Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball

[v0id]

Found this side not long ago; information overload! Spent so much time educating myself on computer input devices.  Along the way, picked up some keyboards to find out what I might like best.  Found out I was already using Dell AT101W before coming here.  Then, picked up a Leopold MX Blue and a IBM Model M.  Still have many more choices to try and explore.

Stumbled upon a Compaq MX 11800 MX Brown for cheap.  Keyboard works fine.  However, the trackball is squeaky.  Any advice?  I have no idea how to properly take out the ball.  Or what can I do to stop the squeaky sounds?  

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Please advise.  Thanks.

[RC-1140]

To remove the trackball you have to turn the black ring, that's what the two little holes are for. Then you can remove the ball, and clean the little red ruby balls and the trackball. Also carefully clean the tilted black sensor surface on the bottom. This should make the feeling much better.

[The_Ed]

For trackballs that stick/squeak you clean the bearings and rub forehead grease on the trackball. If your forehead doesn't produce grease you'll have to find a substitute.

It's worked for over a decade in my family, so the forehead grease power has been proven.

[v0id]

To remove the trackball you have to turn the black ring, that's what the two little holes are for. Then you can remove the ball, and clean the little red ruby balls and the trackball. Also carefully clean the tilted black sensor surface on the bottom. This should make the feeling much better.

Thanks.  That did the trick.

For trackballs that stick/squeak you clean the bearings and rub forehead grease on the trackball. If your forehead doesn't produce grease you'll have to find a substitute.

It's worked for over a decade in my family, so the forehead grease power has been proven.

Lol.  Free grease.  


No more squeaky.  I'm a happy camper!

[The_Ed]

But did you use forehead grease? There's nothing smoother than a trackball that's been rubbed on your forehead.

[v0id]

But did you use forehead grease? There's nothing smoother than a trackball that's been rubbed on your forehead.

Yes, I did put on some forehead grease.  The difference is not that noticeable since I did this after I got the inner workings of the trackball clean.

Squeaky --Big Difference-> Cleaning (No Squeaky) [Satisfied] --Tiny Difference--> Forehead Grease

[The_Ed]

My dad's forehead grease is the best of all of us for trackballs. So your forehead grease making a "tiny difference" sounds like your forehead grease is a different consistency. Try someone else's forehead next.

[JustCallMeCrash]

ripster swears by nose-grease.

[The_Ed]

Quote it or it didn't happen.

[didjamatic]

The MX11800 is a good keyboard for browns, the caps are a good thickness and weight.  The earlier ones have centered "nipple nubs" on F and J that I really like but nothing wrong with the ones with bars like yours has.

FYI I would't mention any bodily grease application in the ad if you ever decide to sell it.

[v0id]

The MX11800 is a good keyboard for browns, the caps are a good thickness and weight.  The earlier ones have centered "nipple nubs" on F and J that I really like but nothing wrong with the ones with bars like yours has.

FYI I would't mention any bodily grease application in the ad if you ever decide to sell it.

I found that the caps are of different heights; some are just half the heights of others.  It does strikes me as odd.

Organic grease.

[The_Ed]

I still remember learning the forehead grease trick from my dad as a kid. I believe there were other things it was good for as well... AH!... Whenever the GPS suction cup comes off in the car he rubs it on his forehead to make it seal better.