My X-Arcade™ Trackball moves erratically or sticks, what can I do? Opening & Cleaning the Trackball.

Your X-Arcade™ Trackball may need to be opened and cleaned. See page 14 of the manual for details.

This article covers how to open the X-Arcade Trackball, and cleaning if needed. Our trackball was made to be user serviceable, just like a real arcade. It does not void the Lifetime Warranty to open it.

Input devices using mouse or track ball technology need to be cleaned periodically. Cleaning frequency for your X-Arcade™ Trackball is much less than a normal trackball or mouse due to it's design, but this depends on how you work with it, and can be affected adversely by spilling liquids on the ball or using it with sticky/dirty fingers. When moving the ball of the trackball feels slow or rough, it’s time for a cleaning.

IMPORTANT: For best performance, only tighten the screws and bolts on the trackball housing just enough to hold it firmly. Over-tightening will inhibit performance.

To clean your X-Arcade™ Trackball:
NOTE: Do not open the plastic trackball housing upside-down (ball facing down) as this will cause all of the parts to fall out. It's not a huge deal if you do, but this will save you a 'D'OH!' moment.

1. Turn off your computer if using the PS/2 mouse port connection.
2. Unplug the X-Arcade™ Trackball from the computer
3. Turn the X-Arcade™ Trackball over, laying it on a surface so that it does not touch the ball. (example: between two books, or on your legs with the ball in between).
4. PIC: Remove the screws on the bottom of the X-Arcade™ Trackball that are recessed in the rubber feet. Your X-Arcade™ Trackball may have small rubber covers over the screws in the center of these rubber feet, if so just pop them out.
5. PIC: Remove the bottom wooden panel. This is easiest done with a flat object like a butter knife (careful not to cut yourself) or some other wide flat object. Simply pry in between the cracks of the X-Arcade™ Trackball base and the panel, being careful not to scratch that beautiful veneer.
6. PIC: Remove the 4 bolts holding the plastic trackball housing into the wood casing.
7. PIC: With a phillips screwdriver, remove the 4 screws holding the trackball plastic casing together. Do not attempt to open the trackball plastic housing in this step.
8. PIC: Grab the bottom and top part of the plastic housing with both hands, holding them closed/together firmly, and turn it over so that the ball is facing up.
9. PIC: Remove the top half (ball side) of the plastic housing.
10. PIC: Remove the ball, and clean it with tap water and, if needed, dishwashing detergent. Dry it with a lint-free cloth. DO NOT get water near the electronics.
11. PIC: Clean the rollers and idler (the 3 metal cylinders that the ball sits on) using a pre-moistened cleaning swab or cotton swab with rubbing alcohol. Allow surfaces to dry completely before reassembling.
12. Reassemble following the above steps backwards.

Your X-Arcade™ Trackball is cleaned, and ready for action!