powerbook lid will not stay up

Question

powerbook lid will not stay up

Any idea how i can tighten the screen hinge for my powerbook G3? it is a black 14.1" model that shipped with a 266mhz processore (now upgraded to a 500). i have to put something behind the screen so it stays up.

i know how to change the ram chips by removing the key board, but can't seem to find an easy way to get to the hinges.

one corner of the PB is damage at the infra Red port and s slither of plastic for the hinge has broken off over the years (about 2" worth), but it seems intact.

G5, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Aug 3, 2007 8:27 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 4, 2007 5:58 AM in response to Gilbert N. Taylor

Here's some helpful laptop sites.

Fix It Guides for Mac Laptops & Mini
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/
The guides can be viewed on-line or you can download a PDF file.

How to Upgrade, Repair, Disassemble an Apple/Macintosh Laptop or Notebook
http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_apple.html

PowerBookTech
http://www.powerbooktech.com/
(Note - PowerBookTech has some good info, however, some Mac users in other forums were having difficulty getting delivery on parts from them.)

How to Upgrade, Repair, Disassemble an Apple/Macintosh Laptop or Notebook
http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_apple.html

Laptop Repair Guides
http://www.applerepairmanuals.com/#portables

MicroDock
http://www.microdocusa.com/

 Cheers, Tom

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Answer 2

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Aug 4, 2007 8:12 AM in response to Gilbert N. Taylor

Gil,

Unfortunately there is no mechanism to tighten these hinges. Your hinges are worn out and will need to be replaced. If the hinges reach a point where one breaks, you can possibly damage the display ribbon cables since they run through the hinges, and this can get quite expensive.

You have the Powerbook G3 Series M4753 "Wallstreet". If you Google 'wallstreet hinges', you will get many hits. iFixIt is just one source for these hinges and there are many others.

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Answer 3

Network 23

Level 6

12,351 points

Aug 4, 2007 8:24 AM in response to Gilbert N. Taylor

From what I have heard, it's not a matter of "tightening," your lid clutch is worn out. It happened a lot with the PowerBook G3s, including my Pismo. I haven't fixed mine because it's no longer my main laptop.

It would be nice if there was a simple "PowerBook Viagra" to make it "stay up."

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Answer 4

Aug 5, 2007 1:14 PM in response to jpl

i used the advice here and found out how to open up and view the display clutch (hinge).

on both sides, the metal had broken. i pulled the fragments out and from what i could tell, they are needed to hold the display up.

so now i will look to see if i can find a replacement. it looks like it is complicated on how to replace them. it was good i looked, because as pointed out, the display ribbon wire would have been compromised.

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Answer 5

Network 23

Level 6

12,351 points

Aug 5, 2007 6:02 PM in response to Gilbert N. Taylor

so now i will look to see if i can find a replacement. it looks like it is complicated on how to replace them. it was good i looked, because as pointed out, the display ribbon wire would have been compromised.

Yes, my PB G3's monitor with the worn clutch is intermittent...at certain angles, the display goes a bit bonkers, as if the cable is fraying. I haven't decided what to do when the cable finally dies completely, as the lid replacement services aren't cheap and I'm not sure I have the skill to do it myself. I'm hoping that by the time the display dies, I'll have bought a MacBook Pro, pushing my PB G4 into the backup role and the PB G3 out to the recycling company.

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Answer 6

Aug 5, 2007 7:41 PM in response to Network 23

i am in the same boat so to speak. the G3 i let some of my employees use if they need a laptop and i use it in places i expect it could be damaged, lost or so. my G4 is my primary powerbook that i use for presentations.

i have been holding off on a new PB for a duo core, but was also hoping the price might come down a bit

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Answer 7

Aug 16, 2007 11:48 AM in response to Gilbert N. Taylor

Rather than trying to replace the hinges, which is a major undertaking, you might want to consider replacing the entire screen. The cost is not much more and is much easier to accomplish.

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Answer 8

Aug 17, 2007 11:44 AM in response to Tinkerman

thanks for the idea....

i have asked my local mac store to order me hinges. i will let them put it in. the directions were easy enough, but i have too much to do now. they upgraded it about a year or so back by putting in a faster CPU and new hard drive.

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