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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: v0id on Tue, 05 June 2012, 04:30:02

Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: v0id on Tue, 05 June 2012, 04:30:02
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?  

[ATTACH=CONFIG]52284[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]52285[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]52286[/ATTACH]

Please advise.  Thanks.
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: RC-1140 on Tue, 05 June 2012, 05:01:25
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.
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: The_Ed on Tue, 05 June 2012, 05:08:33
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.
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: v0id on Tue, 05 June 2012, 05:22:50
Quote from: RC-1140;607717
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.


Quote from: The_Ed;607718
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!
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: The_Ed on Tue, 05 June 2012, 05:24:42
But did you use forehead grease? There's nothing smoother than a trackball that's been rubbed on your forehead.
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: v0id on Tue, 05 June 2012, 05:49:56
Quote from: The_Ed;607724
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
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: The_Ed on Tue, 05 June 2012, 06:05:34
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.
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: JustCallMeCrash on Wed, 06 June 2012, 14:38:13
ripster swears by nose-grease.
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: The_Ed on Wed, 06 June 2012, 19:45:43
Quote it or it didn't happen.
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 06 June 2012, 19:57:39
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. ;)
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: v0id on Fri, 08 June 2012, 01:58:11
Quote from: didjamatic;608888
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. ;)
Title: Compaq MX 11800 - Squeaky Trackball
Post by: The_Ed on Fri, 08 June 2012, 02:45:19
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.