Broken laptop hinge

[sknight]

What the fuck. No sign of trouble, then I try to fold my screen and it's crooked. Next I see, one of the hinges cracked while I was closing it. It felt jammed.

The screen works fine, but I'm sketchy about using the computer because of stress from one hinge not doing 100% of it's job might break the other. It's still partially attached, but jamming a bit.

I would like to fix it myself, but I would rather have a schematic. Might have to use jb weld, some piece of metal, and some screws, but I see fragments of broken metal inside the hinge.

[BCH]

fix it with some furniture hinges and epoxy. It'll give your lappy that kitch look. It won't fit in your bag anymore but hey.

[NoSurviivors]

what kind of laptop?

Look s like it's duck tape time.. :)

[highway23]

got a picture by any chance?

[sknight]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a326/sknightx1/DSCF1357Medium.jpg

Acer 4652.

Funny, the first answer out of my gf's mouth was duct tape.

[highway23]

gorilla glue is pretty badass

just let it sit for a good lil' while


other than that...I'm not really sure...sorry

[sknight]

Part of the problem is it's binding inside a bit, and that tab connects to a top plate above the keyboard, which seems to be getting unduly stressed to the point of cracking when the lid is opened. Sometimes it binds less, sometimes more.

I'd like a schematic to clean out the broken fragments, then do what I have to to repair and reinforce it.

[Ballbuster1]

I fix alot of stuff with JB Weld (http://jbweld.net/index.php) but I don't know if that will help in this situation.
Using that would probably fix the screen in the open position.
I don't see enough in that pic to glue together to keep it moveable.

[sknight]

Since it's something of an eyelet, I can use some electronics screws and a small plate to bolt it to the case, reinforcing it with jb weld. The thing is I also want to eliminate the binding by removing whatever fragments are in there. That requires removal.

[sknight]

Figured out how to fix it. Pictures to follow soon. The top plate is clipped into place and I just removed it, along with the plastic (not metal afterall) fragments that were binding the hinge. BJ Weld will work, but it's at home and I'll be there tomorrow.

[highway23]

good luck sir

[sknight]

Ok, cleared the fragments out, got it to close somewhat more safely now.

Gonna call acer tomorrow and find out if I can get that triangular metal piece from them, along with an idea of how to remove it because the piece on the screen hinge seems to be siezed. I'll also get a new top plate.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a326/sknightx1/DSCF1358Small.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a326/sknightx1/DSCF1368Small.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a326/sknightx1/DSCF1369Small.jpg

[Exanimate]

Cut your goddamn fingernails. Fuckin dot head.

[highway23]

if they don't have any help...try here:

http://www.excelcomputerinc.com/html/xlsearchbrandresults.asp?brand=acer

[sknight]

Cut your goddamn fingernails. Fuckin dot head.
I should call them up with the accent and see how they like it. White people in Ca actually answer the phone at acer, THANK GOD.

[sknight]

Jeez, found some places listing them and the hinges are FUCKING EXPENSIVE.

[sknight]

if they don't have any help...try here:

http://www.excelcomputerinc.com/html/xlsearchbrandresults.asp?brand=acer
Thanks, I checked there and they don't have anything for the 4600 series. Same for fucking fleabay. So far I only found one online source and it's like $60 for the hinges. I can live without changing the top plate, but I definitely want to change both hinges now, since the working one is being stressed a bit too much.

Would have been nice if they used better metal on these because I'd just weld it back together. In a worst case scenario, I am prepared to make one, but would like to stay away from that as much as possible.

[Teddy]

check http://www.impactcomputers.com/ ive used them for laptop parts before

[sknight]

Checked there, too. Nothing listed for my model. I'll dig deeper again, however. Thanks.

[Teddy]

Checked there, too. Nothing listed for my model. I'll dig deeper again, however. Thanks.

see i f you can find a part number or a moddle similar and tryt hat

[sknight]

Holy shit, called Acer and they told me THEY WILL NOT SELL ME THE HINGE. Wtf. They were nice enough, but they turned me onto other dealers, so I called and they are repair centers. It's gonna be fun trying to get them to sell me the hinges. Worst case scenario, I will buy it from that place that lists it online, then contact the BBB about Acer.

