The BEST Set of Replacement Screws for your Thinkpad T4X 15"

[dt911]

This is not a commercial post, nor is it a for-profit venture. I had a horrible experience whereby IBM Easy-Serv left me with 5 stripped-out screw heads on my Thinkpad T43P, and I had to remedy it myself. (see my post here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=91965) After having to drill out some screws, grind out some others, and cut slots into heads, I had decided that I never wanted to do that again and I went in search of a better solution. Another original set of screws would have set me back $22, and we already know that they are no good. I purchased a non-original set from ebay for about $8, but those were even more disappointing... One of the heads actually broke off before the screw was even driven all the way home. Alas, I began scouring the internet on my quest for hex-socket screws. In order to accumulate all of the necessary sizes, I ended up spending about $91 (plus shipping) with McMaster Carr. Many of the screws were only available in quantities of 100, so I am left with enough extra screws to re-build 4 machines. I am only doing this to recover some of my costs, and hopefully help out other members. If you're an anal-retentive techno-geek like myself, you will really appreciate the ease of working with these screws.
According to the Thinkpad Hardware Maintenance manual, this kit should include all of the necessary screws for the 15" versions of the Thinkpad T41, T42 and T43 machines, models 2669,2678,2679,2686 and 2687. It should also have MOST of the screws for the 14" LCD models, but there are a few differences. I can only verify that this kit is complete for the 15" T43P model 2687, so please check the hardware maintenance manual for your exact model before ordering. Please note that the M2x3mm screws included for the LCD panel sit a little bit higher than the originals. They work fine, but I needed to add a little rubber cement to my screw covers to keep them in place. I did not encounter any other problems with fit or compatibility, and I found that my machine was tighter and more solid than it had ever been.

• -These are NOT the crappy original IBM screws found in FRU#13R2916

• -These are NOT the crappy generic screws that are all over ebay for $5-$7/ set

• -These ARE all 18-8 Stainless Steel socket screws (with one exception, the M2.5x3mm button screws do not come in stainless)

• -Hex Heads provide maximum resistance to stripping

• -1.3mm and 1.5mm Hex Wrenches are included

• -Hard Drive Screws are NOT included

• -2mm Hex-Key NOT included, but is common to most household sets. Required for the 2 m2.5 screws.

• -I have limited quantities of extra screws, and will be happy to accomodate custom orders. Please email for availability.

Set Includes:

• m2x14mm Cap (10) Palm Rest

• m2x4mm Cap (20) PC Card Slots, Serial Port, System Board, LCD, Ultrabay

• m2x10mm Flat (25) Keyboard, Modem/Bluetooth, System Fan, LCD, Ultrabay, System Board, *Speaker Assembly

• m2x5mm Flat (10) Memory Cover, Palm Rest, PC Card Slots, Ultrabay

• m2x12mm Flat (4) LCD, System Board, **Speaker Assembly

• m2x3mm Cap (20) LCD, Ultrabay

• m2.5x3mm Button (2) DC Jack (this is the only non-stainless screw in the kit)

• m2.5x5mm Cap (2) Chassis near USB ports

• m2 Nut and Washer (2ea) Not required, but handy if you lose your acme-type nut on the Ultrabay

• 1.3mm Hex-Key for Flat Head Screws

• 1.5mm Hex-Key for 2mm Cap Screws

*substitute original speaker assembly screw (1a) 2x10mm Small Head Screw with included 2x10mm Flat Head Screw
**substitute original speaker assembly screw (1b) 2x14mm Small Head Screw with included 2x12mm Flat Head Screw

$20.00, with shipping included in continental U.S. Paypal only please.
Please take a look at my ebay feedback (dt911) if you have any concerns.

[ausmike]

Giday DT*....
Sorry to hear about your 'screws rant" and I am in fact a bit shocked!!

