T61 hinges have some play

[JoeSchmoe007]

What I mean is that screen can be rotated slightly until resistance is felt. Top of the screen moves maybe half an inch or so.

Laptop is almost 3 year old but I rarely use it and can't tell when it started doing it - maybe it was like that all the time but I just noticed it.

It is still on Depot warranty for another month so I wonder if it's worth mailing it in for hinges to be tightened. Is it even considered a defect by Lenovo? Maybe "they all do this" - I never had any other laptop before.

[Harryc]

Send it in while you have the chance. If you need the hinges replaced down the road it is not a fun chore...take my word for it. Before you send it in, remove all drives, and 'extra' RAM. Do not send in the AC adapter. By the way, there is no way to 'tighten' the hinges. They'll need to be replaced. There is a possibility that the actual hinge mounting screws are loose. If you want to try looking at those, download the T61 maintenance manual and look through the procedure for LCD panel removal. You'll see the screws I am talking about. Two of them are inside the machine, so you'll need to remove the keyboard and keyboard bezel to get at them. The others are accessible on the case exterior. If they are loose, tighten them with a #1 Phillips.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 67760.html
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 67980.html
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67979

[jdhurst]

I would follow Harryc's advice, but I can say that I have a T61p that developed a bit of play in the hinges shortly after it was new in 2008. I posted about it then, and since then, the play has never gotten worse.

So first of all, on my machine the play is in the hinge, not the hinge mounting which is tight. Second, the total amount of play at the top of the lid is 0.25" (plus or minus a very small amount). So the play is not a half inch or so.

... JDH

[crashnburn]

I would follow Harryc's advice, but I can say that I have a T61p that developed a bit of play in the hinges shortly after it was new in 2008. I posted about it then, and since then, the play has never gotten worse.

So first of all, on my machine the play is in the hinge, not the hinge mounting which is tight. Second, the total amount of play at the top of the lid is 0.25" (plus or minus a very small amount). So the play is not a half inch or so.

... JDH

I've had a 0.5/0.75" play for a long time now on my 14" T61. Lets see if I have the time for this kinda thing. What do you think would be the typical turnaround time?

PS: Also, for a 3 yr Depot Warranty that came with my BEST SELLER 8892 02U what kind of different Warranty Extensions are possible / eligible?

[Harryc]

If EasyServ has the parts it would be a matter of a few days turn-around time.
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... rtWarranty
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ARNTY#rnav

[mr.motoring]

I agree with jdhurst. I think that "play" is normal. I have a 15.4" T61 that does that. The T60s must use a different hinge, because I don't notice it on those, but back to the play. It bothered me at first, but I got used to it, mainly because it doesn't feel cheap nor does it feel like it will get worse.

[dr_st]

I've had experience with several laptops, and I've noticed that the amount of hinge play developed after time seems to be the following (worst to best):

T61/T400 widescreens > T4x/T60 15" 4:3 > T60 14" 4:3 > T4x 14" 4:3 > X series (X32/X61)

Interestingly, the thick hinges are not only not better, but typically worse... Also, as was pointed out by underclocker at one time, the weight of the lid seems to matter a lot for looseness of hinges over time - 12" is less than 14" is less than 15". And the T61/T400 have rollcages in the lid, which probably makes it heavier...