CST Trackball Ball Bearing Upgrade Kit
So cute!
I’m currently making and selling a ball bearing upgrade/repair kit that fits many CST (Clearly Superior Technologies) trackballs. If you love having a high resolution opto-sensor trackball but wish it had ball bearings, or if the factory bearings simply stopped working, these replacements are for you.
If they’re sold out and you want one, contact me via email or twitter or whatever and I’ll try to hurry things up!
Links:
- CST Trackball Ball Bearing Roller Replacement and Upgrade Kit for LTrac CST2545 (ebay)
- CST Trackball Ball Bearing Roller Replacement and Upgrade Kit for LTrac CST2545 (byteheaven.com)
Description
This is a ball bearing upgrade / repair kit for CST and X-Keys opto trackballs. The kit includes a set of 3 roller bearings for the CST2545 and compatible models. It fits opto-mechanical models that use the newer style “brown plastic sleeve” bearing and either the flat or double-flanged roller. This includes most CST2xxx models. These are a drop-in replacement for the factory bearings.
I built this because the bearing in my L-Trac CST2545 stuck and wore a flat spot in the double-flanged roller. Here is a picture of the flat spot (OK, so it is the blurry one in the foreground, sorry!):
I really will take a better picture someday.
This is apparently a common failing in the factory sleeve-style bearing. Ball bearings roll much easier, resist clogging much better than stock, and last a very long time. Since the parts come in bags of 10, I made 3 sets and sold the spares–and people bought those, so I kept making them!
Putting it all together
What’s in the kit
They are built with quality deep-groove steel bearings, a steel shaft, and custom printed fittings for a factory fit. Each kit is tested for feel and fit in a CST trackball. The adapter bushings are printed in high quality PET. (Color may vary!)
Performance
Even with ball bearings, the CST trackball does not throw like a DT225. This is partly because of the wide bearing placement, and partly because of the small amount of ball that is exposed. There is some throw-catch, and with the higher resolution it is possible to throw the ball across a 1080 screen at 400CPI resolution with the default (middle notch) mouse settings, delivering performance similar to an itac mouse-trak ball but without the need for acceleration.
The factory lubrication on the bearings is a bit stiff at first. After a month or two of break-in they loosen up, at which point the trackball performs like it should have from the factory. I find the feel looser and smoother than the flanged factory bearings. I have not tried the old school flat bearings, so I can not offer a comparison to those.
Advantages
This kit uses ball bearings instead of the sleeved plastic bearing.
- Delivers a smooth rolling, ball bearing feel
- Is more resistant to clogging by pet hair/fuzz, which means less frequent disassembly and cleaning
- Durable
Disadvantages
- Ball bearings are slightly louder than the stock shaft bearings.
Compatibility
This kit should be compatible with most CST opto-mechanical trackballs. They fit the new P.I. Engineering “X-Keys” trackballs. The CST2545 is an “L-Trac” trackball, but not all trackballs sold under the L-Trac brand name use the same bearings. Your best bet is to simply look at the bearings when you open the trackball to clean it–if it looks like this picture, you are probably OK.
Inside the CST
Editorial
I absolutely love mine!
