USB Type A port tension repair?

[Navck]

Is anyone familiar with how I could fix the tension in a Type A port? I know there are the metal spring/leaf pieces within the port its self that provide the tension and I have a few computers where the port kind of lets things freely slide out/wiggle. Is there any trick to this (Carefully using thin, flat screwdriver to pry the pieces lightly until they're back into the original position?)

Just wondering, seems the internet doesn't really have anything on this either.

[sb102]

Hi Navck,

I had the same problem in my sister's computer. Now I strongly discourage you from using the screwdriver - the ports are quite fragile and you could easily damage them (not only the springs you mentioned but also the plastic 'tongue' inside the port along with the connectors). I know this sounds silly, but I would recommend buying a new port and replace it (that was what I had done with the aftermentioned computer).

Of course, if you have a good feeling in your hands and you'll be carefull enough you could go with the screwdriver - or better yet - with a special plastic lever used for prying cell phones' casings.

[Navck]

I just found an older device with a Type A port (With some decent tension still) and took a 1mm flathead screwdriver bit and lifted the piece and held it into place. It did help with the tension later but I don't think I have the technique down because it seems to lose tension again.

[RealBlackStuff]

A lot of those ports are all the same. Get a faulty mobo with good USB ports and swap them.

[rkawakami]

Until I did a little research on this question, I was not aware of the potential lifespan for USB sockets. This is a manufacturer's datasheet on various USB connectors: http://www.us-electronics.com/files/usbconnectors.pdf It appears that for some, 1500 insertion cycles (under "Durability"), can be the minimum. Said another way, if you assume that you plug and unplug a USB peripheral twice a day, you may experience a failure in as little as 2 years.

ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_ ... Durability

[Navck]

I think that is the minimum threshold to failure for the port. I'm talking about the tension springs right now, which isn't actually on a motherboard on a desktop or a planar, but some devices with USB A ports (Mostly AA batteries to USB power) and computer cases with ports in the front (Can't do much there.)

[rkawakami]

I understand you are talking about the tension springs inside the USB A socket. I believe that is (partially) what the durability rating is referring to. There's so many insertion cycles that the socket can withstand before the electrical contact is put into jeopardy.

My suggestion would be to get something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0527478350 (Set of 4 dental picks). Use the right-angle pick to lift/bend up the four contacts in the middle and see if that helps with the retention. The picks are vastly thinner than any screwdriver you could probably find and with a right-angle bend, you can come in from the front yet still be able to lift the spring by rotating the pick. Hold down the front edge of the spring with a flat screwdriver to induce the proper bend in the middle.

[Navck]

Actually, that sounds like a great idea, I know someone with a set of those (Dental tech) and I'll see if I can get em to loan a few to me.

But I think that durability rating might be a time until failure with the electrical contacts or the male connector (As much as I've heard from a great source about his fleet of SATA drives surviving in excess of 150 (If not 300) insertion cycles) under artificial conditions (Check the rate its tested at, they probably had a machine rapidly plug and unplug instead of having a bunch of people slowly wiggle the connector in and occasionally slam it and tug it out by the cable.)