Fixing palm rest squeak advice?

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krymson · #1 Post by **krymson** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:22 pm

I just got a T41 2373. I like it a lot, a good upgrade from my previous R40 2897. I bought it used on eBay and it's almost perfect(even has a thai keyboard!) but the right palmrest creaks when I type.

Searching the forums, the fix is apparently to remove the bezel and put a business card or thin piece of foam under the affected area.

Before I do this I want to know: I looked in the manual for the procedure and it looks like you have to remove nylon screws. When I put everything back together, can I use (blue) loctite rather than buying nylon screws from IBM? Also, no one has detalied instructions about putting a napkin/business card in there. Is it that simple?

Regards,
krymson

Thinkpaddict · #2 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:38 pm

krymson wrote:When I put everything back together, can I use (blue) loctite rather than buying nylon screws from IBM?

First of all, try and see if you can slightly (don't force it) tighten any screws that may fix your creak.

What is blue loctite? Is it some sort of glue? If so, forget about it! You have two options: either buy a nylon screw set from IBM (about $35.00 if memory doesn't fail me), or reuse your existing screws. If you take them out carefully they should be completely functional.

Regards

pipspeak · #3 Post by **pipspeak** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:01 pm

I actually fixed the squeaking on my T40 by loosening the screws ever so slightly rather than tightening them. Try quarter turns on different screws, both loosening and tightening, and see what makes a difference.

Not sure what loctite will do with nylon screws. I only ever use it with metal on metal situations where I know it won't bind permanently.

stevepre2005 · #4 Post by **stevepre2005** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:27 pm

The real fix is to open up the machine, cut a scotch tape around 1 inch long, and 0.5 cm wide. Put the scotch tape on the place indicated.
...

well....but how do I post an image? (very small....43K....extracted from nrj45's image)

krymson · #5 Post by **krymson** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:40 pm

I tried tightening screws and unfortunately it did jackity crap. The plastic bezel with the palmrest/touchpad is solidly connected with the rest of the laptop, it just seems to have an area with less support, so I think it really does need to be opened up and filled in.

I just opened up the laptop and started taking things apart(you're supposed to take out the keyboard and hard drive to get to the palm rest) but wussed out right before I started taking apart the palm rest.

There are these tiny plastic plastic screw covers for some of the palm rest screws and they're held on by glue, and I'm afraid of taking them off to get to the nylon coated screws, and I'm also afraid that taking apart the palm rest and sticking tape/card/napkin inside will void my warranty, since the covers and nylon screws make it seem like this isn't CRU(customer replaceable) stuff.

I reached support in Atlanta and they said that I could get this fixed under warranty at a local hardware service center, but Lenovo's website seems to indicate the local service centers only service desktops.

stevepre2005 · #6 Post by **stevepre2005** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:51 pm

I circle the place where all you need to do is place an scotch tape on top of it in an image. If anybody can have a place for me to post that image......or I can send e-mail to whoever wants it.

dssjon · #7 Post by **dssjon** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:42 pm

my left palm rest creaks right where the pcmcia slot it. . . im wondering, if i put some foam padding or something similar in there to stop it will i void my warranty?

#8 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 2:04 am

stevepre2005 wrote:I circle the place where all you need to do is place an scotch tape on top of it in an image. If anybody can have a place for me to post that image......or I can send e-mail to whoever wants it.

email me the image and i'll post it on my web site for those who want to view it..
and i'll put a link to it in your post..

stevepre2005 · #9 Post by **stevepre2005** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:53 am

I took a picture from my laptop instead of using nrj45's picture so you can actually see how I apply the scotch tape. And I add comments on that image so that you can see the source of the noise.

The noise is from the gap and the ridge above it (under the Palm rest which I didn't post the image of , but you can easily see it).

Picture sent to Bill, and he's gonna post it. Thanks Bill.

Hope this helps.

I have no idea of the "left" Palm rest since it's not happening in my laptop.

wiesl · #10 Post by **wiesl** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:15 am

krymson wrote:I just got a T41 2373. I like it a lot, a good upgrade from my previous R40 2897. I bought it used on eBay and it's almost perfect(even has a thai keyboard!) but the right palmrest creaks when I type.

Searching the forums, the fix is apparently to remove the bezel and put a business card or thin piece of foam under the affected area.

Before I do this I want to know: I looked in the manual for the procedure and it looks like you have to remove nylon screws. When I put everything back together, can I use (blue) loctite rather than buying nylon screws from IBM? Also, no one has detalied instructions about putting a napkin/business card in there. Is it that simple?

Regards,
krymson

Do you have the same problem as I had?
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=14163

Ciao,
Wiesl

#11 Post by **Kyocera** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:01 pm

I would sure like to see the illustration if possible, my t42 creaks a little.

stevepre2005 · #12 Post by **stevepre2005** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:45 pm

image file sent to Bill already.
Not sure why he hasn't published.

Michael1980 · #13 Post by **Michael1980** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:34 pm

dssjon wrote:my left palm rest creaks right where the pcmcia slot it. . . im wondering, if i put some foam padding or something similar in there to stop it will i void my warranty?

Did you try putting some PCMCIA card in there? I notice that since there is no "dummy" when it is empty there is less support. I have now put there my BT and a card reader and it seems tougher.

agarza · #14 Post by **agarza** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:37 pm

My T41p left area of the palmrest creaks a lot when applying pressure where a slight curvature of the palmrest is (pressing from the edge to about 3-4cm moving to the right).

I dont think a credit card will fit between the palmrest and the PCMCIA casing. I've tried putting a wireless pcmcia card, but the creak is still there. any suggestions are welcome

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