Thinkpad T61 Hinge Wobble

[dcfbf]

I recently bought a 15 inch T61 and I noticed that the hinge had a wobble to it. I had tightened the screws that connect the hinge to the main chassis but it still wobbles. I read some other forum posts and saw that people have fixed this problem with superglue. But I don't want to do this method because I don't feel comfortable using superglue on my hinges(I have shaky hands) and that this would only last for a few months. Is there a different method to fixing this wobble that doesn't require supergluing the hinges?

[dr_st]

That generation suffered from wobbly hinges. In most cases other than wobble, there were no problems. Rarely they actually broke. There is no fix other than replacing the hinges, but unless it really bothers you - might as well leave it alone.

[dcfbf]

Alright yeah I think I will just leave it alone then. I really just wanted this to have fun with it since I have other machines to do work with. I don't want to ruin the screw covers on the lcd if there is no other fix other than replacing the hinges.

[TPFanatic]

A small pointed knife has been my most effective tool for the screw covers, they can have good survivability and can be re-used.

I just refurbed my old T500 with a “new” left hinge since its original was 100% slop. I don’t know how I survived using it like this. Even with the “new” hinge it has about 5 degrees of slop.

[kfzhu1229]

I recently bought a 15 inch T61 and I noticed that the hinge had a wobble to it. I had tightened the screws that connect the hinge to the main chassis but it still wobbles. I read some other forum posts and saw that people have fixed this problem with superglue. But I don't want to do this method because I don't feel comfortable using superglue on my hinges(I have shaky hands) and that this would only last for a few months. Is there a different method to fixing this wobble that doesn't require supergluing the hinges?

You mean the 15.4" widescreen T61 right? AFAIK the 4:3 T6x use a very similar hinge design to the T4x which don't wear/fail in this manner.
but yeah I was the one that superglued the t61 14.1" widescreen hinges. Shaky hands aren't actually a problem with this approach, but I find the consistency and quality of the superglue you use can make the result vary wildly, and also the amount of slop you have in the hinges as well. I have some such repairs on other machines that is still good after 2+ years while there are a few that lasted like 3-4 months.
On that T61 of mine, some slop did return but it's nowhere near as much as it first did. Then again that machine is in incredibly poor condition and almost begs to be put out of misery.

[dcfbf]

You mean the 15.4" widescreen T61 right?

Yeah I have the widescreen version.

Shaky hands aren't actually a problem with this approach, but I find the consistency and quality of the superglue you use can make the result vary wildly, and also the amount of slop you have in the hinges as well

Hmm if shaky hands aren't going to be a problem, maybe I will try to superglue it. My wobble isn't that bad and it can still hold in place somewhat so it should last for a while. Is there a specific brand that you recommend?

[kfzhu1229]

Hmm if shaky hands aren't going to be a problem, maybe I will try to superglue it. My wobble isn't that bad and it can still hold in place somewhat so it should last for a while. Is there a specific brand that you recommend?

The brand I get over here is Krazy superglue. It is reasonably strong, it is very watery and dries very quickly, which is suitable for this application (unless your wobble is big enough you can easily insert a flat head screwdriver into the empty space inside the hinge mechanism or something)
Locate the openings on the far ends, the far left and far right ends of each of the hinge, visible after you detach the rear cover from the frame/hinge.
Lubricate the hinges first. If you don't make sure they're lubricated you could seize them completely.
If you want the absolute minimum chance of a mess, remove the hinge from both sides. It is not necessary but just in case it spills all over. Then you apply drops of superglue while you wiggle the hinges and poke with a tiny screwdriver to make sure they seep in as far as they'll go. Keep an eye to make sure they aren't spilling straight out of the other side. Stop dripping when either that happens or the cavity is more or less filled. Leave it at the position and dry for at the very least 10 minutes. The first turn may be pretty stiff and then it gets more natural after a few turns.

[dcfbf]

I somehow managed to pull it off with only one broken clip. (The service manual never stated that they glued on part of the screen bezel so I pull hard) I don't think enough superglue was added though because it is still wobbling a bit, albeit a lot less than before. Thanks for helping me though, this fix is really great since I didn't have to go and buy another hinge that will have the same problem.

[dr_st]

Great that it worked. Some wobble is OK, I guess. The 15" T4x/T60 hinges seemed to always develop some play within ~2 years of assembly, which would cause the lid to wobble a bit when in the open (around 90 degrees) position. Both my systems exhibit this, but it does not affect lid stability and does not get worse over time. If the T61 hinges after the superglue fix are like this, to me that would be as good as it gets.

[kfzhu1229]

Great that it worked. Some wobble is OK, I guess. The 15" T4x/T60 hinges seemed to always develop some play within ~2 years of assembly, which would cause the lid to wobble a bit when in the open (around 90 degrees) position. Both my systems exhibit this, but it does not affect lid stability and does not get worse over time. If the T61 hinges after the superglue fix are like this, to me that would be as good as it gets.

Ye and on the other hand my experience with the ThinkPad R40 (15") hinges is that when those hinges start to wobble it really starts to feel spongey and unconvincing, feels like the hinge is about to snap. I end up tearing the entire thing apart both on the palmrest side and the bottom side and thoroughly tightened all of the screws and then it got a lot better.

[wujstefan]

That generation suffered from wobbly hinges. In most cases other than wobble, there were no problems. Rarely they actually broke. There is no fix other than replacing the hinges, but unless it really bothers you - might as well leave it alone.

