Thinkpads Forum

One of the latches on the Lid latch on a x61s broke off during shipping.

Can I use a lid latch from a x60 or no?

Is it a difficult install?

This is what the lid latch looks like

codek wrote:Can I use a lid latch from a x60 or no?

Yes, if the X61s does NOT have an UltraLight screen.

The "difficulty" is a function or your level of experience and the time you wish to spend to do it the right way, i.e, completely removing the "top" of the machine, disassembling it, and the putting everything back together. If you have not dissembled the LCD casing before, do NOT attempt to do it while still mounted to the bottom of the machine.

Good luck!

LCD (particularly hinges) assemblies on X60/X60s machines are fairly fragile.

wow, if it really broke during shipping i'd ship it back for refund.
the amount of force necessary to break that latch means the packing was woefully inadequate.

Woodenspoon wrote:wow, if it really broke during shipping i'd ship it back for refund.
the amount of force necessary to break that latch means the packing was woefully inadequate.

It was horrible. The person put plastic bags from the market in a regular lenovo box and she only put 10 of them with minimum bubble wrap around the computer.
The computer was bouncing around in there like clothes in a dryer.

The computer, although used, was in like new condition. Since everything else looked good and worked perfectly, I didn't expect the latch piece to be broken. It's just annoying that one latch is loose because the closing anchor piece of one broke off.

Can't ask for a refund, too late and it was ebay, too much hassle to go through ebay protection.

EOMtp wrote:]Yes, if the X61s does NOT have an UltraLight screen.

The "difficulty" is a function or your level of experience and the time you wish to spend to do it the right way, i.e, completely removing the "top" of the machine, disassembling it, and the putting everything back together. If you have not dissembled the LCD casing before, do NOT attempt to do it while still mounted to the bottom of the machine.

Good luck!

Yes, I heard about how fragile the screen is and I won't dare do it still connected to the assembly. I have not disassembled an x series lcd but I have disassembled other laptop lcd's.

And it's not an ultralight.

I just wish I could glue on that piece of the latch that fell off.

So if I disassembled other lcds, is the x series going to be that much harder for me?

richk wrote:LCD (particularly hinges) assemblies on X60/X60s machines are fairly fragile.

The hinges are fragile? Are we talking about the two metal anchors connecting the lcd's to the laptop. I thought those weren't that fragile.

they are fragile as any other laptop...not that bad:P

Woodenspoon wrote:they are fragile as any other laptop...not that bad:P

im more worried about cracking the lcd.

If you have a spare latch set on an X60(s) then it will fit into the X61(s).
Take off the three caps over the screws on the bottom of the screen with
single sided razor blade. Just push the blade into the seam of the cap and
lift up. Remove the three screws.
Start lifting the screen bezel up from a corner, the upper left is a good
place to start. Work it free across the top, making sure the latches are
clear of their slots. Then slide it open down the sides with a thumb nail.
The bottom, where the screws were, it's held in place with sticky tape as
well as clips. Be careful there as the bezel is prone to cracking right by
the X60 logo. Just take your time and work it free.
With both bezels removed you'll see how the latches are attached to the
lid.
The only difference between the X60 and X61 is the placement of the thinklight
and wireless antennas. Neither should pose a problem.
Good luck

Tim S

If you remove the lid and have it lying on a table in front of you, the hinges are not fragile. If you try to work on it while the lid is attached, you will find that the pieces that run inside the top case are VERY thin, especially at the bottom. Most of the structural strength comes from the lid.

richk wrote:If you remove the lid and have it lying on a table in front of you, the hinges are not fragile. If you try to work on it while the lid is attached, you will find that the pieces that run inside the top case are VERY thin, especially at the bottom. Most of the structural strength comes from the lid.

ah, now i get what you mean.

I don't wish to hijack the thread but given the similarity of my problem, I would like to pose the following question.

I have an X61s and as far as I can tell, it is _not_ an Ultralight screen. I bought it used. The latch is present but does not function properly: I must manually slide the latch to secure the lid. Subsequently the latch does not even stay in place and the screen pops open.

Although I can find no spring or such in the parts list of this model, it really seems that something is missing!

Any ideas?

There should be a spring. Either it is missing or it has slipped off the post or the latch assembly is not properly fitted into the guides in the lid.