OK, with the "OK" from Gyruss:
Gyruss contacted me that the trackball on his Centi was working really poorly. So, when I was there to pick up the monitors, I checked it out as good as I could).
I was rather unsure if it was a mechanical problem or a problem with the opto's.
In the end it turned out to be both.
I took it with me and tried it on my Centi. Worked like hell on one axis and not at all on the other. So I figured we had at least one bad opto.
Through some digging I managed to find some very cheap (but untested) opto's in the US that were quickly sent over. Turned out only one of them was bad, all others worked fine.
Indeed, by replacing the one on the bad axis I now had some movement on both axis....but it was SLOOOOOW, almost non-moving.
I took another close look and the wheels seemed to hardly turn....I figured this had to be a mechanical problem so I swapped my rollers and bearing in there and indeed, now it worked FINE.
But how could this be, brand new rollers and bearings from Bob Roberts were put in there !!
So, I dropped Gyruss the question: uhhmmm, you didn't lube or grease them or anything, did you ?
Uhh..yeah....I put some grease on them from the bicycle shop.....
OOps....there we had the second problem....
I was almost certain, but I dropped Bob an e-mail about the rollers and stuff. Got an elaborate reply within 3 hours (!)
I already knew Bob broke in the bearings himself. What he does is get out a drill and run the bearings for some time at high speed. This "loosens them". Normally this would take a lot of play to get them to feel smooth.
However, I wasn't 100% sure about the oiling of the bearings. The bearings always arrive in bags which are "soaking" (I'm exaggerating a bit) in oil. In fact, the smell of the oil is so strong that I wonder the dogs at customs never detect them
So, I always assumed that he oiled them too. So I always install them right out of the bag.
And indeed, in Bob's reply he sent this: (My questions are in regular, Bob's answers in italic):
Quick question about the trackball bearings you sell: I always notice they
are very well oiled. However on your page about Trackball Bearings you
mention they still have to be oiled. Is this also true when they are new or
only after a couple of months of playing ?
I personally clean, oil & test all the new bearings on shipping day. When
you receive bearings from us for 2 1/4" or 3" TBs they are drop-in ready to
go & better than they ever were in the games as shipped new. Atari & Happ,
as well as other game mfrs, recommend that 3-in-1 oil be applied to the
bearings every 6 months. I use the Aero Kroil which has a lubricant in it
that seems to last forever... I frequently get an email saying how they
bought their bearings from me 15 or 16 years ago & they are still just as
good as the day they were installed & they have never been touched since
with any kind of oil.What oil do you suggest ? (Apart from the spray you mention)
The only other known oil is the 3-in-1 oil.Am I correct that all your bearings are sold ready broken in ?
Drop-in ready.
I have no troubles with the one's on my machines but a friend installed them
and greased them, then complained his TB was working poorly
Don't think the grease can really totally be removed so I advised him to buy
new bearings.
The only way out of that faux pas is to remove the bearings.... hmmm... put
them in a plastic bottle of some sort, maybe an empty vitamin bottle, add
paint thinner to cover them & shake it up. That should eliminate the
grease....caution, don't soak them in the paint thinner for a period of time
as it will eat more than the grease. Once the grease is gone then you can
apply the 3-in-1 oil & reinstall. Should work as well as when they were in
the new game, but not quite as well as with the Aero Kroil. Grease is good
for pressure wear jobs, oil is for speed & ease!So there it is:
Never use grease on your trackball bearings and Bob Roberts' bearings come "Plug'n'Play" !
As Bob mentions, he uses not the 3in1 but the Aero Kroil which customers report to still be great after many years. So....it looks like you normally will never HAVE to oil them.
I've never oiled mine, and they are as nice as they were on day 1.
But IF your are going to oil:
Be VERY careful to not get any oil on the ROLLERS !
There are two things you want in the trackball: the bearings should have as LITTLE friction as possible, but the ROLLERS (which contact the ball) should have as MUCH friction as possible. Any trace of oil will ruin that...
Now, I've already often seen that 3-in-1 oil mentioned (even Atari advises it in their manuals). What exacty IS 3 in 1 oil ? where here it is (from wikipedia):
The formula consists of pale spindle oil with a small amount of corrosion inhibitor and citronella oil (which gives the product its distinctive sharp odor).Now....this stuff has been around since 1894......I mean.....there must be something better today ? I know nothing about oils, but I found sources on the internet saying that 3in1 attracts dirt. We don't want that. Not that it is a huge problem in a clean environment like under a CP....
So I think it's OK.
Still, that spray type "Aero Kroil" looks more appealing to me for maintenance (although I still don't think mine need any yet).
So what is "Aero Kroil" ?
Well from the site (
http://www.kanolabs.com/) it looks to me like a general "creeping oil" (hence the name KROIL I guess).
Personally....I'm a big fan of teflon sprays like this:
http://www.bikecleaning.nl/Webwinkel-Product-3134933/Kroon-Oil-Teflonspray.htmlThese are advised for bearings. It may last a little less long than the oil though. Just spray once in a while and you'll be killing those bugs or rescuing those cities lightning fast
