Happ Trackball doesn't track right or left unless spun hard *FIXED!*

[Expressline99]

My brand new Happ trackball seems to work great going up and down in MAME however...left and right it just kinda "sticks".
The ball spins but the cursor doesn't move with it Unless you really spin it hard. It isn't consistent sometimes it will track
just fine. I've adjusted the sensitivity in  Mame so I know that's not it. It is new and hasn't been used much due to this issue.
So I don't know what I should do? Any ideas as to what would cause this?

[EwJ]

Greasy roller.
Sticky bearing(s).
Encoder wheel warped or loose on end of roller.
Dirty optics.
Faulty optics
....the list goes on..
.....

Crack that sucker open and give it an inspection.
If nothing obvious, swap the right/left optics with the up/down and see if the problem has moved with it.
If still left/right problem, and the encoder wheel is moving fine, check wire connections, continuity , etc,
Degrease everything and lube bearings as required while you're in there.
Have fun.

How is it connected to your PC? (built-in usb&ps/2 interface, Opti-Wiz, Opti-pac?)

[surface tension]

I had this on a couple of happ trackballs where the encoder wheel got stuck, but with enough force it will start rolling again. These were unused trackballs, but had been sat on the shelf for 6 months. If this sounds like the trouble you're having I have written a little section on fixing it here: http://www.arcade-lounge.co.uk/?p=393#more-393.

saint's note - fixed link

[Expressline99]

Greasy roller.
Sticky bearing(s).
Encoder wheel warped or loose on end of roller.
Dirty optics.
Faulty optics
....the list goes on..
.....

Crack that sucker open and give it an inspection.
If nothing obvious, swap the right/left optics with the up/down and see if the problem has moved with it.
If still left/right problem, and the encoder wheel is moving fine, check wire connections, continuity , etc,
Degrease everything and lube bearings as required while you're in there.
Have fun.

How is it connected to your PC? (built-in usb&ps/2 interface, Opti-Wiz, Opti-pac?)

It is connected via a Opti-pac and that is all that is connected to the opti-pac.

[Expressline99]

looks like the encoder wheel is sticking from my inspection. I'll try the walk through and see how it goes.

[EwJ]

If it is just the sticky bearings, here's a good read.
3-in-1 is commonly recommended.

[Expressline99]

If it is just the sticky bearings, here's a good read.
3-in-1 is commonly recommended.

I guess it was. I went through the steps presented by ST and it worked great.

Thanks a bunch! Its all fixed!

[surface tension]

Glad I could help 

[Expressline99]

Glad I could help 

BTW my wife is really thankful...now she can play centipede and Crystal Castles!