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Cracked lid - Page 2

post #21 of 66
8/10/04 at 1:24am
I have posted a tutorial on how to fix a sager 56x0 with cracked hinges. For anyone who isn't covered under warranty any more (like myself) or if you just want a permanent fix to the problem take a look

http://onthez.com/www4/tutorials.php...nge_crack.html
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post #22 of 66
8/10/04 at 2:38am
Thread Starter 
Hey JDS...Crappy that we have to fix the problem...
So, I did loosen the hinges on #3 replacement to the point where the lid will not hold itself up unless vertical. Guess what?? 3 months and BOTH front and back lids have now cracked again!!!!!!
None of them has had an impact or excessive heat.
I'm now looking into replacement LAPTOPS. This thing has been excellent except for the quality of materials and engineering.
And they raised the price of the top cover to $35. Guess they are selling too many covers!!!!
I've given up and will now resort to duct tape to hold it together until the replacement Laptop is in.
My Old (5yrs)Dell 7000 is still working and has no such issues and my Fiance is quite happy with it.
L8R
Blake
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post #23 of 66
8/12/04 at 9:16pm

do i have to dissasemble the whole laptop?

like everyone else, on my 5680, the lid started cracking. my cracks were slightly different because the right hinge barely turns at all and is the obvious reason for the cracking. i called sager and they're sending me a new case...didn't have to send a letter or anything like the rest of you. after reading through the service manual for dissambly, it appears as if the whole laptop must be taken apart to get to the hinges. i definitely need to loosen them. is there anyone else who was able to loosen the hinges without taking everything else apart? any comments are appreciated.
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post #24 of 66
9/7/04 at 1:53pm

Had the same problem, odd solution

I treat my computer (np 5670) like gold, and yet had a similar problem. I actually sent mine back and they gave me a new case. I feel bad now because I figured out the problem was from me. In my case it turned out that it was from my backpack.

I bought a Targus backpack to carry my laptop (it is not easy to find a model when you have a 15", chubby 10 lb lappy). Anyway, it fit great when I put it in, but for safety I used the little velcro strap that held it in its pouch. When securely fastened, that little strap puts enough force on the screen to flex it to the point of cracking despite all the padding. I found this out after they fixed it, and another crack appeared. Now I don't close the strap, and poof no problems. More than anything though, it is just that the case is not strong on these laptops. In a padded space it still managed to crack.

On a sidenote, is anyone else's paint (around the keyboard) chipping off like crazy? I don't know if I have battery acid for sweat or what, but my paint is coming off everywhere, and the frequently used keys on my keyboard are polished to a mirror shine.
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post #25 of 66
9/7/04 at 2:50pm
Thread Starter 
Doesn't really matter how nice you are to it. You shouldn't feel "bad" you should feel "MAD". I have replaced 3 of these now. The first 2 I did not loosen the hinges and I thought that was the problem. Replaced it with a 3rd (paid $25, $25, and now $30 for the cover), loosened the hinges to the point where the lid almost falls, and now #3 has cracked also.
And I build multi-million $$$ robots so I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing when I replace these things.
Sager is really happy to take your money for the replacement.
Also, I no longer travel much and #3 has been basically used as a "Desktop".
It hasn't traveled anywhere and the lid remains mostly open.
Oh, and I have Targus case too.

This is definetely a Design issue on the 56XX series. There is little support for the "torque" and "deflection" caused by opening/closing the cover.
IT'S Plastic!!!
There is a flimsy RF/EMI shield inside but it does NOTHING.
The plastic lid takes most of the load.

But Damn this thing kicks Butt. I think this time I'll use duct tape....

B
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post #26 of 66
9/7/04 at 3:21pm

Duct Tape?

That is for fixing NASCARS. Use stickers, preferrably bright, flashy ones. The more attention your laptop attracts, the more people may buy one. Then Sager's R&D budget might get upped enough to include a reinforced monitor lid (although I haven't checked lately to see if new models include one).
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post #27 of 66
9/10/04 at 8:26pm

cracks fixed by sager

I thought i would just let everyone follow this problem with their sagers that I sent in my 5680 to get the cracks fixed and they did as well as loosening the hinges noticably. I am obviously going to be more careful but I think they did a good job and would just like people to know, if they are worried about their cracks
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post #28 of 66
9/13/04 at 4:05am
I have a crack across the back of my 5660 also by the hinge, just appeared about a few months ago. It seems it was from the stress like you guys said, cause my hinges are pretty tight. Gonna order a new casing and loosen the hinges a bit also.
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post #29 of 66
9/13/04 at 3:59pm
Tight hinges doesn't seem to be the one causing the problem. I got my 5690 back 2 months ago after going in for crack repair, they loosened the hinges considerably, and I still got cracks again. It's simply a case design flaw. One drop of invisible superglue on the crack will stop it from growing
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post #30 of 66
12/15/04 at 10:51pm
Hey Guys, I have had my 5680 for just over a year, and the cracks formed about 3 weeks ago. As an FYI, the cracks are NOT covered under the extended warrenty. One thing I noticed after ordering the now 50$ LCD casing, was that the metal support bracket on the left side of the laptop is notibly thinner than the right hand side bracket and that my support bracket had cracked at bend where the bracket meets the hinge mount point. while it hadn't broken off, it wobbled like a loose tooth. chances are, if the folks who experienced this problem did not replace the bracket as well as the plastic casing, the lid would crack again within weeks of normal use.

Like most, the system gets normal use, and the lid gets opened and closed a few times per day. however, I do tend to baby the system and don't really move itaround that much.

