NR: Hinge problem after dropping

[ClieMarty]

first of all sorry for my bad english.

I know I should have never done this. But I did. Used my NR to serve as high tech shopping list. Lost control. Dropped it on the hard concrete supermarket floor. No case. Of course not...

Now besides some little scratches (sigh!) I notice that the hinge (?) is operating a bit harder than before. At least it seems so? Especially when I close it (screen facing keyboard) the hinge does not completely go into the wanted position. I always need to push a little (at the point where the screen is connected to the body part). This is not as much the case when I close it in tablet mode.

Well wheras it might sound severe, I can still operate the device. Everything works. Some weeks passed since the "accident". Anyhow, as I'm a bit worried a would like to know if any of you longtime NR-owners have encountered "worn-out-hinges" or any other problems - especially after dropping your device.

Thanks in advance.

[pigburger]

Being the brave psychopath that I am I would take it apart, check it out for visible signs of damage and then reassemble. Can't hurt but it might work. I wouldn't mess too much with the internal screws that you will see after taking off the back, if you don't see any physical damage then you pretty much only risk loosing screws by taking it apart further. 7 screws will do it, any more is too risky, trust me.....

[shaggly]

Unfortuantely i dropped mine too , not shopping but in the pub drinking so only to be expected i suppose......
i have tyhe opposite problem the hinge on mine is now loose and the top of the clam shell is now a bit wobbly . Think you are luckier than me.

[alfa12]

Cliemarty, just open the thing up and oil the hinges with a bit of oil (are you from Germany?? --Nähmaschinenöl) or siliconspray...
I also dropped mine on tiles and it had the same problem... The oil solved it.. But sadly the scratches are not gone... :-(((

[MikeRiegel]

The hinge "sticking" may be another problem...a loose screw.

The main trouble spot of the sticking was (for me, YMMV) some of the screws inside of the hinge assembly. The unit seems as though it is sticking, but the assembly is actually loose and rubbing in new and interesting ways. Take a deep breath and get your hands on a VERY small phillips screwdriver and dive in.

An alternate problem area was the two screws underneathe the screen bottom - they are exposed only when the screen is placed in "half-flip" mode - tighten these screws first and foremost. I go in once a month and ensure that these screws are torqued.

Yet another problem (I have dropped my NR more than anyone on the planet...I am the ultimate PDA durability test) is that the metal bar that connects with the screws mentioned in the previous statement can become bent and will mess with the opening of the unit.

Okay, here's another question - anyone know where one might get their hands on NR spare parts??? Gethightech.com has nothing for the NR, and I missing the white cover from my camera button, have taken almost all of the chrome off of the camera surround, rubbed off paint on my screen surround (hate those little nubs!!! and have a crack in the case just south of my power button - anybody have any suggestions other than "find a broken used unit..."

Have fun...