How to replace a laptop bottom

K T

K T

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I have a Toshiba L650 laptop with a "broken" screen hinge. The external/underside mounting screw fell out and put too much load on the internal screw anchor points, on the inside bottom panel of the laptop, which eventually caused them to just shear off.

So in a nutshell the right hinge has broken away from the bottom panel of the laptop, which therefore needs replacing. I spoke to my local supplier and they said it would not be economically viable to replace, citing the difficulty of identify the correct part number for which they need serial numbers, photos and the like and then having to pay international courier fees etc. meaning I would be looking at +/- R1500/2000

Does everybody agree with the supplier, or are there other options to look at?

Thanx,
K T
 
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Can't you just glue back the bit that has sheared off? Some glues will make a stronger bond than the original plastic.
 
imranpanji said:
Post some pics , so we can see what it looks like
Click to expand...

This pic shows the hinge in the "anchored" position with the three screws that should be anchoring the hinge to the bottom panel (red square).
The up arrow shows the hole where the missing screw would clamp the hinge between the bottom panel and the top.

Toshiba_hinge_1.jpg

This pic shows the hinge in the "unanchored" position with the three sheered-off anchor points (red square) and the anchor point tops still around the screws (right arrow).

Toshiba_hinge_2.jpg

Any ideas?
 
The electronics industry makes a number of off the shelf spacers which might be useful. You can get the dimensions from the datasheets. It might be possible to grind these to size and glue to the base using a good epoxy or Q-Bond. Some of the spacers have internal threads, others you could glue a brass thread (screw with head removed) down the centre and connect to that square metal plate using small nuts and replace the current self-tapping screws. Mantech has a mail order service - check on Bidorbuy for the rates or e-mail them.
http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=13M1068
http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=14M5863
http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=14M8968
http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=14M1326
Full range ...
http://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Query=spacerand
http://shop.rabtron.co.za/catalog/round-spacer-p-2961.html
 
I would probably first try to glue all the supports back into place with a decent amount of a good epoxy. If you try to remove the screws, the spacers may fall apart so I would probably just try to glue back the whole plate in one go with epoxy - if this fails then you should be able to remove the glue and try something else such as glueing some 2mm brass threads down the centre of the current spacers and attaching the plate with nuts. If you surround the supports with glue you might get a stronger bond.
 
Thanx Yotch for all your suggestions and I think the last one sounds the best to me.

So we aren't talking Q-Bond anymore, can you suggest a good epoxy? I guess not, if you didn't in the first place.
 
Q-Bond is really strong but if something goes wrong you can't remove it. If you stick the whole metal piece at once I don't think that there will be any easy way to get the powder to surround the area around the joint on each of the three supports and then drip the glue onto the powder in such a small space. If you unscrew the metal piece I think that you may break the remaining pieces of the support and then will have to rebuild them completely so it seems to me that epoxy might be a better option to start with.

I have used both the Pratley Quickset Clear and the Quickset White epoxies. The white is much stronger than the clear but my guess is you would prefer something that is black in colour. They do have a black product (Pratley Steel) which is meant for use on metals. I would suggest that you e-mail them and ask whether the black would be suitable. I would also send them all those pictures of your laptop that you posted and ask them for suggestions. I think that they also manufacture a Q-Bond type product.

I have tried the long curing (24hrs) Araldite in the past which worked quite well but I don't know about the rapid setting version. I'll look to see what other epoxies are available. Pratley adhesives appear to be the most popular in South Africa because of their lower prices.

Here is a selection of glues from one local hardware to give you an idea
http://www.brights.co.za/product.php?main=ADHESIVES&sub=GLUE+&+WELDS#navHolder
This is the range of Pratley epoxies ...
http://www.pratley.co.za/DIY_Adhesives.htm

Try to get some advice from them first at www.pratley.co.za before you purchase anything. Let us know what you decide to try.
 
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Nonsense. It is designed to work under normal usage. Most likely it received a shock which partially broke internal structure and became weak. Then normal wear-and-tear applies to such part.
For wear and tear you would have claim against manufacturer. Ask sales manager, what they say?
 
Glue whatever broken plastic pieces you have back on with some super glue. With some sandpaper rough up the area around & the screw holding protrusions. Mix some pratleys epoxy together and build up the area. Remove the metal plate section from the hose, sand it a bit and clean with alcohol and glue that down as well. Leave for 24hrs and put it back together and see how well it holds.

If that does not work you could always create a small external backing plate on the outside with holes in so you can secure the inner support plae to the new outer plate you made.

Another option is eBay, http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...m+case&_nkw=Toshiba+L655+bottom+case&_sacat=0
 
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