Hinge Problems With C3000

[daniel3000]

Hello,

after about half a year of heavy use, my SL-C3000 develops problems on the hinge.
I always use the Z in clamshell-mode, i.e. like a laptop.
The angle in which the screen locks when it is opened (almost 180 degree) is not suitable for me in most situations. I mostly use it with the screen opened to about 120-130 degrees.

However, for some weeks now the hinge got looser, so the screen slowly slides back down towards the 180 degree position and after some minutes, if I don't flap it back onwards in time, it suddenly locks to that almost-180-degree position with a loud sound. Very annoying.

Does anyone also suffer from this problem?
Did anyone even find a solution for it?
The best, at least for me, would be to tighten the hinge again and to move that locking position to about 130 degrees. Is that possible?

Thanks
daniel

[bluedevils]

hmmm...I wonder if this related to the older clamshell problem with the hinge effecting the sound.  I've never opened up a Z to know if it can be tightened or to change the locking position.

[TRIsoft]

Daniel,

we can't confirm any mechanical problems with hinge of the
SL-C series. You should open the unit and try to tighten the
screws a bit (or better let your dealer do this   ).

@Bluedevils: The hinge is not the cause for the sound problem.
It's just that the whole unit moves and bends a bit if your turn
the hinge. The sound issue is often a cracked contact on the
main PWB and due to this bending the contact is established /
interrupted.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan

[daniel3000]

Just to let you know the results:

I have opened the Zaurus, took out the mainboard and keyboard in order to get to the hinge mechanics.
(Broke one of the screen cable connector locks of course, because at first I didn't know they had to be lifted. I thought they must be pulled away from the connector ;-) But no problem, it still works well).

Inspecting the hinge mechanics,  could not see the reason why the hinge is too loose. I didn't want to disassemble the hinge itself, because I'm a bit paranoid about that due to the experiences with the HP 200LX palmtop (once you disasseble its hinge, it takes about 3 hours and a lot of force and patience to get it back together).

I fastened all screws of the hinge mechanics. No change.

Then I did what I did with too loose HP 200LX hinges: Using a syringe, I sprayed about 0.5ml of isopropyl alcohol into the gaps of the hinge mechanics in order to wash away any superfluous lubricant. That did the trick! Now the hinge is as tight as it should be (and was).

Reassembling the Zaurus was easy then. Works like a charm again.

Thanks for your tips!
daniel

[bluedevils]

Correct,  I didn't mean to imply that the hinge was the cause of the problem.  Thanks for clarifying.  

@Bluedevils: The hinge is not the cause for the sound problem.
It's just that the whole unit moves and bends a bit if your turn
the hinge. The sound issue is often a cracked contact on the
main PWB and due to this bending the contact is established /
interrupted.

///TRIsoft

Marc Stephan
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=112636\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

[Quickfry]

I'm having a similar problem, my c1000, after 6 months of abuse ,decides that it should be loose as well. It has play from side to side, but more so up and down. I will try some things mentioned here and report back.