take it apart and clean it as suggested and look for anything out of the ordinary.

[RayB]

Atari used to recommend a drop of 3-in-1 oil on the bearings every 3 months (in a commercial setting level of use).