Was playing the cab (finally) today

[Avrus]

And I thought wiring was going to be the difficult part.  Wiring was a breeze compared to button configuration and troubleshooting (phew!)

Finally managed to get everything up and running, and it was a blast.  Played some track and field, street fighter, TMNT, and some rampart to test out the 3 trackballs.

Unfortunately it looks like the x spindle on one of the trackballs is messed because it doesn't spin very freely unless heavy pressure is applied to the ball.  Whee, have to get that RMA'd.

[RayB]

THREE trackballs?!?!?

Wow.  You must LOVE 3-player Rampart.

[DaveMMR]

Yeah, you missed the discussion:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72122.0

Anyhoo, I had the same problem with my trackball as you did Avrus, I think.  Can you take apart the trackball and see if everything is on track?  Also, with mine, I had to essential "break it in".  It almost barely spun at first, but the more I played with it the "looser" it got.

[Avrus]

THREE trackballs?!?!?

Wow.  You must LOVE 3-player Rampart.

Lol yup.  Originally I had planned on 2 but a good friend of mine (and the guy who helped me build it) said why not go 3 trackballs.  Can break new design ground and play 3 player trackball.

I gotta tell ya, the 3 player trackball on Sunday made it allll worth while.  (even though yellow player was complaining he couldn't repair his castle)

[Avrus]

Yeah, you missed the discussion:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72122.0

Anyhoo, I had the same problem with my trackball as you did Avrus, I think.  Can you take apart the trackball and see if everything is on track?  Also, with mine, I had to essential "break it in".  It almost barely spun at first, but the more I played with it the "looser" it got.

Well see the odd thing is, the first thing I did was take it apart to see if I had any dust in the roller pins.  The pins and the encoder wheel seem to spin perfectly fine, yet when I put them back into the assembly and screw it back together I can see clearly that the encoder wheel is not spinning 60%+ of the time.  However if you push down on the trackball it spins fine. 

So I don't know if it's a compression issue, or a spindle issue, or a encoder wheel issue.  I sent an email off to service at Starburst and will see what they say.

Any idea if those Betson trackball mods that Randy sells on GGG work with the Happ?

[Fozzy The Bear]

So I don't know if it's a compression issue, or a spindle issue, or a encoder wheel issue.

Bearings!!  Remove them from the shaft and spray them out with WD40. Let them soak for a while then spray them out again to remove the grease in them. Dry them off and apply some very light machine oil before you put them back on the shaft.

It should work fine after that.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Avrus]

So I don't know if it's a compression issue, or a spindle issue, or a encoder wheel issue.

Bearings!!  Remove them from the shaft and spray them out with WD40. Let them soak for a while then spray them out again to remove the grease in them. Dry them off and apply some very light machine oil before you put them back on the shaft.

It should work fine after that.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Awesome will do.  I think I still have some 3 in 1 upstairs from my paintballing days.

Thanks Fozzy!

[Fozzy The Bear]

Awesome will do.  I think I still have some 3 in 1 upstairs from my paintballing days.
Thanks Fozzy!

I've always found 3in1 to be a little bit too heavy for this. But you could give it a try. Sewing machine oil or hair clipper oil is about the right weight and you only need a couple of drops.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[RayB]

I prefer the Bob Roberts method of loosening up bearings.  Use a rotary tool to spin the bearing super-fast. Ad a drop of 3-in-1. Spin it some more with the rotary tool. Should be nice and smooth now.

[Avrus]

Looks like Fozzy was right on the money.  I was only looking at the ball bearing on the one side, not the ball bearing next to the encoder wheel.  It's clearly in need of some oil, as are the bearings on the 'corner spindle'.

So I'll get that done tonight and test it out on some Rampart action.   

[Fozzy The Bear]

It's clearly in need of some oil, as is the bearings on the 'corner spindle'.

Great! Pleased to hear that solved the problem for you. Rampart is a great game, especially when you have a couple of other people playing at the same time.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)