Comments on: Laptop hinge is loose

Question: Laptop hinge is loose

WyoWhy — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:11:24 -0800

My laptop hinge is loose. What can I do? It's extremely annoying.

The screen won't stand up. Is there any way to tighten the hinges without taking the computer in for repair? It seems that it should be an easy repair. I can use a screwdriver.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:12:15 -0800

What kind of computer is it, he intoned.

By: helios

helios — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:15:58 -0800

What is your laptop's brand / model #? Your best bet is to try to find a forum dedicated to people who own the same laptop as you (very easy if you're a VAIO or iBook owner) and ask the same question.

By: cillit bang

cillit bang — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:17:07 -0800

Laptop hinges generally aren't tighten-able, but use a metal axle wedged inside a too-small circular spring. The correct term for such things is a "clutch".

I'd guess one of the part of this assembly has snapped. You might be able to get parts on eBay or something.

By: WyoWhy

WyoWhy — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:18:17 -0800

It's a DELL Latitude X300, she replied.

By: helios

helios — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:22:28 -0800

If you feel comfortable doing what's described here, you could probably find and tighten the hinge covers.

By: helios

helios — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:23:26 -0800

~~the hinge covers~~ *err, the hinges.

By: cillit bang

cillit bang — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:38:48 -0800

I'm still fairly certain there'll be nothing to tighten, in which case you'll need these (though installing them won't be fun).

By: subatomiczoo

subatomiczoo — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:48:48 -0800

i have an inspiron 4000 and the hinges are bad too. so i use duct tape. over time it pulls and slides and has to be replaced. but otherwise it works pretty ok.

By: mr.dan

mr.dan — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:31:18 -0800

Get it fixed. Doing otherwise will be more trouble than it's worth.

By: WyoWhy

WyoWhy — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 06:11:40 -0800

Thanks folks,
The repairs suggested by helios and cillit are way too complicated for me to attempt. One looks like brain surgery and the other looks like orthopedic surgery. No can do.

I was definitely thinking about a duct-tape-like solution like subatomiczoo (I was thinking velcro and some kind of ribbon or cord. (Glad I don't care how my laptop looks!). Ultimately, I think mr.dan is right. Any other ideas that can be accomplished without getting a computer medical degree???

By: wzcx

wzcx — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:54:49 -0800

Could you sew something up for it that looks like a "stadium chair"? You would want to make it from porous, loosely woven fabric or screen. with a sliding buckle, you can even adjust the screen angle.

By: blag

blag — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:55:50 -0800

I have a laptop sleeve from Shoreline which, as a side effect, gives the hinge more support. Worth trying.

By: WyoWhy

WyoWhy — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 04:47:13 -0800

The stadium-chair idea is exactly what I was thinking of, but the laptop sleeve seems even easier. But, blag, will this laptop sleeve hold up my display if the hinges are completely shot? Does the neoprene have enough stretch that it can hold up the display on its own?

I really appreciate everybody's help on this.

By: blag

blag — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 08:51:06 -0800

I've no idea! It helps with mine but the hinges still work, they're just a little loose. Try taking it into a store that sells sleeves and testing it?

By: wzcx

wzcx — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 22:27:18 -0800

You know, this is horribly late, but I had another idea: call a sheet metal shop and have them bend a piece of stainless steel or aluminum to an appropriate angle. Rather un-portable, but good for home.

By: WyoWhy

WyoWhy — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 16:07:34 -0800

That's a fantastic idea. Thanks!