Track & Field - Trackball to Buttons Conversion

Superully

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Track & Field - Trackball to Buttons Conversion

hey guys!

someone has offered me a t&f cabinet with trackballs, but since i prefer the button version (like everyone else ;)), i'm curious if i can simply exchange the trackball control panel for a version with buttons. or does the trackball version use different pcbs / a different wiring harness?

would be cool to have a definite answer before i commit to buy that thing ...

thx a lot for all your input!
 
I have a few T&F pcb's and have never heard one for a TB, of or seen a pinout that was specifically for trackball. From what I understand, the TB version of the Control panel is a completely different layout than the button version as well. A conversion would be difficult unless you were good at filling in the old holes and making all new ones for the run/jump buttons. But definitely the preferred method of game play.
 
Really stumped on this one.
I don't see any trackball info anywhere, nor does
mame have a separate rom -- while there is also no
dipswitch setting on the standard board nor pinout
shown for trackball inputs (+5,gnd,sense+/-).

Be sure to install a new CR2023 battery and holder
if this hasn't been done yet.

Hope your quest ends well. Post an update.
 
I think the trackball cp was an aftermarket kit. It should be able to convert back fairly easily. If you get them, how about posting some pictures and documentation for the next time this comes up.
 
On the subject of this and MAME. I have not figured out a way to play it with a trackball in MAME. Does anyone know if it is even possible? I prefer the buttons but wanted to try it with a trackball again just for kicks as the last time I played it that was was 25+ years ago.
 
Its been a while since I did it but you have to enable the mouse in the mame.ini than you can use the trackball on Trackball games. I haven't tried it on Track and Field but I'm thinking I will have to check that out now. You probably need to configure the game to use mouse or trackball.
 
My T&F originally had trackballs and I bought a button control panel to do a swap. If I remember correctly, it is a direct plug and play swap. This was probably a good 7-8 years ago, so I could be wrong, but I don't remember having to do anything other than unplug and plug in the new one.
I later sold the trackball panel and kind of regretted it for a while, but now love the buttons.
 
I just picked up a T&F with trackballs a couple of weeks ago. I really don't enjoy it as much as the button version. Way too easy. The main harness is the same regardless of CP version. The player 1 trackball has a pcb attached to it that translates the TB movements into button presses. I'm looking to swap mine out as soon as I find/make a replacement. The trackballs are in a bad spot for just drilling new holes. With the abuse a T&F control panel takes....
 
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