Thinkpad T61p (15.4") cleaning - Screws and tools

[JLLBVS]

Hello everyone,
I have to clean my T61p (15.4", 6460-D8G). It randomly reboots, and I suspect that dust is the main cause of the problem (the laptop is probably asphixiated by dust, and the fan "strangled")
I already have nearly all tools to disassemble and clean the laptop.
But some questions :
1°) I read on the T61P Hardware Maintenance Manual that dismounted screws had to be replaced with new ones. (and of course replaced if one or more are lost, what I'll try to avoid).
I found two different references on the T61P HMM :
- 42X4676 (124 screws)
- 95F3598
I don't understand the difference between these two kits. So, please, try to explain to me if you know the answer.
Note that these kits are no more available as spare parts from Lenovo, the T61p being obviously too old and no more manufactured.

2°) I read also that a torque screwdriver was needed and that an accurate torque force (0.167, 0.189 or 0.392 Nm) had to be applied on the screws. Is it absolutely essential to screw them exactly with these torque forces ? What if I screw them with a simple appropriate screwdriver (I have all of them) ?
Moreover, torque screwdrivers calibrated to apply these very low forces are very rare (no more than one or two models) and hard to find.

3°) Although the price of these screw kits is not high, shipping and customs are shockingly expensive!
Shipping and custom costs to France are nearly two or three times the price of the screw kit itself.
And, last, of course, they can't be found in France. Do you know how I could pay a decent shipping/custom price for these screws ? Or buy them somewhere else in Europe (UK or Germany).

Many thanks for your help.
Kind regards from France

[RealBlackStuff]

Take those HMM items with a grain of salt.

No need to buy new screws, reuse the old ones.

Before you remove any screws, turn the laptop over, and make a drawing of the bottom, with all the screw positions marked on it.
After you remove a screw, tape it on that drawing on its proper spot.
That way you know exactly which screw goes where.
Make another drawing for the inside of the laptop with its screw positions, and tape those screws on the drawing as well.

I never needed any torx-screwdriver for a T61, and I have taken hundreds of those machines apart!
All you need is a nice Phillips #0 screwdriver, such as this one: http://www.acehardware.com/product/inde ... d=53089736

As for replacement screws, find a good hardware shop, or a hobby shop that sells model trains, cars, airplanes etc.
They probably have the screws that you might be missing.
You'll find their dimensions in the HMM.
You could also look around for a repair shop that does IBM/Lenovo, and get some screws there.

Another place to look online: http://www.laptopscrews.com/contact.htm

[JLLBVS]

Many thanks for your answer.
Concerning the screwdriver, I think that there is a little confusion between a Torx screw (a screw with a 6-point star-shaped head) and a Torque screwdriver.
These screwdrivers ensure tightening of screws to a specified force. On a torque screwdriver, the torque force is set to a precise value. The screwdriver has a clutch which disengages once the preset torque has been reached. It avoids either insufficiently tightened screws (which can slowly unscrew) or too strongly tightened screws (which can suddenly break).
Torque screwdrivers (or torque wrenches) are calibrated in Newton/meter (Nm) or kilo-force/centimeter (kgfcm)
The torque screwdrivers are calibrated for different ranges of torque forces : for laptops, low range torque screwdrivers are rather hard to find.
Generally, all torque screwdrivers are very expensive precision handtools.

[Cigarguy]

No need for a torque screwdriver.

Follow the instruction on the maintenance manual, reuse the screws, clean everything up and reapply thermal paste. Pretty easy and straight forward on the T61p.

[RealBlackStuff]

I think that there is a little confusion between a Torx and a Torque screwdriver.

That's what you get when you read too many posts too quickly...

There's no need for a torque screwdriver either.
I have seen various IBM and Lenovo repair people, none of them ever used one.

[theterminator93]

Nope... just tighten until snug. You'll know if it's too tight because you start to strip the Philips head of the screw out.

I tend to disassemble and clean/re thermal-paste my T61p at least once a year. I also use TPFanControl to keep temps a little lower than they would be with unmodified BIOS fan control. The result is more frequent dust cleanings and a cooler running machine.

[brchan]

Only the very early Thinkpads, like the 701, need special screwdrivers. Also, just tighten screws to be snug.

