Posts by Zachary Baker2

granitecrane2 said:Just get a new one. That’s not how it should be. You shouldn't even feel the hinges. They need to work perfectly.

Looks like I overcomplicated things... 😵
I think we had a misunderstanding. My first unit (...17-by1001nm) had a broken right hinge, so I took it to an authorized service center in New York City. It was fixed, and now it works flawlessly.
With this second one (the Dell Latitude 5410), I already had the hinges replaced because they were too stiff, making cracking noises and causing the keyboard deck to warp whenever I opened the screen. Replacing them didn't actually fix my problem. Now I'm wondering if maybe just lubricating them would help? If anyone has experience with that...
As for the snarky comment above (looking at you, Mr. Chemist): regarding the warping of the keyboard deck, I don't have any exact measurements to point to. I’d need a dial indicator to actually prove anything to a technician, but honestly, I still have 10 months left on the warranty, so there's no rush...

The main difference between these two laptops is that the first one was bought from GE and serviced in New York City, while the second one's official service hub is in Boston. To make matters worse, when they swapped the hinges on the second one, they forgot to include the CD, which cost me another two weeks waiting for a reshipment. What a mess. That's why I'm asking.
Thanks

I couldn't find a thread quite like this, so here goes:
Dell Latitude 5410, 17", one year old.
Right after I bought it, whenever I tilted the screen, both hinges would lift the keyboard chassis—it’s especially obvious on the right side because there's way too much resistance in the joints. You can actually feel that tension in your hands when you move the lid, and there's this clicking sound coming from the hinge right as it starts rotating.
It happens specifically when I open the screen past a certain point, say from 80-100° up to 120° or more. It never happens if I just swing it open quickly from 0° to my desired angle.
The laptop was under warranty, so I filed a claim. The service report says they repaired it and replaced the hinge(s).
Since the repair, I haven't noticed any real change in how the hinges behave.
I still have some warranty left; I extended the factory coverage by another 12 months.
To avoid future hinge headaches, I'm actually considering applying some kind of lubricant to the friction surfaces of the hinges. I need something that won't corrode the contact points, but I also don't want to overdo it and end up with a screen that just flops over uncontrollably.
It feels pointless to go back to the repair shop just because I'm worried about a potential future failure, so I'm looking for some practical advice or recommendations from people who've dealt with this.
About a year ago, on my Dell laptop - 17-by1001nm, the right hinge snapped and the screen started wobbling. It was replaced under warranty, but now the screen slides a bit too easily when I tilt it. If anyone has any smart ideas off the top of their head...
Thanks.