Note: Adam, this is a fairly common problem, just not one that gets reported very much on the forums. I have not talked to very many owners of a 56xx series or an Alienware Area-51M that has not had the case crack around the left hand hinge.

-W
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post #31 of 66
12/15/04 at 11:45pm

Your other left?

What are you using to determine left or right hinge? Mine (which has cracked again) is cracking next to the what I call the right side hinge, not the left. The one I am referring to is the one that is directly above the headphone jack.

Incidentially, no one ever replied to my earlier comment. Aside from the cracking case, has anyone noticed the paint flaking off like a leper's skin (no offense to any Sager fans with lepracy)? Mine is doing it like crazy, especially along top of the frame (to the left and right of the transparent purplish plastic piece). It is quite unsightly (read butt ugly).
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post #32 of 66
12/16/04 at 1:04am
Thread Starter 
Mine was fine. I did notice on the first set I replaced, the lower part that gets trapped by the screws was bent in a radius. I flatened it back out before I reassembled it. Cracked again anyway. Right now, my old 5660 is in repair limbo. I sent it to MicroMedics per the Philips Xwarranty, and they decided that my power supply was bad. Funny, Sager said the Mboard was dead. So supposedly it is being returned to me working....Yeah, right....
I did replace the lid before I sent it in so when it is finaly running again I will fill the covers with epoxy to strengthen everthing.
Oh, I love my new 4380... It Rocks!!!

Blakee
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post #33 of 66
12/22/04 at 2:31am
Noticed my 10 month old 5680 cracking top and bottom lids on the left hand side (power cord side) and on the top lid on the right. My machine has been sitting on a desk most of the time open. When I transport it I'm very careful and have a custom made padded backpack I carry it in.

Really nice bag too, bought it in Korea while stationed there.
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post #34 of 66
12/28/04 at 11:29am
Thought I'd chime in with it's happened to me too. My couple year old 5600 just started cracking a couple weeks ago. I've emailed for procedures on getting a new lid. I am disheartened to see people reporting the problem surfacing again in a short time frame after replacing the lid. I was hoping that replacing the lid would get me another couple years. While I am overall happy with the purchase I'd rethink buying a Sager next time. I don't replace my laptop every two years, so I need something that wont fall apart.
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post #35 of 66
12/29/04 at 9:22am
I've got this problem on my 8887 too. It got so bad that the plastic around the hinge eventually broke off and now I have to order a $35 lid that will, as it seems, eventually break again.
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post #36 of 66
12/29/04 at 9:43am

Its all in the hinges

Do a search about this issue. Start herehttp://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=42383

If you don't go through the hassle of backing off the tension on the hinges, you will be replacing the lid again & again.....
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post #37 of 66
3/29/05 at 4:54am
Thread Starter 
Well, Crap. My "New" 4380 has now had the LCD cover replaced due to cracks. Happened in Feb after only 2 months. Sager replaced it and sent it back 2weeks later.
Now, #2 has hairline cracks appearing on the left hinge after only a MONTH and I'm sure they will propogate as before. I told Sager that the hinges were too tight and that they needed to be loosened.... They forgot. Now it looks like it is going to go in for Set #3.
They suggested that I use "Both hands" when opening or closing.... Duh....has 2 latches, you kinda gotta do that unless you have a strong tongue, dontcha???
I should have listened to my self before buying another CRACKER Notebook. My 5660 ended up having 5 new covers even with loosening the hinges. It went in for a new MB in November and they replaced the lid then too.
So, now I have a 5660 that has a new lid and I'm afraid to open or close it... and I have my 4380 which is still under warranty.... but is cracked again.
IT IS A CRAP DESIGN.
I have not taken the 4380 apart, but I know it is going to look exactly like the 56XX.
I should have known when my first 4380 died after 3 weeks and they sent me a new one....
Oh, and this one has never been in the "bag" or traveled anywhere except from the family room to my bedroom.
Never dropped, kicked, thrown or anything... Just opened and closed like a hinged thing should be.....(Mostly I leave it open so I don't stress the cover!!!)
Sorry for the Rant......Yeah, I'm $1800 Pissed.

B
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post #38 of 66
4/28/05 at 3:18pm
My Sager 5690 has a pretty big crack running horizontally from the right side to the middle of the right hinge. I'm pretty pissed as well. I thought getting a Sager would be the best laptop purchase I could make. Guess not. Spent $2500 bucks on it May 2004, and I'll probably end up buying a new laptop with the next 6 months cause it was a mistake. The crack in the lid was just the beginning. It's really a weird relationship between me and this laptop. I love it for the purpose of being a desktop replacement, but the fans are so noisy and the battery life is so short (even with 2 batteries), it's not good for anything besides sitting on a desk at home (and even then it'll develop stress cracks), so it's not what I need.
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post #39 of 66
4/29/05 at 9:56am
Your warranty might still be active..give Sager a call and get the work order in now while it is possibly active. All you have to do then is just ship it to them.
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post #40 of 66
4/29/05 at 4:55pm
Thread Starter 
Colin, the point is that this has been a long term issue for Sager.
It is an engineering issue and a bad design.

Not only did it happen on my 5660, it has happened on my 4380.
There are lots of people having the same issues.
And even though it is under warranty, it is a BigPITA and you lose your computer for 2 weeks each time.
Yes, they have fixed my new unit 2x, but it has done it again. This will make 6weeks of the 5months I have had this one, at Sagers repair shop.

Does that seem right?

Warranty doesn't mean much.....just means I don't have to pay for the parts.
And I have already paid $30 to ship it to them 2x already....
They don't cover that.....

They need to fix the problem, not repair it when it does break.

B
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