is it possible to refurbish a mechanical mouse?

[The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan]

As always, my posts are long-winded, so apologies in advance...

When I bought my Dell system 6 years ago, it came with a Logitech M-BA47
mouse. The design of that mouse was the best I have ever used. If fit my
hand perfecly, it had a button for the right thumb to press that I had
configured as double-click. I have seen a few newer models by Logitech that
have a right thumb button, but it is high up the side whereas on the M-BA47
it was at the bottom edge, where the mouse touches the mouse pad.

I went to an optical mouse because the M-BA47 started acting funky. I
cleaned the rollers several times and the ball, etc, but it would start
acting up again - cursor not moving exactly where I wanted it. If Logitech
had made a clone of this but with an optical sensor, I would have bought it.
But none of the stuff I saw was that close of a match. I ended up with a
Microsoft mouse instead.

But the Logitech fit my hand way better than any mouse I have ever seen. My
hand gets sore and my carpal tunnel syndrome which had faded starts coming
to life again when I use the MS mouse or the one at work (an HP). So I
would really like to have the old mechanical mouse rebuilt so that it is in
"like new" condition. (after so many years of optical mice, I no longer
know what to call the old style with the ball in it, so I have settled on
"mechanincal").

Does anybody know of a company that does this or am I better off trying to
find another M-BA47 on ebay?
Thanks

 

[kony]

As always, my posts are long-winded, so apologies in advance...

When I bought my Dell system 6 years ago, it came with a Logitech M-BA47
mouse. The design of that mouse was the best I have ever used. If fit my
hand perfecly, it had a button for the right thumb to press that I had
configured as double-click. I have seen a few newer models by Logitech that
have a right thumb button, but it is high up the side whereas on the M-BA47
it was at the bottom edge, where the mouse touches the mouse pad.

I went to an optical mouse because the M-BA47 started acting funky. I
cleaned the rollers several times and the ball, etc, but it would start
acting up again - cursor not moving exactly where I wanted it. If Logitech
had made a clone of this but with an optical sensor, I would have bought it.
But none of the stuff I saw was that close of a match. I ended up with a
Microsoft mouse instead.

But the Logitech fit my hand way better than any mouse I have ever seen. My
hand gets sore and my carpal tunnel syndrome which had faded starts coming
to life again when I use the MS mouse or the one at work (an HP). So I
would really like to have the old mechanical mouse rebuilt so that it is in
"like new" condition. (after so many years of optical mice, I no longer
know what to call the old style with the ball in it, so I have settled on
"mechanincal").

Does anybody know of a company that does this or am I better off trying to
find another M-BA47 on ebay?
Thanks

There's not a lot to it, you can refurbish that yourself.

Take the screw(s) out of the bottom, then lift up the rear
end of the shell until it frees the tabs that join it in the
front. There may also be a screw inside behind the ball, or
under a sticker(s), or under the teflon pads (I dont' recall
if I've ever see that exact mouse but I had the cordless
version several years ago).

Once apart, pop out the optical sensor wheels. Use a
toothbrush and detergent to scrub any debris out of the
slits in the wheels. Use strong detergent to also scrub the
rubber ball.

Take the circuit board out and wash the shell separately,
and if it's really dirty, pop off those rubber grips on the
sides as I believe back in those days the rubber pieces were
separate, detachable.

With the circuit board out you can either clean it by just
trying to get the bulk of the debris off by blowing or a
small paintbrush, then take a non-abrasive cloth with a bit
of alcohol or windex and wipe the two parts of the optical
sensors (around each slotted wheel). They aren't high
precision optics so if you just grabbed any clean cloth
that'd probably work fine too.

After a certain point the switches may wear out too but you
make no mention of those so leave them alone.

If the mouse is really that important you might seek one on
ebay too, as eventually the switches and cord will wear out
and while it's certainly possible to replace those parts,
the time and cost increases enough that it might be as well
to just find another one. Disassembly and cleaning only
takes a few minutes though, probably less time than it would
take to find someone to do it and pack, ship it off.

 

[The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan]

There's not a lot to it, you can refurbish that yourself.

