Tip of the Day #19 – 4/1/09

This tip is just for BlackBerry users with Pearl 81xx’s, Curve 83xx’s, and 88xx’s.

Level: Intermediate (if you aren’t comfortable with replacing parts.)

Tip of the Day #19 - How to replace your trackball – Everyone’s trackball will get to the point where getting it damp and cleaning it off no longer works, in fact I am about there with my Bold.  So what do you do?  You can send it out to get replaced, which costs a lot, or you can buy a trackball and change it yourself in under a minute.  Now this tip is just for users with Pearl 81xx’s, Curve 83xx’s, and 88xx’s because newer trackball devices require you to take apart the whole device.  So here is how to change the first generation trackball devices:

Step 1. Removing your trackball - This is easiest with a fingernail, but if you don’t have sufficeint nails, then you can use something thin like a small screw driver.  First from the edge of the silver ring around the trackball pry it up from any side.  It will pop right off.

Step 2. Once the ring is off, turn the phone over and the trackball will fall right out.

Step 3. Putting the new trackball in – you will see that on the bracket of the trackball, there are 3 sides with little prongs.  The side without them is the top (screen side).  Put the trackball in the empty space.

Step 4. The ring will go back on the same way.  The side without the prongs is the top and this will just snap back in.

Now you are done and your trackball will work like new.  It will also be very bright since there is no dirt on it yet.