[IMAKYA]

Hello everyone,
I have to clean my T61p (15.4", 6460-D8G). It randomly reboots, and I suspect that dust is the main cause of the problem (the laptop is probably asphixiated by dust, and the fan "strangled")
I already have nearly all tools to disassemble and clean the laptop.
But some questions :
1°) I read on the T61P Hardware Maintenance Manual that dismounted screws had to be replaced with new ones. (and of course replaced if one or more are lost, what I'll try to avoid).
I found two different references on the T61P HMM :
- 42X4676 (124 screws)
- 95F3598
I don't understand the difference between these two kits. So, please, try to explain to me if you know the answer.
Note that these kits are no more available as spare parts from Lenovo, the T61p being obviously too old and no more manufactured.

2°) I read also that a torque screwdriver was needed and that an accurate torque force (0.167, 0.189 or 0.392 Nm) had to be applied on the screws. Is it absolutely essential to screw them exactly with these torque forces ? What if I screw them with a simple appropriate screwdriver (I have all of them) ?
Moreover, torque screwdrivers calibrated to apply these very low forces are very rare (no more than one or two models) and hard to find.

3°) Although the price of these screw kits is not high, shipping and customs are shockingly expensive!
Shipping and custom costs to France are nearly two or three times the price of the screw kit itself.
And, last, of course, they can't be found in France. Do you know how I could pay a decent shipping/custom price for these screws ? Or buy them somewhere else in Europe (UK or Germany).

Many thanks for your help.
Kind regards from France

Your biggest worry is putting the screws back in the right slots. I suggest putting a screw in the exact slot it was removed from. Take pictures. Lay them out on another table and mirror the location. There are many ways to accomplish this but again put the screw back in the right slots. As far as torque, as long as you can physically feel its is snug its fine. If you over tighten you will crack the plastic and that would be costly. The screws will not come loose IMO.

[JLLBVS]

First, many thanks to everyone for your answers and advices.
Concerning the way to organize the disassembly, I have no problems. I use several small plastic zippered bags with white labels on them, and I write the page/step/reference on these labels. These labels refer to the corresponding operations of the hardware maintenance manual.
- Torque screwdriver : I understand that it is not really needed (probably preferable for plastic screws)
- Shipping costs : If I don't find a relative in the USA (and the only one I knew died 25 years ago) who could buy a set of screws and send it to me, I'll have to pay these obscene costs.
- Last, concerning the screws sets :
* The 95F3598 seems to be a screwdriver set, not screws, even if it is sometimes illustrated with a bag of screws.
* I guess that the Screw kit 42X4676 is the true one.
Who knows something about these d... screw kits ? IMHO, IBM / Lenovo spare parts references are most of the time an enigma, principally when the concerned laptops are out of production. Already a chance that the maintenance manuals are still downloadable.

[RealBlackStuff]

Don't understand why you are complaining so much, here's a set for $3.12 with free shipping to France.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301797962662
How much import duty do you pay in France? Even if it's the same as TVA (20%), you're still talking 'peanuts'.

[JLLBVS]

I admit that I never place orders in Far East countries (China, H.K....), because I had in the past some bad experiments (same in Eastern Europe). I prefer to order in Europe or in the USA, where I never had problems.

[JLLBVS]

To give you an idea of ​​what I call "shockingly expensive" :
For one single screw kit (guaranteed "Lenovo compatible")
- Screw kit : $27.46
- Shipping and handling to France : $44.61
- Duties and taxes : $26.19
- Domestic shipping : $14.01
Total including duties and taxes : $112.27
Total if duties and taxes are paid separately : $86.08
~ 1/4 = merchandise and ~ 3/4 = shipping and taxes.

[RealBlackStuff]

I admit that I never place orders in Far East countries (China, H.K....), because I had in the past some bad experiments (same in Eastern Europe). I prefer to order in Europe or in the USA, where I never had problems.

Comparing the price I found with your "preferred" rip-off tally, I wouldn't exactly call that 'savoir vivre', but it's your money...

Ebay France offers:
€ 9.99 - screw kit (includes 19% tax)
€ 4.95 - shipping and handling to France métropolitaine (from Berlin, Germany)
€ 0.00 - Duties and taxes
€14.94 Total including duties and taxes