Help -slimblade sticking

[trievalot]

plz help


someone stuck tape in my slimblade, and now its all sticky (after removing the tape and cleaning with a lint free cloth) it still feels sticky

How can i fix this? PLEASE!!!!!

[Morning Song]

plz help


someone stuck tape in my slimblade, and now its all sticky (after removing the tape and cleaning with a lint free cloth) it still feels sticky

How can i fix this? PLEASE!!!!!

Lighter fluid usually gets stickies off very well.

[microsoft windows]

Get a $1 microsoft serial mouse that'll never ever stick.

[Zalusithix]

There are products meant to strip the goo left from adhesive tape. Typically it's a citrus based concentrated cleaner. Failing to find any of that around, plain old WD-40 does a pretty good job at removing goo. In both cases, after the goo is removed, you'll want to use a normal cleanser (Windex etc) and/or soapy water.

And who the hell would stick tape on/in a trackball anyhow?

[TexasFlood]

There are products meant to strip the goo left from adhesive tape. Typically it's a citrus based concentrated cleaner. Failing to find any of that around, plain old WD-40 does a pretty good job at removing goo. In both cases, after the goo is removed, you'll want to use a normal cleanser (Windex etc) and/or soapy water.

And who the hell would stick tape on/in a trackball anyhow?

I thought products like GooGone were mostly naphthalene, or lighter fluid.  Maybe they've changed the formula recently.

[Zalusithix]

I thought products like GooGone were mostly naphthalene, or lighter fluid.  Maybe they've changed the formula recently.

Eh, there's so many products out there these days. "Green" cleaners and the likes. I wouldn't be surprised if there were quite a few different formulas marketed for the same thing. It's not like cutting through residual adhesive is that hard of a task.

[trievalot]

The residue is gone.....it just "feels" sticky now........(the ball doesnt roll as freely)

I was gonna try some silicone spray? (or will that screw it completely?)

[Zalusithix]

Aha, so it's not sticky... You're just talking about how it rolls. When you cleaned it, you probably stripped all the lubrication from the ball.

The SlimBlade trackball is coated with lanolin to reduce friction and noise.  If it is noisy, wipe the ball with your hands for 30 seconds to replace a thin coat of lubrication to the surface of the ball.  The ball and housing should not be cleaned with water, alcohol, or other cleaners as this will completely remove the lubrication from the ball.

Going by that, using some lanolin would restore it to the original form. That and natural oils from your skin help to lubricate it. (I know mine rolls a lot smoother now than it did straight from the factory.)

[didjamatic]

Armorall is what microsoft used on trackballs, and what people sell as the super secret stuff in eBay kits.  But it needs to be clean first.

[hyperlinked]

Peanut butter works pretty well in getting adhesives off.

[Nonmouse]

First off, kill whoever stuck tape in it- or at least beat them soundly about the head and shoulders.

A terpene-based (d-limonene, or "citrus") cleaner is probably your best bet, followed by distilled or DI water for cleaning it- that's what electronics manufacturers use.

[trievalot]

Thanks for all the advice, the using for an hour got it working nicely :-)

man i must be oily

[bigpook]

Its not hard to clean the ruby bearings in the slimblade. Just lift the ball and move your finger over the bearings. Takes about 10 seconds.

[EverythingIBM]

Thanks for all the advice, the using for an hour got it working nicely :-)

man i must be oily

You could always pick up an IBM L40 for fun. Can't say how good it's going to be.

Well now you never have to buy oil for your cars...