Thinkpads Forum

When I got my T61 the lid was very stiff. Just today I noticed that there is about 1/2 inch of slack before you can feel presssure when moving the lid. I don't think this is any big deal, but is it usual for a thinkpad?

Hmmmm.... how old is your T61? mine is still stiff, but it's only a couple months old.... my T42 was not as stiff and i actually liked it that way.......

Thanks, I see I'm not alone.

My T60 hinges are as tight today as the day it arrived from Lenovo. As a matter of fact, I have to hold the unit with my other hand when opening the T60 or it flips up in the air. There is 0% play as well.

I must add that when it first arrived, the hinge screws were a bit loose. I gave them a tweek and that was it. But as far as wobble or play, I have none at all.

Hope this helps

i brought mine to a service depot, those guys said it's normal.... (well, duh, u compare it with a dell or hp), they wouldn't fix it.


How do you tighten the hinge screw? do you have to disesemble the lcd? b/c the screws underneath my t61p are not directly under the hinge, i tried to tighten them, but the hinge sitll wobbles ....

notismed wrote:How do you tighten the hinge screw? do you have to disesemble the lcd? b/c the screws underneath my t61p are not directly under the hinge, i tried to tighten them, but the hinge sitll wobbles ....

with the way the T61/p hinges are designed, they cannot be tightened like the old hinges.   instead they will have to be completely replaced.

Seems like I'll just have to accept it, but I guess it's no big deal.

If your hinges are loose or there is play in the hinges, contact Lenovo and be heard. You purchased an expensive T6X Thinkpad and the hinges should be nice and firm, with a solid feel. There should be NO SLACK or anything other then nice tight hinges.
Anything less then this it not acceptable.

Anyone who tells you that this is normal is themself not normal. They are blowing you off.

"Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the oil".

My 2 cents

My hinges are getting bad by the day. Now that I am using my T60 at school and at home (end of semester time, I need a faster machine, so the T23 is sitting at home) and the play in the hinges is irritating. The hinges are still tight - I need two hands to open the machine, but the play is just irritating.

I don't know how bad the hinge play issue was in the X2x series, but I notice that more and more people are reporting this with the T6x.

Over the years I've had several Thinkpads as well as a few Dells and Toshiba units. I have NEVER had a problem with hinges on the Thinkpads, but the Dells and the Toshiba units were a different story.

My current unit is a T60, (IMB Logo). When I open the lid, the laptop flips up in the air, as the hinges are very tight with 0% play/slack. This is typical of a solid unit which in my view is how a Thinkpad should be. This is what we have come to expect and have paid our hard earned money for.

If anyone with loose hinges, or play in the hinges still has warn. left, they should call and request the units be serviced and the hinges be replaced if need be.

If we want units that are built like junk, we can go out and buy a $#%$# unit for a few hundred bucks. Most of us who purchase a Thinkpad, more over the Txx series are looking for a strong solid unit and should not settle for anything less. What good is a Titainium lid and a roll cage when the hinges are falling off.......

Just my 2 cents........

Truthfinder wrote:<snip> This is what we have come to expect and have paid our hard earned money for. <snip>

<snip> Most of us who purchase a Thinkpad, more over the Txx series are looking for a strong solid unit and should not settle for anything less. <snip>

I second that........


BTW you're up to 4cents

I have a T61P 15.4" with the loose hinge. I got it replaced yesterday.


OLD Hinge assembly
PART Kato 42W3655
PART Reel 42W3656

NEW UPDATED PART: 45N4181

The technician claimed that this is a new and updated part. Let's cross finger that it would last longer than the last one