Thinkpads Forum

Hi all

I've just bought a new T410, however there is some flex on the keyboard. Mostly on the left side, but also a little on the right side. I've tried to take the keyboard off and put it back on, just to see if that should make any difference. It didn't.

So what is the current status? Is there anything to do about it?
I've seen in thread that Lenovo at one point replaced the keyboards, is that still the situation?
I've seen that some have solved the problem with tape and filt pads, and i guess i could do the same, but i just don't think it should be necessary when you buy a quality laptop like a Lenovo Thinkpad, to customize it in some way to make it work properly.

Is this in any way covered by Lenovo warranty, or should i just start to fix it myself. Otherwise it's a fantastic machine.

Thanks.

Lenovo can and will replace the keyboard if you complain. Will it solve the problem? Not necessarily.

Flex can be caused due to a bad keyboard, or lack of proper support, such as caused by incorrect installation, misrouted antenna cables, warped chassis. There can be several factors.

It is also difficult to know whether the flex you report is normal to this model or not. Some flex is always present.

In the past when T400/T500 series came out there were lots of complains about flex, due to keyboard redesign (with less support). For some time Lenovo agreed to replace these keyboards with the equivalent versions from T6x series, which were compatible.

However, the T410 uses a different, not compatible keyboard design, so there is no other model you can replace it with in hopes to remedy whatever flex is there.

As far as using pads under the keyboard to reduce flex, it has helped me a lot with my 15" T60 (I have a thread on it somewhere). You may want to try that, since any other solution will still require you to remove and reinstall the keyboard.

I have a T400 post-revision, and have a fair bit of flex and some metallic rattling from the backplate hitting the structural brace they added on the left and the roll cage on the right. The rattling could've been a chassis issue or a warped keyboard backplate, and the flex... is flex?

Anyway, I just folded and laid out sheets and wads of Kleenex in strategic positions before reattaching my keyboard. Problem solved.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=87458
Read the keyboard flex section and follow the HMM. Trust me, the T410 is engineered to solve the flex but it all depends on the right screws being torqued together and the keyboard being properly seated.

Navck wrote:http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=87458
Read the keyboard flex section and follow the HMM. Trust me, the T410 is engineered to solve the flex but it all depends on the right screws being torqued together and the keyboard being properly seated.

clearly, it hasn't been done at production.
So what i can do is:
Call lenovo and get another keyboard(guess i can just as well do this right away)
Put filt pads or something similar under the keyboard.

My T410 doesn't have keyboard flex, why don't you follow my guide and reseat the keyboard? Getting a new keyboard from Lenovo doesn't solve the SEATING issue.

Navck wrote:My T410 doesn't have keyboard flex, why don't you follow my guide and reseat the keyboard? Getting a new keyboard from Lenovo doesn't solve the SEATING issue.

I guess i could try that, but am i allowed to do that and keep the warranty?

Certainly. The keyboard is a customer-replaceable unit - you are allowed to remove and install it yourself without voiding the warranty.

Okay when you write:

Remove all the screws associated with the keyboard bezel.

Do you mean the 4 screws under the keyboard, or the 4 screws under the keyboard AND the 9 screws on the underside?

First, reseat the keyboard and see if it helps. (Two screws, RAM slot, which you will have to click into place and the second one for the keyboard.)
If it doesn't, reseat the bezel with the keyboard, the small support in the top left has a few "fingers" that can be bent back up, there are several other fingers in the "chassis" that provide support. (Several screws.)