Just got my first working roller controller

[tz101]

...and it seems to be slow in moving the cursor across the screen with both Slither and Centipede. By this, I mean that the roller ball takes quite a bit of spinning to move what normally does not take too much effort with either the VCS or 5200 trak ball controllers. I remember the arcade trak balls on Centipede and Crystal Castles back in the day. They were very responsive and your character (Bentley Bear) moved fast across the screen when you spun the ball. Is it just the design of the Roller Controller calls for much more spinning of the ball, or is there something else going on here?

 

I took it apart and cleaned both the X and Y directional rollers with alcohol where they make contact with the ball, but it didn't help a bit.

[Yurkie]

The bearings on the ends of the x and y axis shafts probably need cleaned and regreased.

[VectorGamer]

Just put some 3-In-1 oil into the holes of the bearings. That'll fix ya...

 

As dumb as it may sound, but Atari once recommended that arcade operators clean their trackballs with furniture polish.

[Yurkie]

The 3-1 sounds like a good idea to thin the old grease.

[tz101]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I sprayed the bearings down with silicone lubricant and it made a huge difference. I normally don't like to get anything petroleum-based around plastic or rubber components.

 

Still doesn't seem quite as responsive as I remember the arcade trak balls, but maybe that is how they work.

[VectorGamer]

I think you'll find that when you lube your balls properly you'll get the desired response

[NIAD]

I think you'll find that when you lube your balls properly you'll get the desired response

I try to lube up my balls "properly" at least once a week!

[VectorGamer]

I think you'll find that when you lube your balls properly you'll get the desired response

I try to lube up my balls "properly" at least once a week!

 

Mine require more attention...I have to lube them up at least once every other day otherwise there's too much buildup

[NIAD]

I think you'll find that when you lube your balls properly you'll get the desired response

I try to lube up my balls "properly" at least once a week!

 

Mine require more attention...I have to lube them up at least once every other day otherwise there's too much buildup

Where do you find the time for all that maintenance???

 

OK, I guess this thread has been officially hijacked for the worse!

[VectorGamer]

I think you'll find that when you lube your balls properly you'll get the desired response

I try to lube up my balls "properly" at least once a week!

 

Mine require more attention...I have to lube them up at least once every other day otherwise there's too much buildup

Where do you find the time for all that maintenance???

 

OK, I guess this thread has been officially hijacked for the worse!

 

It's kind of tough...but usually the maintenance is performed when the wife is at work and the kids are at school.

[tz101]

^

This is too much information.

[Pixelboy]

^

This is too much information.

We are soooooo not talking about trackball controllers, are we?

[Madaracs]

^

This is too much information.

We are soooooo not talking about trackball controllers, are we?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MISc4RISJlE

[Rik]

1st thing i did when i got my roller controller was to take it apart and lube the roller bearings with bearing oil.The thing responded 100 % quicker with the lube job.Before it was slow as heck and had to swipe the ball like 10 times just to get the damn cursor to the other side of play screen.Now, one quick swipe and the cursor flies to the other side and all other directions lightning quick.