[sknight]

UPDATE:

The other hinge is now broken. Called an outlet recommended by acer to get a price and I'm waiting for a call back.

Most likely I will persue a BBB or an FTC complaint because they have not made the replacement parts available.

NEVER BREAK HINGES!

[highway23]

fucking douche bags

[sknight]

Hell yeah, I got off the phone with them a little while ago and to their credit, the rep tried to set up an account for me so he could send them out.

Turns out they don't even have anymore hinges available. I didn't go off on the guy, but I informed him this laptop was only a bit over a year old. I asked for a contact line to have a third party get in touch with them, in the form of the BBB and the FTC, but the rep mentioned this isn't an issue that someone could force them to sell them to me, since they simply don't have any. I mentioned to him it wasn't the case because I understand they don't have the hinges, but it's a law that supercedes their inability to stock said part. If something is put on the US market legally, it must have parts made available for it for a certain number of years, or the manufacturer has to make alternate arrangements to provide for customer satisfaction.

Here is their UNSATISFACTORY BBB rating:

http://www.bbbsilicon.org/commonreport.html?bid=206805

Gonna follow up. I ordered the hinges from this canadian site that had them for $56 +shipping after Acer's recommended parts outlet called me back and quoted $95 +shipping.

[Turfmower]

The hinges broke on my Acer too. Mine is a PII 400. I guess they never impoved there shity design.

[Fruit Monkey]

ok do you use those long nails to wipe your ass with? i know a thing or 2 about a thing or 2. and i know why "you" people have long nails.

[highway23]

wow...

not having parts sucks shit...

I had an issue with my laptop awhile back. I'll see if I can find the thread for it..

Good luck though, it sucks to not have something working the way it should.

Now I'm looking at my hinges like "you little bastards better not fucking break!"

[sknight]

On top of these things for just about any brand being incredibly expensive for what they are made of and the manufacturing process, they make them hard to get, so you basically have to get a new laptop. Sounds like a scam.

They serve an important function, so they seem to be priced accordingly, not based on the fact that they're chinese potmetal.

I highly recommend for anyone with a laptop to check the availability of these things for current and past models to guage if you'd have a problem. If they're cheap enough, get replacements before you need them.

And I will definitely make sure Acer hears from me again through the BBB.

[sknight]

ok do you use those long nails to wipe your ass with? i know a thing or 2 about a thing or 2. and i know why "you" people have long nails.
Yeah, it's because I work with my hands a lot on small items, from lab items, to electronics. Helps me actually grasp and not lose things.

[sknight]

update, as posted on another thread:

-ordered my hinges from a source in Canada, that was like 40% cheaper after shipping than the US source

-received and installed them yesterday

-the invoice is dated the day of my order
-invoice is marked "Acer America"
-shipped from "Acer America"
-box marked from "Acer America"

[Dopie Opie]

Just found this thread and I hate to pile\...but those nails really are fucking gross.

[sknight]

I cut them. Fuck off.

[sknight]

Acer called me back looking to resolve the BBB complaint. Let's see what they come up with. They're researching into whether they even have these hinges in stock. Told them about how their "preferred partner" basically tried extorting money from me.

[sknight]

Just finished with the guy from Acer, who was actually not too bad, but seems like he was a bit on the defensive anyhow.

So in summation, they were able to find the hinges that supposedly don't exist. An offer was made to sell them to me, at a total including shipping of $20.30. This includes both hinges, and shipping. The hinge pair was $8.96. I paid $55.00 plus shipping from Network Solutions, an Acer dealer in Canada. These fuckers are total ripoff artists. Acer told me they prefer to sell the entire display assembly which runs like $500+, but hinges alone are restricted items.

Moral of the story: don't hesitate to call the BBB, because they actually got me results. Not entirely satisfied, but had I not been able to find the hinges anywhere, I wouldn't have to have resorted to being extorted by Capital Data, an extortionist company that was going to get me out the door for these things at $100 + shipping.

Mind you, Acer just sold me the hinge pair for $8.96 plus shipping. Let's see if I get the right ones.

[highway23]

good deal

I hate these fucks because they usually get away with this stuff and will act like it's YOU who is putting them out of place

assholes

good luck bro