x220 broken screen housing

[slick]

I recently broke my thinkpad's display housing when I tried to lift it using the left edge. I wish it was as strong as my thinkpad x60 . My wishful thinking aside, whats a decent/(read cheaper) fix for the problem?

Mine is not bad as this one[1], but its pretty weak.

[1] http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/image/serve ... bl-1&px=-1

Thanks

[brchan]

This is a common problem with X220 models. Glue isn't a reliable fix, so getting a new/used lid is the way to go.

I still wonder why Lenovo didn't stick with implementing antennas on the side of the lid or even create a CFRP + GFRP hybrid lid for antennas like on the T510 or T420.

[RealBlackStuff]

Glue the parts together with Gorilla glue as best you can, then put a decal on the lid to keep them better together.
Go fancy, like here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/182110970657
Or blame the competition and put e.g. a Dell decal on it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/222117218045
Or point the finger to the Fruit that really caused it all: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271649260972

[axur-delmeria]

What that usually breaks is the "rabbit ear" where the plastic part of the lid is screwed on.
It happened to my X220 as well, and I've managed to put it back together with a small piece of aluminum sheet and super glue.

The idea is to glue both the lid and the broken-off part to the aluminum piece, as the bigger contact area will ensure a stronger bond than directly gluing the broken part to the lid.
It will involve a bit of cutting, shaping, and folding the aluminum sheet in order to make it fit inside, and increase its strength.

[johnmcdonnell]

I've managed to repair a few X220 and X230 units that had this same issue.

I used a small spot of JB Weld imbedded with a small finishing nail laid across the break for extra reinforcement in the area shown in the photograph here. You just need to remove the screen bezel and temporarily push aside the antenna wires. Make sure everything is aligned and let it set up for about 24 hours and the bond will be virtually impossible to break.

[lectricas]

What that usually breaks is the "rabbit ear" where the plastic part of the lid is screwed on.
It happened to my X220 as well, and I've managed to put it back together with a small piece of aluminum sheet and super glue.

The idea is to glue both the lid and the broken-off part to the aluminum piece, as the bigger contact area will ensure a stronger bond than directly gluing the broken part to the lid.
It will involve a bit of cutting, shaping, and folding the aluminum sheet in order to make it fit inside, and increase its strength.

Hello. Can you please explain what kind of aluminum piece you've used. I mean the shape. And what type of glue. Can you show some pics?

[axur-delmeria]

Glue: any cyanoacrylate-based super glue.

Can't post any pics for now since I'm typing this post on the X220 that I fixed. But I'll do my best to describe it.

Let's start with the problem area, using this picture from fellow Thinkpadder johnmcdonnell : https://i.imgur.com/0KGtxwE.jpg

The red arrow is the point of breakage. The gray part from the topmost screw to the red arrow, that's the rabbit ear I was referring to. That part, and another ear at the other end, are what holds the plastic part of the lid. It's quite small, too small TBH, which is why it's prone to breaking.

What I did was to use a bit of thin sheet aluminum (not sure how thick, maybe 0.5mm?). It's from my scrap pile so I don't know where I originally got it from.
I shaped it like an L angle bar https://2ecffd01e1ab3e9383f0-07db7b9624 ... 8b838e.jpg. It should fit inside the area between the two screws in the photo. You'll have to pinch and cut it a bit in the middle order to fit in the U-shaped notch, while allowing the wifi/LTE antenna cables (red and gray wires) to pass through. The idea is to fit it as close as possible to the magnesium lid, so that you can super glue it in place.

Since aluminum is much softer than magnesium, it won't be as strong or rigid, but at least the plastic part is held in place and doesn't move as much.

[dr_st]

Great explanation. I must remember it, should my X220 ever suffer the same.

[axur-delmeria]

Unfortunately, my fix didn't hold out in the long term. The aluminum sheet eventually gave way (stress fracture). I'm going to try a different solutiion when I get around to it.

[atagunov]

Hi, would anybody happen to know if the issue can occur on X200/X201/X210?

[RealBlackStuff]

No, their lids are all one-solid-part.
Correction:
the X200/X201 lids (with 1280x800 LCDs, with webcam) have a similar 'split' lid as on X220/X230
the X200s/X201s lids (with 1440x900 LCDs, without webcam) are all one-solid-part.

[dr_st]

No, their lids are all one-solid-part.

It doesn't look like it. The construction appears similar to that of the X220/X230 lid, but somehow the issue seems less prevalent on X200/X201 (I haven't noticed any reports).

[axur-delmeria]

IIRC only the X200/201 lid for the 1440x900 screen is one-piece. The regular lid for the 1280x800 screen has the plastic part on top.

[RealBlackStuff]

IIRC only the X200/201 lid for the 1440x900 screen is one-piece. The regular lid for the 1280x800 screen has the plastic part on top.

Almost.
It's the X200s/X201s lids for 1440x900 (and without a webcam), that are one-piece