On Aug 11, 2011, at 10:39 AM, Jörg Duurkoop wrote: > Hi, > > My Mighty Mouse doesn't scroll down anymore, only up, the buttons all > work. How can I open the darn thing and have a look? Or should I just > forget about scrolling down and get a PC mouse? I'm using Tiger on a > MDD Dual 1.25.
This is perhaps the most common problem for a Mighty Mouse. Apple's advice is to turn the MM upside down and briskly rub the trackball (track pea, actually) back and forth, around and around, and up and down on a shirt. I prefer using a microfiber cloth. You may have to do this for quite a while before the scrolling returns to normal function. I do it right next to my iMac so I can see when the cursor starts moving correctly. The object of this "cleaning" exercise is to transfer the dust/body oil/dead skin cell/whatever clump inside the MM to the fabric you're rubbing the MM on. If rubbing the MM on a dry cloth doesn't work, try doing it on a slightly moist cloth that's been soaked in isopropyl alcohol and then wrung out. The alcohol will dissolve or loosen the oil that's binding things together. However, be aware that isopropyl alcohol usually is sold in 70 percent and 90 percent solutions. The rest of the contents of the bottle is water. When the alcohol evaporates, the water is left behind, and it *will* corrode the copper contacts that enable the ability of the trackball to select Dashboard and other apps when the trackball is pressed down. So go very easy on the use of isopropyl alcohol. I rarely use it. If all else fails, the MM can be opened up for a thorough cleaning. Using a single-edge razor blade or a thin knife, insert it into the joint between the top shell and the thin bezel along the bottom. There are about 10 spots around the mouse where that slim bezel is glued with dots of Super Glue-like material. Your goal is to severe those glue points one by one until they're all popped. Then lift off the top shell and disassemble the MM … carefully. The movable bottom pops out of clips on either side. Note how the ribbons are routed, etc. The trackball assembly can be removed, disassembled, cleaned and reassembled. Be very cautious and pay attention to how the little rollers and other tiny bits are oriented during disassembly so you can get it all back together correctly. I've used very sparing dots of Super Glue to put the bezel back on the top shell. I've also used general purpose plastic solvent cement found in hobby shops. The brand I'm using right now is Plastruct. It literally melts and bonds ABS, styrene, butyrate and acrylic plastics to itself or each other. Only small dots should be used. Use too much and you'll mar the visible exterior surface of the MM. Have fun! -- Jim Scott -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
