Thinkpads Forum

My R61 has developed some slop on the right side where the screen connects to the vertical piece that sticks up from the base. I can grab the monitor on that side and move it back and forth, up and down, etc., as if the hole in the plastic has gotten bigger. I'm not sure if that is what has actually happened, but I don't think so, because there's another symptom. There is very little or no tension on that side to support the screen; the left side is doing all the work. If I push the screen back to about 135 degrees, it plops down onto the desk. It's as if a tension spring of some sort has moved, fallen out of place, or broken on that right side. Is it an easy fix, or should I look for an external means of supporting the screen at more radical angles? To me it looks like the front plastic bezel in the front of the screen would have to come off to get to this problem area, but I'm not sure. TIA.

Tony

T61/R61 hinges have always been a weak point.
To fix yours, replace both hinges at the same time.
The HMM has all the (illustrated) instructions.

Thanks, RBS, for the encouragement. I have the hdware manual and will take a look.

Okay, a few more questions re these hinges, please. I pried up the LCD panel's bezel down near the hinges, and I was able to see how the right side hinge was broken. I referred to the hardware manual and found the following listed for the hinges:


Kato 44C0930

Reel 44C0931


The "RoHS" ID for each is R, and the "CRU" ID for each is N (no idea what any of that means).

What do Kato and Reel mean? Is that the left and the right? I mean, do I order both of those parts to get left and right side?

Kato and Reel are different manufacturers.
The P/N includes both L and R hinges in a set.
Reel is supposedly better, but I don't know for sure.
Check this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=71081

^Thank you!

*** UPDATE ***

I bought a VISA gift card as I often do when ordering things online and attempted to order the hinges from a couple of online sources. I know the card was good, because I successfully paid with it to renew my website, but each of those sources (possibly affiliated with each other) sent me emails saying my card was declined. Naturally, this was frustrating, but I ended up calling another source in California and speaking to Steven. I told him about my experience with the card and asked him if he could run the card, get it to work somehow, and send me the part. He told me his minimum order is $100.00, but he would give me the name and number of his supplier, and I could try to order the hinge set directly from it for hopefully under $30.00. I called, the part was in stock, and the supplier was 37 miles from where I live open till 7pm!!!

I took a ride over there yesterday evening and picked up my part for $25.00! Today, I did the surgery, and it was a monumental success. My ThinkPad has new, strong hinges and works properly. The display/lid no longer flops back to hit the table or forward to hit the keyboard.

This is the second moderately difficult repair I've done. (The first was the fan -- twice replaced so far.) Here's a link to a pic of the completed project and the surgeon's tools. I circled the broken parts.

http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae96 ... 010005.jpg

I'd love to name the people from who helped me with the part, but I'm not sure if it's allowed on the board here.

Good to hear you got it sorted!
Next time all you need really is a small Phillips #1 screwdriver and something sharp to remove the screw covers...

As long as you don't have any financial ties to the companies/people you mention (e.g, you get a kickback for referrals or sales), then you should be fine with citing their companies/names.

Thanks RBS. You're right a nice philips head would have come in handy. I took the combo philips/straight blade screws out with the straight blade eyeglass drivers. And because the eyeglass screwdrivers didn't have very good grips, I sometimes grabbed them with the linesman pliers to break the tight screws! That didn't work too well. I used the philips on the swiss army knife for the non-combo screws. I used the razor knife to get the little adhesive covers off the screws on the display bezel, but I also use a larger screwdriver to gently pry the bezel off the display and adhesive after the screws were out.

Thanks for your support on this. The repair is a big deal to me. I know many of you guys have backup ThinkPads, but this one's my only computer.

Thanks, Ray. And no, I have no connection to the vendors.

I received TERRIFIC service from Steven Dector at affordablepcsupply.com. He's the one who pointed me in the right direction, to his supplier, which happened to be within driving distance from my home. I got the hinges from Cheever Industries in Holliston, MA -- fantastic supplier, fantastic price, immediate service.