[Thinkpad 701Cs] Hard trackpoint

[WarMachine]

Hello,

I'm willing to take photos of all my thinkpads. Yesterday, I tried to boot my 701 Cs. It's still working, but the trackpoint reacts very weirdly. On the screen, the pointer moves very slowly when I go from bottom left to upper right. The speed of the cursor is normal if I want to move it from right to left. It's not software related, and it seems that there is a calibration problem. I think it's a problem that can be found on any laptop with a trackpoint. Is it possible to correct this ? The last time I used the 701, everything was working perfectly fine.

Thank you.

W.

[RealBlackStuff]

That's what happens if you (or your Thinkpad) gets older.
The trackpoint "lever" can only move a few hair-widths, which has probably become stiff over the years because of non-use.
Keep playing with it for a few minutes, it should loosen up some.

[WarMachine]

That's what happens if you (or your Thinkpad) gets older.
The trackpoint "lever" can only move a few hair-widths, which has probably become stiff over the years because of non-use.
Keep playing with it for a few minutes, it should loosen up some.

Thank RBS for your answer.
So It would be a purely mechanical problem ?
If it's not electronical, perhaps is it possible to use a liquid to help a bit (I thought about some WD40) ?

W.

[RealBlackStuff]

I just took a trackpoint from a T60 keyboard apart
Looks like the lever is embedded in a silicon surround.
It has no visible "openings" anywhere to put a lubricant in.

Early trackpoints like on the 701C probably have a different mechanism, but if I were you, I wouldn't put any lubricant in there.
And definitely not WD40.
You'll end up with a stinky keyboard!

For more details, see this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick

[WarMachine]

Hello,

Well, I used the laptop one hour this week-end, but the problem is still here.
If it's not better, I will have to use an external mouse... What a pity...

W.

[hwattys]

I have several working 701 keyboards in decent condition any one of which I would gladly part with for the cost of shipping. The problem is that replacing the keyboard requires that T1 torx screwdriver and those tiny little screws across the front are tough to get out.

[WarMachine]

Hello Hwattys,

Thanks for your proposition.
I can be interested if the keyboard you're willing to sell to me is an AZERTY one. Is it ? For the torx, I have some, but not T1 (I have T5 to T9). :'( But I think I could find that at an hardware store not far from here.

Thank you !

W.