I for one would support any chance for user to get 'stuck into' USA DEPOT REPAIR screw for leaving out those darn ‘screws’!! Over last 12+ yrs of using/abusing lots of various THINKPADS I have a couple of sets of screws being left out on laptops - and YET NEVER SEEN A HEAD STRIPPED or even heard of head being stripped. Some of the earlier models didn’t even had the now famous ROLL CAGE made of alum/titanium.

I also read your previous thread of 2007; did you ever actually call back and "COMPLAIN" to the SUPPORT SUPERVISOR? I have had on occasion (once) refused to accept the damage done to my laptop and IBM/Lenovo ended up REPLACEING the WHOLE UNIT (t60p-Flexview). On this time - they had left a metal screw INSIDE the cage and it shorted out various parts and yes there was even SMOKE!! lol

Screws - to the point that someone would source a new-set with different 'heads'. As these scfrews are small and it’s often prone to 'over-tightening' etc. thus resulting in more damage than good. AFAIK most parts in base and around the keyboard often 'click-together' and screws are merely there as a secure - a secure retainer

Excellent set I must say - however I don’t see myself carrying a set of ALLEN KEYS around with me in my TRAVELS - as currently the SLOTTED HEADS are very easy to open - I have even used a normal bread knife from hotel restaurant/room service to open most of the screws ( yes I know there are a few set deeper)
yes my Older (4) T40s machiens are already donated to charity and i dont see the T6x series going out of use anytime soon!

[dt911]

Mike,
Thanks for your reply. I did not call back to complain to that support supervisor, but I did follow it further up the chain. On my T43, it would seem that every part is structural, and the screws are a necessity. In looking back, I would say that there probably were some missing screws, as well as the stripped screws, after its last visit to the depot. I never really paid attention until I needed to service the machine. The one screw in the frame member, however, was so badly stripped that it could have only been done by a power tool. There was no evidence that it had even been a philips-head screw, only a perfectly smooth, concave dimple in the head.
The allen keys are certainly less convenient, but you will strip-off the allen key itself long before the head is rendered useless. In case I ever have to open the machine again, I want it to be quick and painless. As far as I'm concerned, nobody should need a drill or a dremel tool to get into a Thinkpad. I'm sure I'm not the only one to have experienced this sort of thing. Perhaps I'm just crazy, but I want my machine to be as good as it can be.

[ausmike]

DT*...
well now I know WHO to call/PM when i get any screws missing!

Cheers ; and happy turkey day!

[ArtShapiro]

I'm a bit astonished by this whole thread, while impressed by the extreme solution.

What were "they" using - air impact wrenches borrowed from a Formula V pit crew???

I've never had any problems with Thinkpad screws, although I try to use top-quality Wiha screwdrivers. I can't imagine snapping the heads off.

I'm also curious about the use of Allen screws in this application. I had a recent run-in with relatively small Allens (I think 2.0mm, maybe 1.5mm) on Shimano Dura Ace bicycle brake shoes, and even after going out and purchasing the presumably-premium SnapOn tool I couldn't remove them without stripping. I question whether an Allen bolt of that size can take any torque whatsoever. Hex indentations of that minimal size have insufficient side area to withstand torque; it's too close to a circle to be useful, IMHO.

Art

[dt911]

Art,
I really wish I knew that they had used, but I sincerely hope that this particular tech has since found another line of work. Part of the problem may be that they never replaced the screws when servicing the machine, only reused the old ones. I couldn't imagine using a 1.5 or 2mm hex on bicycle brakes, but thankfully there isn't that much torque required here. I don't think surface area actually comes into play here, so much as the number of surfaces making contact. In any wrench to fastener application I have ever seen, the only contact is usually at the very corners and never along the flat surfaces. Regardless of the mechanics, I have found these screws to be a far superior alternative to the originals.

[ajkula66]

I've got to give it to you, this is a pretty unusual solution for the original problem...

If I were still selling stuff on feebay, I'd buy all of these and probably order a hundred more sets just to dissuade the customers from "improving" their ThinkPads and then attemtping to send them back once the damage is done...

Good luck with the sale.