Solving the Powerbook G3 hinge issues: aftermarket hinges

[macman0512]

Hi guys,

I've had enough. After ages looking around for good "for parts" machines to replace my PDQ and Lombard hinges, I have given up. There just aren't any left where I live for a reasonable price. Naturally, the only reasonable thing to do is to manufacture my own replacements. I'll create my own CAD files and update this thread as I go along (because I'm quite busy with other things). I do have two questions though: 1. What material was used for the original clutches? I obviously want to use something with a higher tensile strength. 2. So far it seems like PCBWay might be able to manufacture what I need, but if anyone knows of better/cheaper options, I'd gladly hear about them.

Thanks and wish me luck!

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

I *think* (keyword think) the PDQ hinges were aluminum, which is why they wear so easily.

 

[Joe Smith]

My 500 mHz Pismo has developed floppy hinges. Is there any known kluge fix for this short of replacing the hinges/screen side? I had wondered if, for instance, narrow brass metal shims inserted into the pin shaft would add some resistance and friction?

I've torn these guys down but it's been some time, and I no longer have a perfect screen side housing to swap in, short of cannibalizing a 400...

 

[mari3311]

My 500 mHz Pismo has developed floppy hinges. Is there any known kluge fix for this short of replacing the hinges/screen side? I had wondered if, for instance, narrow brass metal shims inserted into the pin shaft would add some resistance and friction?

I've torn these guys down but it's been some time, and I no longer have a perfect screen side housing to swap in, short of cannibalizing a 400...

I think the jagged part of the Pismo hinge looks like this and can be pulled out.

How about using a metal adhesive like JB Weld?

 

[mari3311]

Hi guys,

I've had enough. After ages looking around for good "for parts" machines to replace my PDQ and Lombard hinges, I have given up. There just aren't any left where I live for a reasonable price. Naturally, the only reasonable thing to do is to manufacture my own replacements. I'll create my own CAD files and update this thread as I go along (because I'm quite busy with other things). I do have two questions though: 1. What material was used for the original clutches? I obviously want to use something with a higher tensile strength. 2. So far it seems like PCBWay might be able to manufacture what I need, but if anyone knows of better/cheaper options, I'd gladly hear about them.

Thanks and wish me luck!

What about stainless steel repair parts like these?
https://buyee.jp/item/search/query/No.6420 Powerbook G3?translationType=98

 

[Joe Smith]

I think the jagged part of the Pismo hinge looks like this and can be pulled out.
View attachment 77884
How about using a metal adhesive like JB Weld?

But it still needs to be able to rotate - I was thinking maybe a very thin brass shim inserted in with the pin might provide extra friction while still allowing it to rotate...?

 

[mari3311]

But it still needs to be able to rotate - I was thinking maybe a very thin brass shim inserted in with the pin might provide extra friction while still allowing it to rotate...?

I think your idea is correct.

My proposal is to fill the gap in the yellow square part that is causing the loosening with JB Weld, and the only difference from your proposal of "a very thin brass shim" is the material.




The second photo is a Wallstreet hinge, and as you can see, the aluminum walls on both sides of Wallstreet and PDQ were very thin and prone to damage.

For that reason, in Pismo, the hinge structure of Wallstreet is swapped left and right, and the friction part is completely wrapped in aluminum as in the first photo, and the green rotating axis is fixed to the main body fixing bracket side, and since the fixed part is jagged, I think the cross section of the blue line part of Pismo has the same structure as Wallstreet.

The hinge function itself is within the red square frame of both, so I think that if the inside of only the yellow part of Pismo is fixed, the hinge will not stop rotating.

 

[Joe Smith]

Interesting! Well, I may experiment with this when back from travels in a couple of weeks. If I have any success with my modest kluge fix, I will report back... Of course, it's my only Pismo with a 500 mHz chip that developed this issue...so I either want to fix it, or do a processor swap out.