loose battery (X31)

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kendo2222 · #1 Post by **kendo2222** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:13 am

hi, i just got a used ibm x31 from ebay, its in very good condition, i read all the reviews here first before buying my first thinkpad i agree its a great little machine, just trying to get used to the trackpad. i just wanted to know should the battery be loose on these machines, my battery rocks up and down from the front end , when i hold it from the front it seems loose there doesnt seem to be any broken parts on the battery or laptop and it looks original. is this a normal thing, my battery is a 4.4 standard one. thanks. its a uk model and i still have 3 months warrenty.

Moderator edit: Added (X31) to subject line and moved to X2/X3/X4 conference

losmeme · #2 Post by **losmeme** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:36 am

Kendo

Welcome to the forums! I have an X31 and my battery rocks exactly as you describe.

I don't consider it a problem, in fact it helps to remind me NOT to pick up the X31 from that end of the keybaord. This will increase the chances of the keyboard bezel/motherboard cracking. I always pick my TPs up with two hands from the base below the hinges to the lcd.

Your gonna love the X31, it's the dog's bullocks!

#3 Post by **gator** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:14 am

hmmm .... I had an X31 before and never had this problem. Maybe tomh009 (the X31 king) knows better.

kendo2222 · #4 Post by **kendo2222** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:09 pm

hi. again i was thinkin would it be safe to wedge a piece of card under the battery as to push it out a bit to stop the loose wiggle from battery , not sure if this is safe as the bottom of the laptop gets very hot. any 1 tried this. thanks

losmeme · #5 Post by **losmeme** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:05 pm

After Gators' comments, I pulled out my second battery for my X31, and it exhibits the same behavior.

Machine was purchased as a refurb from IBM last fall, battery that came with it was brand new, zero cycles. I purchased the slice on eBay and it came with a surprise, a second battery with only 48 cycles on it.

Both rock in their cradles, one a little more than the other, but as much as 1/16 inch play.

Ground control to Major Tom!

kendo2222 · #6 Post by **kendo2222** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:26 am

apart from the battery prob its a fine machine but just doesnt make the machine seem as solid as mentioned, most laptops ive had the battery would click and lock in. i will prob wedge a pice of card in between and c fingers cros it dont burn.

tical164 · #7 Post by **tical164** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:43 am

I have had two X30's and an X22 and they have all had this issue. It's nothing terrible, just not as snug as say a T23's or A30's battery which I have also previously owned.

#8 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:23 am

gator wrote:hmmm .... I had an X31 before and never had this problem. Maybe tomh009 (the X31 king) knows better.

X31 king? Hmmm ...

In any case, yes, my X31 has a slightly loose battery as well. I don't think it's a problem, but it was annoying enough that I fixed it. A small piece of paper towel, folded once, sitting between the battery well and the top of the battery, took away the looseness. I've heard from someone else that a piece of duct tape on the battery works as well.

mpcook · #9 Post by **mpcook** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:46 am

I have had 4 X3* machines, including 1 X30, 2 X31's and 1 X32. One of each type had the slightly loose battery problem (three out of four). I stuck a small bit of velcro "tape" to the inside of the battery compartment, and it's snug as a rug now. I tried playing "musical batteries" to see if it was the battery or the machine, couldn't determine, it happened with multiple batteries in the same machine. I called IBM at one time and mentioned it, they offered to fix under warranty - said it would require a motherboard swap. I declined.

Mike

sktn77a · #10 Post by **sktn77a** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:58 pm

My X31 and my T41 do the same thing. At first people posted that this was a "Sony" vs "Sanyo" battery issue but when I swapped out the old Sanyo battery for a Sony, there was no difference. So I just added a couple of pieces of masking tape to fatten out the battery until it stopped rattling.

Bob_760 · #11 Post by **Bob_760** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:52 pm

My X31 does this too, I've planned to put something under it to fix it but haven't gotten around to it yet. I was kinda wondering if it was normal myself as my T30's battery is rock solid. I thought it was wierd that both of my batterys wiggle a bit in my X31 but both are solid in my X3 slice. Oh well it's easy enough to fix, good to know its normal.

rckrchrdsn · #12 Post by **rckrchrdsn** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:40 pm

I have four X31's and seven batteries. I am not sure how I ended up with that many batteries... Anyway, one battery seems to be a bit rocky in three of the four X31's, while the others are tight in all the machines.

I did have a similar problem with several of the X24s which I marked up to small spec changes in the battery shape over time. I figured all the battery makers having some anomolies in shape vs. IBM or Lenovo changing the main die was the most likely culprit.

I found a sliver of stiff black foam with rubber cement in the battery well allowed all the batteries to work. It also helped them have that little "pop out" when I triggered the lock. That helps when I don't have enough hands.

Nice to know I am not the only person who buys more than one of these nice little machines. Having four seems a bit extreme, but they are so useful.

Rick

loose battery (X31)

loose battery (X31)

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