[NTLK] eMate spring repair

[Michael Sheflin]

That was ambiguous - I meant the exact specifications of the "spring" that
you replace the original springs with during the repair?

On Fri, Mar 19, 2021, 2:36 PM Michael Sheflin <sheflinm at gmail.com> wrote:

> Do you know the exact specifications of the springs?
>
> I was once able to find a bulk load of unshipped floppy drives of the same
> model used in mid- to late-80s Macs which could have served as a source of
> replacement gears.  If the spring is general enough, there may be a
> cheap-ish readymade supply (?).
>
> On Fri, Mar 19, 2021, 2:33 PM NewtonTalk <newtontalk at pda-soft.de> wrote:
>
>> > The addition of a flat washer mitigates the problem but doesn't actually
>> cure it.
>>
>> That's correct. However, using a creased washer with a sufficient diameter
>> will ensure that, once the spring leg pops out, it'll be too short to
>> puncture the display ribbon cable. So the worst that can happen is that
>> the
>> lid gets wobbly.
>>
>> > The correct solution is to swap the existing springs for a single spring
>> that loops over the retaining screw instead of just laying on both sides.
>> That will solve the problem once and for all.
>>
>> I've always been wondering why Apple didn't build the eMate that way to
>> begin with. It's the obvious solution!
>>
>> > It is fairly easy to make a replacement spring.
>>
>> Hmmm... well... maybe for some people... but... you know... some people
>> are
>> even shying away from soldering the speaker and backlight wires...
>>
>> ;-)
>>
>> > I am putting together a set of instructions on how to do it and will
>> make
>> them available when I have completed them.
>>
>> I just read them. Very well done! Would be cool if we could find someone
>> who
>> can fabricate a small batch for a reasonable price. I'll be more than
>> happy
>> to review the final result and upload that review to my site ;-)
>>
>> Please allow me two suggestions reg. your instructions:
>>
>> a) While fabricating the spring, things will be easier and safer if you
>> securely fasten the drill in the vice prior to the step where you're using
>> the awl to keep the loop from collapsing.
>>
>> b) I'd recommend greasing the new spring BEFORE putting the shaft in. Not
>> only will this make it much easier to put the shaft back in, but it'll
>> also
>> ensure there's a thin layer of grease between the spring and the shaft.
>> If you grease the spring when it's already ON the shaft, you will no
>> longer
>> be able to reach the most crucial area.
>>
>> When I rebuild hinges, I grease the spring from the inside and also put a
>> thin layer on the shaft. Then I reassemble everything, and finally I
>> squeeze
>> more grease in the gap between the spring and the shaft. So far I've never
>> had a complaint.
>>
>> Frank
>>
>> -- Newton software and hardware at http://www.pda-soft.de
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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>>
>