PowerBook G3 (Wallstreet/PDQ) Hinge

[flexo]

Years ago, when I was much younger, I remember buying a Wallstreet (or PDQ?) for around ~$10-15 because it was in horrible shape. But the worst thing about it was that the left hinge was completely broken. It was so bad that screen couldn't even stay up.

Fast forward to this year, I bought a PDQ in good shape, maxed out the RAM, got a WiFi card, installed an SSD. I was using it as a bed-time-reading machine (Classilla renders Wikipedia etc pretty well) - until today. I was playing around with CodeWarrior (I'm trying to learn Toolbox programming) and wanted to take a break - while I was closing the lid I heard a loud cracking sound.

I opened it and boom: the left hinge is gone. I'm guessing the right one wasn't in such good shape either, because - just like the other one I once had - it can barely stay upwards now.

So I was just wondering, for those who might've experienced something like this:

1. Is there a way to fix this? I've checked eBay but couldn't find any parts that fits mine (most are for Pismo or 12"/13" models)
   
   Does anyone know any online stores that sells such parts? Or anyone here has some spare parts for sale?
   

[*]How prevalent is this problem? Is this a design fault? I don't want to buy another PDQ just to have another broken left hinge 2 weeks later..

1. 
   I know that based my experience this is just anecdotal but so far I've had a 100% failure rate on PDQ/Wallstreet left hinges (lol)
   
2. I think Pismo/Lombard hinges are better? (I remember having a Pismo which could take a lot of abuse) - but I must say I like Wallstreet/PDQs much better.
   

Thank you!

 

[galgot]

Hi,

best way to fix it is replacement, you can find some on powerbookmedic.com (complete display with hinges, not cheap...) or thebookyard.com (hinges only, but not cheap either...). Sometime buying a wreck with good hinges is much cheaper . Also you have to find the good type of hinge , cause there are 3 model of Wallstreet display, 14.1", 13.3" or 12.1" and hinges assembly are differents . Also a right can't replace broken left one and viceversa...

you can try 3d printing one too :



Not perfect tho, cause my solution is not tight enough...

Yes the problem is a design fault, the part that fail the most often is made of soft metal, so how it gets old depends how the rough the user was with the lid , closing and opening it i suppose.

a very good read on the matter here :

https://web.archive.org/web/20060318023816/http://macopinion.com/columns/roadwarrior/04/08/31/index.html

and some links :

https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~kenao/unhinged/

hinges problems were apparently solved on Lombard/Pismos. But i do too prefer my Wallstreet/PDQ even tho they are bulkier, slower, more fragile...

 

[flexo]

Ugh. You've just confirmed everything I feared..

I've checked both websites, they were both out of stock - and yeah, expensive! Bookyard sells one hinge for $15 while PBM sells screens starting at $35 going up to $60! There are machines cheaper than that on eBay hahah

I could just buy another PDQ/Wallstreet and swap the insides but I guess I'll move on to a Pismo or Lombard - I don't want to spend money on a machine that will fall apart due to normal use.. which is a shame because for whatever reason I've never liked Pismos. Not sure if it's the lack of the rainbow Apple logo, dedicated volume keys, that delightful PC Card Eject mechanism or the presence of that "bronze" keyboard which, in my opinion, is... not that good looking, to say the least. My poor PDQ, it even had 2 batteries in perfect condition that held full charges, could go on for 4.5+ hours without me having to charge it.  

I think the best bet is to 3D print them, though I couldn't design or print a 3D object to save my life.. sign me up for 2 hinges if you succeed though!  

 

[flexo]

Speaking of moving to a Pismo, it appears that my Pismo doesn't like the SSD I've used in the Wallstreet (holding Alt shows the HDD as "Macintosh HD" but I get the "floppy drive with question mark icon" when I try to boot off it) does anyone know how to fix this?

 

[techknight]

Problem is hinges need greased over time. I have learned that. Otherwise they get so tight, the torsion overcomes the plastic's tensile strength. And plastic brittling from age doesnt help either. 

So grease and loosen the hinges a tiny bit. 

 

[tanaquil]

What do you use to grease the hinges? WD40, or something more specialized?

I have a recently acquired Wallstreet to care for. 

 

[Unknown_K]

The broken hinges I have seen were just from metal fatigue. Since the video cable is wrapped around the hinge it is easy to rip the cable when the hinge goes.