Trashed JLPGA Help

[LCARS]

I could use some advice on how to get an unusual 170 running again. About a month ago, I won a JLPGA PowerBook 170 only to receive a badly damaged unit. The screen module is fine but the CPU case and bottom plate are cracked, split, and fractured. It is also missing the port door and color-matched feet. The screw anchors have snapped so the logic board connectors are all dislodged. It won't power up completely but the HD spins up and hums along quietly at least and it has maximum RAM.

I acquired this PowerBook specifically to use at home and on the go in wacky colorful '92 style, so I would like to repair it. What would the collective mind here do in this situation? Swap the monitor onto a functional 170 body and be content with a colorful screen on a grey body? Look for a 3D printer company to reproduce the damaged parts? Devise a way to color a standard 170 body myself? Something I haven't thought of in my disappointed stupor?

I imagine, assuming the board connections are good, that replacement caps will fix the boot failure problem (no POST chime, either)?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/abeles/sets/72157628907163495/

Pics of yours? I'd guess faking up stock parts with paint wouldn't be impractical.

But a PowerBook in golf attire? I guess we can thank heaven it's not done in a loud plaid . . . :

.

 

[Elfen]

All the internal plastic can be fixed with acetone (to melt the ABS plastic just enough to hold) and reinforced with JB-Weld Epoxy.

The external stuff? That is harder. But I'm figuring ABS plumbing Cement from the local Home Repair shop done from the inside.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Hate to say it, but that thing looks like frogdesign went kid's playgound all over that poor PowerBook. No doubt it do have a bit-o-that-camp Sixties cool!

Think a Molar Mac might benefit from that treatment?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

On a more serious note: Since he's like to carry and use the 'Book, mixing complete, painted parts with the remaining sound plastics of the original would be the way I'd go. Repair the borken parts as above and paint the leftovers from the donor9s0 for a "showpiece" at home. Two Loud GolfBooks out of the original and a donor or three work for me.

 

[LCARS]

Thank you for your replies. Elfen, good idea about acetone. I would not have thought of that right away. The biggest issue with the giant crack on the side (I am assuming my picture showed up- I can't see it) is that it flexes the board every time I open/close the screen.  I will have to further inspect the bottom plate; I may only have to adhere two screw anchors.

Not being a golf person myself, those color have no connection to it for me but they do remind me of my "rainbow" StarTAC. I can see how it would not appeal to many people. It appeals strongly to my desire not to tote around yet another silver or black laptop. I suppose adding a solid chunk of grey will help tone down the loudness, as well. Are those really golf-related colors? I always think of golfers as wearing green plaid with white V-necks.

Trash80, your practicality has inspired me. I wouldn't even know where to start to find a 3D printer outfit that would or could replicate the parts. A donor 170 is much easier to come by. I am as yet unaware of a good take-apart guide for this series. Does one exist?

 

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

MEK would be the solvent I'd use use for chemically welding ABS, Acrylic, PVC or Styrene. It's the active ingredient in commercial cements for all of these. For ABS cements, it typically makes up 3x-4x the percentage of Acetone, the rest is ABS material dissolved in that solution for viscosity variation.

The same is true for Acrylic Cement. In my Sign Shop, we dissolved acrylic in pure MEK or commercially available Acrylic cements in order to thicken the mixture when necessary.

Acetone is the most simple of the Ketones, MEK being far more volatile. It's an educated guess on my part that MEK is diluted with Acetone to give a longer "open time" or "working window" to allow the plastics (most commonly pipe and fittings for plumbing in terms of ABS.) being welded to be mooshed together just right before it sets up in the joint.

For acrylic and ABS case assembly or repair, the parts are aligned ahead of time and held in place for a hairline fit and pure, or almost pure, MEK is squirted with syringe or hypodermic type needle on an assembly bottle. The bottles are made of polyurethane, which cannot be dissolved or chemically welded in the manner of the other plastics I've mentioned. Capillary action sucks the MEK into the full surface of the hairline and welds almost instantaneously.

I can go into it in more depth, but it's really better to do your own research.

Be SURE to read the MSDS sheets on anything you decide to use.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

170 Service Source is currently available on gamba2, snag it!

http://home.earthlink.net/~gamba2/index.html

 

[Byrd]

Care to show us pics of the damaged machine?  We might have more tips.  I'd suspect sourcing a donor PB170 would be the way to go on a lot of things, and if really damaged ... vinyl dye some stock PB170 plastic parts.  Will be a lot of work, but obviously worth the effort.

 

[haplain]

As the saying goes, beggars can't be choosers. While I'd like to have a PERFECT LPGA PowerBook they seem to evade me so I took what I could get.

Rather than starting a new topic I figured I'd just continue on this tread. The LPGA PB showed up today, I knew it had some damage, wasn't working etc. but it still wasn't worth passing up. I didn't take picture before I started but I've reattached nearly all of the supports and screws on the bottom case. I've got a donor PB coming because I'm not going to monkey around with the electrical components; looked like a full cup of coffee toasted her so I'm not going to deal with all that. Now all I need to do is take apart the other PB, and reassemble it and I'll have the LPGA I've been looking for for quite some time!! So excited. 

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

I'm looking forward to my 180 that's coming soon, I like the look of the old PB's. A JLPGA one would be icing on the cake.

 

[haplain]

I'm super excited. The only area that will be visible (damage) is attached... Does anyone have any recommendations on how to try and fill/dye/clean up those cracks a bit? 

 

[haplain]

Don't want to duplicate threads but if anyone wants to see the finished product check my never ending quest. I'm beyond excited.