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sluggish Logitech Trackman Marble T-BC21 - bearings/trackball wear?

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anawilliam850:
It sounds like you have already done a lot of troubleshooting and research into your trackball issue. Here are some additional suggestions:

Try using compressed air to clean out any dust or debris that may be stuck inside the trackball housing. Sometimes a small piece of debris can cause the ball to move sluggishly.

Consider lubricating the bearings with a light oil, such as sewing machine oil or 3-in-1 oil. Be sure to apply only a very small amount of oil to each bearing, as too much can cause the ball to slip or become too slick.

If you suspect that the trackball surface is scratched or damaged, you could try using a very fine-grit sandpaper (such as 1000-grit) to gently polish the surface. Be careful not to remove too much material, as this could make the problem worse.

To remove the bearings, you could try using a small dental pick or needle to gently pry them out from behind. Alternatively, you could try using a small dab of superglue on the end of a toothpick to attach to the bearing and pull it out. Be very careful not to damage the housing or the bearings themselves.

If you do manage to remove the bearings, you could measure their diameter and try to find replacements online. Some users have reported success with using ceramic or steel bearings instead of the stock plastic ones, which may be more durable.

Good luck with your trackball repair!

Mandan:
> The attached shows what I call a bearing on a T-BC21, no idea if they are supposed to rotate
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I popped the ball out of mine - ewww, nasting in there - and looked closely.  I had figured the plastic parts had some kind of coating or paint, and it was just worn off where the ball rides.  One of my trackballs has worn the silver off the top, showing the dark gray plastic underneath.

The white thingies appear to be plastic studs set into the ball socket.  I'm going to assume they're Delrin or UHMW plastic; those are often used as bearing materials, and white is the default color for those.

Mine look exactly like yours, though.  If there's any wear, we're even.

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