Sometimes it won't go down, sometimes to one side or the other... Feels different, rather smooth, when it won't work. Issue started just over the last few days. The unit has been in moderate service since April of this year - model 8310 from AT&T.

Common issue, common fix?

Thx
Vince

Very likely a dirty trackball socket: lint, dust and whatever.

Do you carry yours in your pocket or purse withOUT any holster?

Check one of the many trackball cleaning threads here, it's simple and probably what you need.

Press and hold the mute key on the top. That puts the device in standby. Then push and roll the ball at the same time in all directions until whatever is lodged in there breaks free.

mmm i have a rather different problem, I too have a wheel that is acting funny BUT it rolls fine. It only acts up when i am taking a picture, i simply cant zoom in or out! Any ideas?

My first suggestion is to correct your profile, as you do not have a 8310 on Verizon.

Battery Pull fixes that for me every time. With the unit turned on, pull the battery, wait 30 sec., then reinsert. Let it boot and that should solve your problem. It's software not hardware to blame.

Happens to me often, but its from gunk that accumulates underneath the ball on the rollers - clean the rollers with alcohol, if problem persists, do as i do, change the trackball - its not expensive, and usually does the trick.
These balls are made of a rubber/plastic compound and tend to wear down with heavy usage. Lots of emails, and stuf will do it...

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Wirelessly posted (BB 11020)

Yep, a quick battery pull fixes this issue.