Main > Main Forum

Rebuilding trackballs

<< < (2/4) > >>

Fozzy The Bear:
Balls do slop around in trackballs.... It's not a fault... They work by just sitting on top of the rollers. They shouldn't be at all close tollerance to the case.

As long as your rollers and bearings are good to go, and the balls are not chiped or damaged then they should be fine.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Dudeman:

--- Quote from: Texasmame on November 02, 2006, 10:50:29 am ---
--- Quote from: CykoMF on November 02, 2006, 10:31:51 am ---
Do the balls ever shrink?

--- End quote ---

 :notworthy:

--- End quote ---

Shrinkage usually occurs when swimming in cold water. Just ask Costanza.

RayB:
The grooves in the rollers are part of the reason why the ball sits lower. Replace the rollers.  And yes, it is as simple as that EXCEPT they aren't cheap!!

Another thing to check is if you have any Wico TBs you'll find they have little springs under the bearings. That's supposed to help keep the ball close to the opening lip (but still not touching it).

_) (V) (-):
Well guys, I've been playing with my balls alot recently. . . :P
and I have found that the white one is in fact smaller than the red one,
by about 1/16 of an inch.  (Maybe it's infected?)  :o

I've swapped them from case to case and found the difference in fit is related to the ball and not the casings or the rollers. Then I verified it with a micrometer measurment. Shame too because I really wanted to use the white one in my setup but dislike the sloppy feel.

I tried putting a piece of plastic tubing over the rollers in one of the cases just to see how it would do. It did in fact raise the ball height, however the plastic surface was not optimal for traction. It was actually a little too sticky in some directions, not wanting to move. Maybe a metal sleeve would work better?  :-\

RayB, only 1 roller in each of the 2 larger 3" trackballs were worn in this fashion. The ones I've been experimenting with (2 1/8") have no groves in them. Didn't see any springs in the 3" wicos, but there was some kind of green wire with a copper strip on the end, looks like it could have gone under the bearings. Is that the spring you mentioned?

shardian:
Have you considered raising the bearings in their seats with something. You could gain an 1/8" easy that way.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page

Go to full version