Thinkpads Forum

Well, this is the second RH hinge that I've broken on my 14.1" standard screen T61 and I don't have a spare. I'll be going to eBay for a replacement and was wondering if there was anything special regarding the hinges were on the 14.1" standards, or if any T61 RH hinge would work? Thanks in advance...

portsample wrote:Well, this is the second RH hinge that I've broken on my 14.1" standard screen T61 and I don't have a spare.

And any replacement is bound to break again. Let's face it: T61 hinges are utter <beep> quality wise.

I'd rather suggest to replace the whole T61 display unit with one from a T60 of the same form factor. It is basically a direct swap and you'd get the added benefit of much more robust hinges. The T60 display cover is durable enough to not regret the loss of the T61's display roll cage.

That's what i did two years ago or so and i don't regret it at all. There are various threads in this forum about this topic, just use the search function.

The hinges are not compatible. Googling "r61 broken hinge" turns up no immediate results, so it seems like R61 hinges don't snap nearly as often. T61/T400 14.1" widescreen models don't have the hinge snapping issue. As previously mentioned, using a T60 lid assembly with T60 hinges on a 14.1" 4:3 ratio T61 will prevent the issue from coming up again.

Thanks for the responses. I've got (2) RH hinges on the way. I did (for a while) have a T60 lid on my T61, but missed the stiffness of the T61 rollcage and switched back. Thanks for the responses.

I wonder is it possible to put T60 hinges in a T61 lid or are the lid bindings (hinge-to-lid screws, hinge-to-lid metal) too different?

T500 suffers from the cheap hinges too, wonder if an aesthetically pleasing symmetrical T60 widescreen lid could fit on a T500.

Just look (e.g. on eBay) at the T60 and T61 hinge pictures, 'nuff said.

The lid size is probably identical, but the T60 hinges need to fit in a T500 frame exactly, as do the LCD-cable, antenna wires and lid-lock.
Unless someone else has done this, why don't you try it and then report back?

rumbero wrote:

portsample wrote:Well, this is the second RH hinge that I've broken on my 14.1" standard screen T61 and I don't have a spare.

And any replacement is bound to break again. Let's face it: T61 hinges are utter <beep> quality wise.

I'd rather suggest to replace the whole T61 display unit with one from a T60 of the same form factor. It is basically a direct swap and you'd get the added benefit of much more robust hinges. The T60 display cover is durable enough to not regret the loss of the T61's display roll cage.

That's what i did two years ago or so and i don't regret it at all. There are various threads in this forum about this topic, just use the search function.

The T61 rollcage buzzword is a complete gimmick as the 14.1" T60 has a thick slab of magnesium, whereas the T61 "rollcage" has perforated magnesium (cheaper for lenovo make)... so I would say that the T60 design is superior. In fact, after the T61 "rollcage", lenovo stopped using magnesium if I'm not mistaken.

You can always do what I did and convert a T60 chassis for use with T61 14.1" mobos. I assume T60 14.1" parts are more widely available.

The T61 rollcage buzzword is a complete gimmick as the 14.1" T60 has a thick slab of magnesium, whereas the T61 "rollcage" has perforated magnesium (cheaper for lenovo make)... so I would say that the T60 design is superior. In fact, after the T61 "rollcage", lenovo stopped using magnesium if I'm not mistaken.

I am not sure what T60 lid you have, but all the T61 lids I have came across are thicker and much stiffer than the ones on T60 14.1" lids. T400/T500 lids also retained the roll cage and actually used solid magnesium instead of perforated magnesium. T61/T400/T500 lids also have a crown at the center to make them even stronger. The lid roll cage was removed after T400/T500 models because the newer LED screens did not need as much protection. It's a shame Lenovo cheaped out heavily on the hinges and let overall QC go down. These machines could have been indestructible if not for some fatal flaws.