fix/ clean ball of mouse

**okeee** · 12-11-2006, 02:19 PM

This is a normal mouse with a ball. The wheels still turn very good, so that the cursor moves smoothly as well when turning the wheels.

I can move the mouse smoothly, but not when moving the mouse to certain directions, then the cursor keeps hanging.
I already cleaned the ball and wheels in the mouse.

When I try to make the ball make contact with the wheels of the mouse, the wheels keep hanging in certain directions. So probably the ball is not properly making contact with the wheels. Maybe, the ball needs to be cleaned.

I already tried cleaning the ball using water. How do I fix or clean the ball properly, so I can make the mouse work smoothly?

**kev1952** · 12-11-2006, 03:42 PM

It's normally not the ball that gets a grime buildup but the rollers inside the mouse. The ball can be cleaned in warm soapy water (don't put it back in the mouse until completely dry). The best way to get the rollers clean is to unscrew the mouse cover and and open it up. You now have easy access to the rollers. Use a blunt knife to lightly scrape them clean. Once all clean (don't use water) reassemble the mouse and test.

Of course the better solution is to get an optical mouse! :)

malonn · 12-11-2006, 06:02 PM

Yeah, I'd go with an optical mouse...good to go then.

**okeee** · 12-12-2006, 10:00 AM

All the wheels have allready been cleaned. When I move the wheels without using the ball, they all move smoothly to all directions.

So probably the ball needs to get cleaned properly, I already tried water and soap but it didn't help. Any way to clean the ball properly?

**kev1952** · 12-12-2006, 10:10 AM

The ball is generally made out of a hard rubber compound which naturally does collect grime. However, if you want to, clean the ball in warm soapy water and use a scrubbing brush on it (the ball is pretty much indestructable). I still doubt that that's the problem.

EDIT: Reread your first post. You haven't, by chance, lost the small spring[s] that hold the rollers in place, have you? That would account for the ball and roller losing contact with each other.

howtovdos · 09-15-2008, 05:52 AM

Okay there is a video on youtube as to how to clean computer mouse. Worth having a look - How to clean computer mouse

**kev1952** · 09-15-2008, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howtovdos

Okay there is a video on youtube as to how to clean computer mouse. Worth having a look - How to clean computer mouse

Welcome to TSF...

You did notice that this thread is nearly 2 years old, didn't you?

12-11-2006, 02:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
okeee TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 547 OS: win me	fix/ clean ball of mouse This is a normal mouse with a ball. The wheels still turn very good, so that the cursor moves smoothly as well when turning the wheels. I can move the mouse smoothly, but not when moving the mouse to certain directions, then the cursor keeps hanging. I already cleaned the ball and wheels in the mouse. When I try to make the ball make contact with the wheels of the mouse, the wheels keep hanging in certain directions. So probably the ball is not properly making contact with the wheels. Maybe, the ball needs to be cleaned. I already tried cleaning the ball using water. How do I fix or clean the ball properly, so I can make the mouse work smoothly?

12-11-2006, 03:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
kev1952 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Townsville, Australia Posts: 1,007 OS: Win Vista Home Premium	It's normally not the ball that gets a grime buildup but the rollers inside the mouse. The ball can be cleaned in warm soapy water (don't put it back in the mouse until completely dry). The best way to get the rollers clean is to unscrew the mouse cover and and open it up. You now have easy access to the rollers. Use a blunt knife to lightly scrape them clean. Once all clean (don't use water) reassemble the mouse and test. Of course the better solution is to get an optical mouse! :) __________________ Cheers.... Kev *"The Definition of an Upgrade: Take old bugs out, put new ones in."* Please don't send me PM's for support. Post in the forums for everyone to benefit.

12-11-2006, 06:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
malonn Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 53 OS: Vista x64 SP1	Yeah, I'd go with an optical mouse...good to go then. __________________ Asus Striker II Extreme/ Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 / 4GB Crucial Ballistix / 2 WD Raptor's in RAID 0 / Maxtor DiamondMax 10 as back-up / XFX GTX 280 / X-Fi Extreme Music / Lite On ODD / PC Power and Cooling TurboCool 1200 / Wireless / Lian Li Case /Vista x64

12-12-2006, 10:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
kev1952 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Townsville, Australia Posts: 1,007 OS: Win Vista Home Premium	The ball is generally made out of a hard rubber compound which naturally does collect grime. However, if you want to, clean the ball in warm soapy water and use a scrubbing brush on it (the ball is pretty much indestructable). I still doubt that that's the problem. EDIT: Reread your first post. You haven't, by chance, lost the small spring[s] that hold the rollers in place, have you? That would account for the ball and roller losing contact with each other. __________________ Cheers.... Kev *"The Definition of an Upgrade: Take old bugs out, put new ones in."* Please don't send me PM's for support. Post in the forums for everyone to benefit. Last edited by kev1952; 12-12-2006 at 10:12 AM.

09-15-2008, 05:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
howtovdos Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista	Re: fix/ clean ball of mouse Okay there is a video on youtube as to how to clean computer mouse. Worth having a look - How to clean computer mouse

12-12-2006, 10:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
okeee TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 547 OS: win me	All the wheels have allready been cleaned. When I move the wheels without using the ball, they all move smoothly to all directions. So probably the ball needs to get cleaned properly, I already tried water and soap but it didn't help. Any way to clean the ball properly?