Take the screw(s) out of the bottom, then lift up the rear
end of the shell until it frees the tabs that join it in the
front. There may also be a screw inside behind the ball, or
under a sticker(s), or under the teflon pads (I dont' recall
if I've ever see that exact mouse but I had the cordless
version several years ago).

Once apart, pop out the optical sensor wheels. Use a
toothbrush and detergent to scrub any debris out of the
slits in the wheels. Use strong detergent to also scrub the
rubber ball.

Take the circuit board out and wash the shell separately,
and if it's really dirty, pop off those rubber grips on the
sides as I believe back in those days the rubber pieces were
separate, detachable.

With the circuit board out you can either clean it by just
trying to get the bulk of the debris off by blowing or a
small paintbrush, then take a non-abrasive cloth with a bit
of alcohol or windex and wipe the two parts of the optical
sensors (around each slotted wheel). They aren't high
precision optics so if you just grabbed any clean cloth
that'd probably work fine too.

After a certain point the switches may wear out too but you
make no mention of those so leave them alone.

If the mouse is really that important you might seek one on
ebay too, as eventually the switches and cord will wear out
and while it's certainly possible to replace those parts,
the time and cost increases enough that it might be as well
to just find another one. Disassembly and cleaning only
takes a few minutes though, probably less time than it would
take to find someone to do it and pack, ship it off.

Thanks for the info. It was astounding to me that this very fine mouse was
not still being made an an optical mouse. Can't guess what Logitech was
thinking. Very few mice today have the right thumb button, but for
double-clicking, it was terriffic.

 

[meow2222]

Thanks for the info. It was astounding to me that this very fine mouse was
not still being made an an optical mouse. Can't guess what Logitech was
thinking. Very few mice today have the right thumb button, but for
double-clicking, it was terriffic.

Unfortunately this is all too common. A designer that knows what theyre
doing is replaced by one with shallower knowledge, who then changes
everything according to their halfway understanding, and the good
design points are gone.


NT

 

[kony]

Thanks for the info. It was astounding to me that this very fine mouse was
not still being made an an optical mouse. Can't guess what Logitech was
thinking. Very few mice today have the right thumb button, but for
double-clicking, it was terriffic.

Most people weren't used to ergonomically shaped mice, i
don't think it sold so well. When I bought my cordless
version I didn't realize just how much it sloped up on the
left side, had I known that I would have never had bought
it, because I ended up hating that mouse and threw it away a
few years ago. Still have the keyboard though, it was a
nice keyboard, sturdier than some due to thicker plastic
casing and reasonable key weighting (though still a bit
ligher than ideal).

 

[The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan]

Most people weren't used to ergonomically shaped mice, i
don't think it sold so well.

But when I went looking for a new mouse, CompUSA had lots of ergonomically
shaped mice made by Logitec. None of them fit my hand very well and only
one or two had a right thumb button, but now I had to raise my thumb to use
is since it was near the top of the mouse. The M-BA47 had it near the
bottom where my thumb naturally rests - putting it neat the top would cause
strain and that is what I was trying to avoid.

When I bought my cordless version I didn't realize just how much it sloped
up on the
left side,

was that a cordless version of the M-BA47?

 

[Vanguard]

As always, my posts are long-winded, so apologies in advance...

When I bought my Dell system 6 years ago, it came with a Logitech
M-BA47 mouse. The design of that mouse was the best I have ever
used. If fit my hand perfecly, it had a button for the right thumb
to press that I had configured as double-click. I have seen a few
newer models by Logitech that have a right thumb button, but it is
high up the side whereas on the M-BA47 it was at the bottom edge,
where the mouse touches the mouse pad.

I went to an optical mouse because the M-BA47 started acting funky.
I cleaned the rollers several times and the ball, etc, but it would
start acting up again - cursor not moving exactly where I wanted it.
If Logitech had made a clone of this but with an optical sensor, I
would have bought it. But none of the stuff I saw was that close of
a match. I ended up with a Microsoft mouse instead.

