Repair Happ 3" trackball

[jlfreund]

Hi,

I've got a new Happ 3" Trackball about a year ago and it never worked well.  When you roll just off a vertical or horizontal axis, the main axis roller kicks in but the other axis does not.  Also, it seems to "jam up" sometimes -- and doesn't engage either axis at all.   Since this behavior started out of the box, I don't think it's due to any accumulation of guck or a need to "break it in" with more use. 

I don't know what's inside the thing, so I wanted to ask if this is something I should be able to fix myself -- ie just basically disassemble apply 3 in 1 to all moving parts and reassemble?  Or is there anything one needs to know about servicing a trackball?

Thanks
Jason

[Kremmit]

There's nothing magic inside there.  Have no fear, open it up and have a look.

[jlfreund]

I took apart my CP, took out the trackball and opened it up today.  The only "servicable" parts I could find were the 3 steel axes.  All I did was put 3 in 1 inside the little steel collars on each end of the rod.

After putting it back and playing marble for a while, I realize that the main problem with the Happ trackball is that there isn't enough friction between the ball and steel axis.

If you roll it very slow, it always engages accurately, however when you roll fast or slap it, as you sometimes do playing marble, then you are lucky to get one axis rolling and the ball either sits there looking confused or stumbles along one axis until the trackball re-engages the rollers.

This is the problem I've had all along, and oiling the collar parts didn't really make a difference.  Has anyone else seen this kind of thing?  Is it just my part, the Happ trackball, or all trackballs in general that have trouble with accuracy at fast speeds?

Jason

[DaOld Man]

Do the steel rollers have what appears to be carved out places where the ball contacts them? If so you probably need a rebuild kit, or new rollers.
I took some bearings that were stiff, soaked them for about an hour in rubbing alcohol, then dried them as good as I could with a paper towel while spinning them.
Then I soaked them overnight in 3 in 1 oil.
This may not be a preferred method, but it worked for me.

[jlfreund]

Nope, there were no signs of any grooves. This was a new Happ trackball with only one year of light use (due to the fact that it performs so poorly).

When I took it apart everything was spinning freely very well, and it was all very clean inside.  I think that their plastic ball and steel roller just skips when you spin to fast, and I'm surprised that everyone doesn't have the same problem.

Jason

[SirPeale]

Sounds like a settings issue.