T41 Broken left hinge questions: Need to remove screen? Etc.

[TKuser]

I'm adding yet another left hinge topic to the forum.

The silver hinge part cracked diagonally along its horizontal flat part. The portion that the screen should swivel within apparently got stuck in one position, and now it insists on moving with the screen - hence the other portion cracked when I opened the lid. See these two photos:
http://216.92.39.83/fma/extra/left-hinge-front.jpg
http://216.92.39.83/fma/extra/left-hinge-top.jpg

I've studied the Hardware Maintenance Manual, and read through many of the past posts here on the subject. I see I need part 91P8388, which can be had for about $20 with shipping. Some posts mention a quality issue between different makers of hinges, but that may not have applied to the T4x part.

I'm not totally sure which parts I need to disassemble to do this repair. "1200 LCD assembly for 14.1-in. LCD models" (which includes HDD, keyboard, bluetooth/modem, palm rest, mini PCI adapter, and keyboard bezel), or also "2010 LCD front bezel for 14.1-in. LCD models"?

I'm wondering if there's a way to avoid doing all those parts, but I'm guessing not, since ultimately I'm going to have to run the antenna cables all over again, and they pass through this hinge.

Looks like 25 screws come out in all! Is it OK to keep reusing the same screws, in spite of the HMM's warnings that the nylon-coated screws shouldn't be reused? What the heck is "tamper resistant torx head screw (TR7)" (under 1100 Palm Rest)? Does anyone use torque drivers?

How important are the screw caps/covers (which might not reattach successfully)?

Thanks for any support/advice!

[RealBlackStuff]

You'll need to take the front bezel of the lid, and then remove all the screws on the left side of the LCD only. On the right side, just loosen up the (outside)screws holding the LCD to give the whole lot some flexibility.
You'll also need to take off the keyboard and upper keyboard bezel.
That should allow you to swap the hinge.

Buy some two-sided sellotape/scotch tape, put the screw covers on that, use a small pair of scissors to cut the tape to size, and reuse.

[underclocker]

I've been through this many times. The most time consuming parts of the repair are 1) removing the keyboard, palmrest, keyboard bezel, and 2) removing the LCD bezel. Since you definitely have to do both to swap the hinge, you might as well remove the entire LCD assembly.

Once your at the point of changing the hinge in place (as you are proposing), you're really only two hinge screws, the LCD connector and screw, and the wifi antenna clips, away from taking off the whole assembly. It will be much easier and safer to swap the hinge once the assembly is removed. The LCD is somewhat fragile and one wrong bend or slip of the screwdriver can damage it.

Sorry you have to go through this, it's not hard but it is time consuming and there are lots of parts to track. You can reuse everything. If you're careful removing the screw covers, you can reuse them at least one time. No issue with reusing screws. While you have the cover open, take the time to tighten the hinge screws on both sides, they tend to loosen over time.

I also find it's helpful to take a couple of pictures as you go along. It's hard to remember exactly how the antennas were routed, etc.

Good luck!

[TKuser]

Thanks! Yeah, I do intend to take a lot of photos, and also make little labelled holders for each set of screws as they come out.

Any opinions about the various hinge replacements that are offered all around the internet? Are they all basically the same, or are some inferior?

I do think I have to buy a new screwdriver, though...my last one got somewhat stripped when trying to remove and replace a screw on the underside of this computer (one that holds the Trackpoint in place) while removing the keyboard. That screw hole was awful! I finally gave up on it and stuck in a shorter screw instead. I simply couldn't get any screw of the right length to go in very far.

I have a dead T23 in storage (failed system board). Maybe if this procedure is successful, I'll have confidence to get around to finding a replacement board and then resurrecting that machine.

[TKuser]

I ordered replacement hinges. I am looking them over, and I'm a little confused: Should they be able to swivel? They seem completely stiff like they wouldn't be able to, and I don't see how that could possibly work once inside the screen. I don't want to break them trying.

On the cylindrical part (where I would expect twist to be possible), it looks like it might be wrapped in black electrical tape. Perhaps this is to be removed, and is holding things in position at present?

Thanks for any insight!

[CoffeeBeans]

Just curious, how did you crack the hinge, did you drop the TP or did you break it just by opening and closing the lid?

[sjthinkpader]

The left hinge on my work T41 broke also. We always have onsite coverage so a tech came out and replaced it.

Looking at how the hinge foot was made and the place that broke, it is a rather weak point. Powder metal technology they used in this piece is hard to get uniform strength in such a complex shape.

[virge]

I ordered replacement hinges. I am looking them over, and I'm a little confused: Should they be able to swivel? They seem completely stiff like they wouldn't be able to, and I don't see how that could possibly work once inside the screen. I don't want to break them trying.

On the cylindrical part (where I would expect twist to be possible), it looks like it might be wrapped in black electrical tape. Perhaps this is to be removed, and is holding things in position at present?

Thanks for any insight!

I think that "black electrical tape" is supposed to be there. I've found that hinges always seem too tight if you're holding them in your hands. Keep in mind that once installed in the lid you'll be pushing on them from the ends-- the increase in distance from the fulcrum will make the amount of force a lot smaller.

[exTPfan]

I've had two left hinges break just as TKuser's. With the second one, I simply superglued it back together. That was 2 months ago, and so far it's worked fine (I'm fairly careful with it though).

[TKuser]

It just broke by opening the lid. As others have mentioned, it's a weak spot.

I considered superglue! But the real project is in taking the whole computer and screen apart just to get to the hinge. I am still awaiting the available day when I can do this and not misplace a screw or something.

Thanks to everyone for the info!

[RealBlackStuff]

If you are worried about misplacing a screw, do what I do:
Take a sheet of paper, take the first screw out, write down from where, and use scotchtape to stick the screw next to your text. Do this for all screws/bits. Write down extra info if required.
You could even number each of your actions.
When reassembling, just work your way backwards.
I have taken so many T23s apart, that I eventually typed it all in, and made a printable template/document.
Nowadays I take a T23 fully apart in less than 10 minutes.

[crudder]

Can anyone tell me where to actually order the hinge? I have a T42 with a broken left hinge; it broke in the same way TKuser's did.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[TKuser]

http://www.thinkpad-parts.com/91P8388-ThinkPad.html