But the Logitech fit my hand way better than any mouse I have ever
seen. My hand gets sore and my carpal tunnel syndrome which had
faded starts coming to life again when I use the MS mouse or the one
at work (an HP). So I would really like to have the old mechanical
mouse rebuilt so that it is in "like new" condition. (after so many
years of optical mice, I no longer know what to call the old style
with the ball in it, so I have settled on "mechanincal").

Does anybody know of a company that does this or am I better off
trying to find another M-BA47 on ebay?
Thanks

Get a female optical mouse (i.e., no balls).

 

[kony]

But when I went looking for a new mouse, CompUSA had lots of ergonomically
shaped mice made by Logitec.

I meant at that time, Logitech's seemed to become more
popular around the MX series, though even those sloped down
more on the left-hand side.

None of them fit my hand very well and only
one or two had a right thumb button, but now I had to raise my thumb to use
is since it was near the top of the mouse. The M-BA47 had it near the
bottom where my thumb naturally rests - putting it neat the top would cause
strain and that is what I was trying to avoid.


was that a cordless version of the M-BA47?

Yes, though I don't recall the model #, think it was an
iTouch Freedom Navigator set or something like that, looked
like this,
http://www.3dgameman.com/vr/logitech_cordless_k_&_m/logitech_cordless_k_&_m_02.jpg
http://www.3dgameman.com/vr/logitech_cordless_k_&_m/logitech_cordless_k_&_m_04.jpg
Source of pics,
http://www.3dgameman.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=48

 

[The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan]

I meant at that time, Logitech's seemed to become more
popular around the MX series, though even those sloped down
more on the left-hand side.


Yes, though I don't recall the model #, think it was an
iTouch Freedom Navigator set or something like that, looked
like this,
http://www.3dgameman.com/vr/logitech_cordless_k_&_m/logitech_cordless_k_&_m_02.jpg
http://www.3dgameman.com/vr/logitech_cordless_k_&_m/logitech_cordless_k_&_m_04.jpg
Source of pics,
http://www.3dgameman.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=48

Those pics look quite similar to the M-BA47. It does not look identical,
but it is a very close match.

As an aside, I am a klutzy typist and I always liked the keyboards that were
popular in the late 1980's that had an enter key that was about 3 times the
size of the ones found on today's keyboards. I often hit a "\" or a "]"
key and miss the enter key entirely. I wish that had been the standard that
won out.

 

[Guest]

When I bought my Dell system 6 years ago, it came with a Logitech M-BA47
mouse. The design of that mouse was the best I have ever used.

I went to an optical mouse because the M-BA47 started acting funky. I
cleaned the rollers several times and the ball, etc, but it would start
acting up again - cursor not moving exactly where I wanted it.

There's a narrow, spring-loaded 3rd roller that maintains pressure
against the ball, and it should be cleaned too. The slotted wheels
spin past optical emitters/sensors that can clog from dust and should
be blown out with air, but really bad dust may need to be sprayed with
electronic parts cleaner (first test it on styrofoam since some
dissolve plastics; cleaners based primarily on ethyl or isopropyl
alcohol are usually safe). Sometimes an optical emitter/sensor
develops a cracked solder joint, but this may not be visible except
under magnification and strong light. Another possibility trouble
spot is that the cord, which typically breaks where it enters the mouse
or at the round connector. If you substitute a cord from another
mouse, beware that each is wired differently, and you'll have to use an
ohm meter to sort out the wires.

 

[The poster formerly known as Colleyville Alan]

There's a narrow, spring-loaded 3rd roller that maintains pressure
against the ball, and it should be cleaned too. The slotted wheels
spin past optical emitters/sensors that can clog from dust and should
be blown out with air, but really bad dust may need to be sprayed with
electronic parts cleaner (first test it on styrofoam since some
dissolve plastics; cleaners based primarily on ethyl or isopropyl
alcohol are usually safe). Sometimes an optical emitter/sensor
develops a cracked solder joint, but this may not be visible except
under magnification and strong light. Another possibility trouble
spot is that the cord, which typically breaks where it enters the mouse
or at the round connector. If you substitute a cord from another
mouse, beware that each is wired differently, and you'll have to use an
ohm meter to sort out the wires.

Thanks for the info!