Looking for imac g3 tray loader inner bezel like the first one pictured! Does anyone know if there’s somewhere to get a new-production of this? I know MacEffects made one for the slot loaders, but not the tray loaders. I can’t find these anywhere & don’t want to ship another parts-only g3 to me because mine’s inner bezel shattered during shipping. Mine is the 2nd picture after I removed the outer bezel & bottom casing.
UPDATE: I ended up using JB PlasticWeld to put the larger pieces back together after scouring the internet for a few days and finding nothing. It came out a lot better than I expected! I did the front first, let it cure before doing the back. I used masking tape to hold everything together for me & used toothpick and a small paintbrush to apply plastic weld. Of course, it ruined the paintbrush bristles, so be sure to use one you’re willing to part with or use for other plastic welds later. Keep the masking tape on while it’s curing to make sure the pieces hold their shape. You can do what’s under the tape after the first layers are cured. I put the computer back together successfully, nothing was jutting out of place & was aligned perfectly!
UPDATE: I ended up using JB PlasticWeld to put the larger pieces back together after scouring the internet for a few days and finding nothing. It came out a lot better than I expected! I did the front first, let it cure before doing the back. I used masking tape to hold everything together for me & used toothpick and a small paintbrush to apply plastic weld. Of course, it ruined the paintbrush bristles, so be sure to use one you’re willing to part with or use for other plastic welds later. Keep the masking tape on while it’s curing to make sure the pieces hold their shape. You can do what’s under the tape after the first layers are cured. I put the computer back together successfully, nothing was jutting out of place & was aligned perfectly!
Unfortunately, you've run into a common problem with old plastics. Regardless of whether servicing with the greatest of care or properly packing for shipment, age has caused these types of plastics to become incapable of tolerating the slightest bit of physical stress without cracking. Even if you had an original box with the styrofoam forms for packing, I'm not convinced that the plastics could survive shipping without damage. Since it's protected by the outer bezel, what caused you to need a replacement inner bezel? Were you swapping out a scratched outer bezel or changing the housing color?
Because the 1998 -2001 iMacs will eventually fail for other reasons after years of usage, the demand for replacement, internal plastic parts is essentially nonexistent. Today, there's just no incentive to manufacture a replacement part for a computer that old. An undamaged bezel could be used to create a duplicate with a 3D printer, but if you had a pristine original as a prototype, you wouldn't need to make a copy.
Welcome!
"Where can I get ...." questions are hard to handle here without our knowing your approximate wherabouts. These are world-wide English-language forums so it does you little good if we recommend a source that is a 3000km drive away, or does not ship to your part of the world.
If you are in the US or Canada, consider PowerBook Medic. They have maintained stocks of used/pulled part for old Macs for a long time. Admittedly, COVID seems to reduced their inventory for some model but it is certainly worth a try. I kept a friend's three G3 PowerBook "Wallstreets" in working order far past their "use-by" dates with PBM's help.
TIP: PowerBook Medic's model listings often use Apple's arcane "order numbers" (like "M8582LL/A ") to identify Apple computers. The only place you can usually find your order number is on a sticker on the shipping package, which I'm guessing you no longer have. The best research tool for working with those designators is free, easy to use, and in the Mac App Store: the MacTracker database. There are versions that run on macOS, iOS and iPadOS.
Good luck! I too love keeping old Macs serviceable.
The bezel is part #922-3615. I don't know if you're aware, but replacing it requires disassembly of the entire iMac, including discharging the CRT after the rear upper housing has been removed. Since you've had it connected to power, don't disregard the potential for severe electric shock if you don't discharge it properly. In addition to the housing and chassis components, you'll be removing the analog video board and power supply, before laying it face down on its screen to lift off the CRT bezel frame and (finally) the CRT itself. That inner bezel with microphone clipped in it is the last part you get to. That's a lot of work, just to replace a cracked piece of plastic. If you're experienced with CRT video repairs, you'll know why I mentioned the safety concerns. If not, it's a repair that's better left to someone who is trained for it.
As for PBM, the $10 part is listed as "Out of Stock," which usually means a crystal ball would be needed to guesstimate if and when they'll ever have one in stock again. If this were 10-15 years ago, you'd have better luck finding it.
Thank you for the feedback! I decided to remove the other case and outer bezel because the shattered plastic was rattling around inside like a maraca. I wanted to remove the broken pieces to prevent them from possibly melting inside or possibly interfering with the CRT when I use the computer. Upon opening the case, quite a bit of plastic debris came out. No more maraca iMac, LOL.
If and when I do find this piece, I might see about trying to get it scanned for a 3D print file to share online, if it’s not too expensive to do. Once scanned, I’d just use the piece and keep the file handy.
I will likely just put it back together since it’ll probably take me a while to find a donor computer or the part. I’m considering going to Vintage Computer Fest SE later this summer - I might find what I need there and be able to drive it back home with me, ensuring the smoothest ride home possible.
Thank you for the reply! I’m in Southwest, Florida USA. I will try PBM and use that data base to find it!
PBM are in Madison Al so that should work.
Well-played!
Where to find a new inner bezel for iMac G3 tray loader?
