Trackball Clicking

[XyloSesame]

Oy, finally got a mock-up done for my CP. Oddly enough, I had a 28" box sitting in my basement - exactly the width of my final drawing...

Now that the primary controls are in cardboard, I've noticed that the Happ 3" trackball clicks when rolled forward. I don't have anything wired, so I can't check its tracking. Doing a search, all I could find was a post from '05 that had mixed opinions...

The ball seems to roll smooth, but it sounds almost like the encoder wheel is clicking. Doesn't really bother me, but is this a normal sound for a TB?

[Kaytrim]

if this was a new trackball I'd get my money back.  if not then crack that puppy open and check the encoder wheel.  Post pics so we can help you out here.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[XyloSesame]

if this was a new trackball I'd get my money back.  if not then crack that puppy open and check the encoder wheel.  Post pics so we can help you out here.

TTFN
Kaytrim

Not new, but from trusted source. I'll try to get time to break her open tonight, post pics, and follow some advice from the '05 thread...

[DaOld Man]

Check to make sure one of the encoder wheels is not touching the optics.
I had this to happen on a trackball I bought off ebay. had to carefully bend one of the optos back away from the wheel.

[Kremmit]

Check to make sure one of the encoder wheels is not touching the optics.
I had this to happen on a trackball I bought off ebay. had to carefully bend one of the optos back away from the wheel.

I was going to suggest this, or possibly something stuck to one of the rollers.  Bad bearing is also a possibility.

[DaOld Man]

Good suggestions too.
It will be interesting to see what he finds..

[SirPeale]

I'd definitely crack it open, esp. if used.  If it was new I'd return it in a heartbeat.

Soak the bearings in solvent, then dry them.  Use 3-in-1 oil to lube them.  Get a drill and spin them at high speed to break up anything inside.

If the rollers are too worn down, instead of what I suggested above get yourself a rebuild kit.  Comes with new rollers and bearings.

[XyloSesame]

... get yourself a rebuild kit.  Comes with new rollers and bearings.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. The trackball was used, but was sold as a refurb with new rollers and bearings. I'd assume, from the seller's rep, that the bearings and rollers wouldn't be my problem, but I'll be checking everything just to make sure.

I hope to get into the trackball guts this weekend; however, between the 9-5, family life, and my main hobby, time is slim. When I can eek out a minute to look inside, I'll post my findings (and probably have more questions).

[XyloSesame]

So I was able to open her up last night and here's what I found.

Nothing out of the ordinary, just a plain-old trackball. Slight ball-lines on the rollers, a very small bit of rust. Solid bearings with good seats on the shaft, no encoder rub.

I manually spun the rollers and could hear the clicking, then noticed that both encoder wheels were slightly off-center, one worse than the other. Neither appeared warped or bent, but they were both noticeably off. So I took everything apart and put it back together; now I only hear a whirring from the (still) off-center encoders. I have no idea what I did, but it seems to be better...

There seemed to be little-to-no play in the encoder wheels' attachment to the roller; is it normal to have slightly off-center wheels?

[Kremmit]

Yeah, the quality control on those little plastic encoder wheels seems to be pretty sloppy.  I've seen plenty of them that were bent so they wobbled back and forth as they spun, or the hole was a little off-center.  As long as the holes keep passing through the optics without rubbing, it really doesn't matter.

[XyloSesame]

Yeah, the quality control on those little plastic encoder wheels seems to be pretty sloppy.  I've seen plenty of them that were bent so they wobbled back and forth as they spun, or the hole was a little off-center.

Yup, definitely not a precision instrument. The encoder wheel holes are just slightly off, enough to create both a wobble and noise.

As long as the holes keep passing through the optics without rubbing, it really doesn't matter.

That's what I was hoping... I figure if it gets too bad or affects gameplay, I'll just buy (or make) new encoder wheels.

[Kremmit]

I figure if it gets too bad or affects gameplay, I'll just buy (or make) new encoder wheels.

If it comes to that,  I'm a big fan of these.    Put a set in my Happ ball, and wouldn't ever go back. 

[XyloSesame]

If it comes to that,  I'm a big fan of these.    Put a set in my Happ ball, and wouldn't ever go back. 

I've seen those - GGG only lists them for Betson...

I assume, then, they'll work for Happ as well?

[Kremmit]

If it comes to that,  I'm a big fan of these.    Put a set in my Happ ball, and wouldn't ever go back. 

I've seen those - GGG only lists them for Betson...

I assume, then, they'll work for Happ as well?

 

[XyloSesame]

If it comes to that,  I'm a big fan of these.    Put a set in my Happ ball, and wouldn't ever go back. 

I've seen those - GGG only lists them for Betson...

I assume, then, they'll work for Happ as well?

I take it they will...