What wireless lever switch do I need for my r61i

[mapleleaf]

Hello Community!

I have an r61i (8932CTO) thinkpad and am looking to replace my broken plastic wireless lever switch/knob.

Given that I no longer have warranty on my tp, and given that lenovo wants to sell me the switch along with some other miscellaneous parts for $ 390 , I started searching on the bay and www.

I have only found one listing on e-bay for a wireless switch, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't fit my tp.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-IBM-Thinkpad-X61 ... 2482483077

Perhaps somebody could point me towards where I could possibly buy this replacement part, or maybe could tell me what thinkpads use the same switch?

Looking forward to any leads/ideas/input.

mapleleaf (canada)

[Harryc]

The switch comes in a Misc base parts kit FRU# 42X3945. It costs $18.50 from Lenovo US.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 68175.html

[mapleleaf]

Thanks Harryc for that tid bid of information! The only problem is that lenovo canada and the u.s. refuses to sell me the part because my thinkpad ran out of warranty six months ago.

They told me to go to a local lenovo repair center in my area which I did, and the repair center quoted me $390 for the switch along with other parts like the fingerprint reader, webcam, trackpad mouse etc.

I do wonder if I could get away with ordering a switch from lenovo using my warranty from another thinkpad which I purchased just over a month ago. I think its an SL410.
Of course I'm willing to pay for the item.

Maybe the lenovo customer support will not realize that the switch I'm ordering is not for the SL410 but for my r61i?

Any thoughts on that?

[Harryc]

I've ordered dozens of parts from Lenovo without a warranty. I don't see what having a warranty has to do with it. I go to the order page and order the part.

[mapleleaf]

Thanks harryc for your post. I just tried to order the switch via lenovo U.S. and were it not for an "internation" address (Canada), I would have been able to proceed with checkout.

The canadian parts ordering website is altogether different, and does not even give a practical overview of how to go about ordering parts.

I tried calling the 1 800 ... number provided to order my switch, but I got the same story again about not being allowed to order the part without warranty

At this point I wonder if U.S. customers have an advantage over Canadian customers?

I guess I'll contact one of my friends in the U.S. and "borrow" their address to order the part from lenovo U.S.

Thanks for reading!
mapleleaf

[Harryc]

I guess I'll contact one of my friends in the U.S. and "borrow" their address to order the part from lenovo U.S.

That would be my recommendation as well.