Quick Tip: How to fix a stuck Blackberry trackball
17 01 2008One of the few things that annoys me about my Blackberry 8830 is when the pearl or trackball gets stuck and no longer moves in a given direction (usually down in my case). Usually it’ll work itself out with a few seconds of vigorous rolling, but sometimes it seems to get stuck to no end. I’m pretty sure the culprit is some form of oil that gets between the ball and the sensor, so lately when it happens I’ve been giving it a quick, light swab of rubbing alcohol with a Q-Tip and working it around with a cloth for a second. It seems to un-stick almost immediately. Just a quick tip for all you Blackberry user’s out there!
Whoa! I just got off the phone with a tmobile rep….
using alcohol may (although most likely not) damage your BB. That would SUCK. it’s important to use and extremely small amount (ie half or a third or a drop…
further, the silver ring around the trackball can be removed to clean under it although pressing firmly on the trackball while rolling it around seems to fix it 90% of the time. the number one problem is dirt or dust being trapped underneath the trackball. if you work, play or live around dirt, dust, oil/grease, etc… be sure to handle your BB with clean hands and always gently. later…
That did concern me too actually, but I’ve been using this method to clean the old mouse trackballs for a long time and assumed it was along the same lines. Definitely agree with the small amount for sure.
Thanks for the tip on opening it up, I’ve gotten the metal ring off on accident before (dropped the phone….ouch). I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to come off that way as I had never tried to remove it before I dropped it. Probably a safer way to go if you have the time or inclination to take it apart like that.
Thanks again!
I’ve been doing that for a long time too…though I use the little square pads.
Thank you SO much for the alcohol advice. I had been reluctant to try any cleaning liquids on the phone BUT after already having returned TWO blackberry’s in one year because of the “broken” mouse, I would have tried anything at this point. Really, why didn’t the Blackberry 8830 designers realize that a backup would be needed — a side track ball or up down scroll keys would have made the phone perfect!
Anyway, alcohol, Q-tip, cloth! Thank you!