This... is not entirely true

I somehow managed to pull it off with only one broken clip. (The service manual never stated that they glued on part of the screen bezel so I pull hard) I don't think enough superglue was added though because it is still wobbling a bit, albeit a lot less than before. Thanks for helping me though, this fix is really great since I didn't have to go and buy another hinge that will have the same problem.

Next time try using a screw thread glue - Loctite (I was using 243). Most of the hinges can be repaired this way. I only failed with G40 and G41 hinges, but for R60, T43, Z-series, T430 and couple of others this did work just fine. It just takes some (lots of) time and nerve. Plus equipment, but not especially tricky to get I was able to execute all the wobble in mentioned hinges. Some couple of tries... a little bit too much though, and the hinge lost the wobble as well as any movement ^^'

[kfzhu1229]

Next time try using a screw thread glue - Loctite (I was using 243). Most of the hinges can be repaired this way. I only failed with G40 and G41 hinges, but for R60, T43, Z-series, T430 and couple of others this did work just fine. It just takes some (lots of) time and nerve. Plus equipment, but not especially tricky to get I was able to execute all the wobble in mentioned hinges. Some couple of tries... a little bit too much though, and the hinge lost the wobble as well as any movement ^^'

Loctite is useful against hinge screws that keeps coming loose and make your hinge wobble, but in the case of the widescreen T61 and T400/T500, the wobble is NOT only coming from the screws, but mainly the hinge mechanism itself, and that's what I do the superglue trick for. But still loctite can be useful on top of this cure.
Be careful about using loctite directly onto screws that screw into brass threads though, it is possible you won't be able to get the screw out again without ripping the brass thread out.

[dr_st]

That generation suffered from wobbly hinges. In most cases other than wobble, there were no problems. Rarely they actually broke. There is no fix other than replacing the hinges, but unless it really bothers you - might as well leave it alone.

This... is not entirely true

Yes, I've seen the advice in this thread and referenced information, and realized that my knowledge had become outdated. It's great to realize that new methods and solutions are developed and perfected by the community, more than a decade (and for certain models - more than two decades!) since their original release.

[kfzhu1229]

yeah for the hinge design that's used on these models, that is borrowed from what typically Dell would use on their latitudes, there is kinda a balance of what to fail first when the hinge gets overly stiff from the lack of lubrication.
On the widescreen ThinkPads with that hinge design, if the hinge gets overly stiff, it seems that the LCD magnesium cage will snap instead as that is clearly the weak spot.
On another model with a rigid full magnesium lid such as the Latitude D800, D620/D630, or in the case of D600 a hinge that's way too small for the given load, the hi-tensile steel casing of the hinge would burst open when the hinge gets overly stiff.
On a model like the D820/D830 that has sturdy everything, the hinges would just keep on working even when it feels like it isn't closing when you put another T61 on top of the lid
On the 14.1" T4x that doesn't use this design, the hinge itself feels pretty smooth and all, but unfortunately the left hinge's steel casing is too hollow on the inside to allow the antennae to pass through and with repeated stress that can come apart instead.

[Glaurung-quena]

You mean the 15.4" widescreen T61 right? AFAIK the 4:3 T6x use a very similar hinge design to the T4x which don't wear/fail in this manner.

I've refurbished several 4:3 T61's, and sadly almost all of them have had a more wobbly screen than is usual in, say, a t60.

[kfzhu1229]

I've refurbished several 4:3 T61's, and sadly almost all of them have had a more wobbly screen than is usual in, say, a t60.

Huh and it's not due to loose screws? I am working on a fleet of X61s and for the ones that had wobbly hinges those were all screws issues, I fastened them and it's all good. For the widescreen versions tightening the screws do very little to actually fix the problem.

[TPFanatic]

the t61-t500 design is prone to internal wobbling, i want to put blame on the excessive weight of the internal structure frame design. i've also encountered the freezing left hinge on 4:3 t61 and t500, but not yet on other models.

on my x230 the hinges themselves like to unscrew themselves from the base case. next time they come out im giving the screws a baptism in loctite.

[kfzhu1229]

i've also encountered the freezing left hinge on 4:3 t61 and t500, but not yet on other models.

on my x230 the hinges themselves like to unscrew themselves from the base case. next time they come out im giving the screws a baptism in loctite.

The left hinge on 14.1" T4x also like to deform and snap after a lot of use. Probably because IBM made it hollow and made the hull too thin to allow the 2 antennae to route through it. 15" hinges each have one antenna routing through each side.
The hinges on 4:3 models like my recently acquired X61s can feel very spongey because of loose screws. On the 4:3 models IBM/Lenovo did not put any redundant screws, by the hinges there's only one screw that screws the hinge onto the lid and it also goes through the lcd bezel, so you can't overtighten that (or else you crack the LCD bezel). The widescreen designs seem to have at least one redundant screw that doesn't go through the lcd bezel to better withhold the weight.
Oh and the LCD bezel design on my X61s is absolutely crazy, worked through them yesterday and it's not mentioned exactly how on the manual but the clips on the top side all have their own shapes and it took an eternity for me to clip that back on without breaking a single clip.

[Glaurung-quena]

I've refurbished several 4:3 T61's, and sadly almost all of them have had a more wobbly screen than is usual in, say, a t60.

Huh and it's not due to loose screws? I am working on a fleet of X61s and for the ones that had wobbly hinges those were all screws issues, I fastened them and it's all good. For the widescreen versions tightening the screws do very little to actually fix the problem.

Not the screws, no, sadly, it's the hinges on all of the ones with wobble so far.