Digest Articles Hingepin removal by Lo Len Smucker From: Lo Len Smucker Subject: Hingepin removal Date: Sat, 26 Jul 1997 17:50:51 -0400 (EDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >My rarely used, 1-year old Poqet is already developing a hairline crack on >the hindge. I've heard some people pulling out the pin and put insomething >less destructive. Well, I'm thinking of doing so. But how? How do I pull >the pin out without destrying the whole thing or make the hindge crack >worse? The following is the procedure I used to remove the hingepins on two Poqets. After removing the pins, I reduced their circumference by closing the slit in the pin and then replaced them. Before beginning, I first removed the small spring on the right hinge. 1. 24 hours before I removed the pins, I put a couple of drops of 3 in 1 oil in each hinge. 2. I then inserted a very tiny metal screw into the hinge pin (using it as a turn-out tool) and gave it a few turns until it became securely attached to the hollow pin. Slowly I turned the screw back and forth (holding the screw with a small pliers) while gradually pulling the screw and pin out. 3. I closed the slit in the pins by putting them in a small vice, reducing the circumference of each pin. 4. I wrapped the pins in a small amount of vaseline and replaced them in the hinges. Since the removal and re-entry of the pins left the screen/lid vulnerable to being opened too far -- endangering the cable, I fashioned a holder out of an old band saw blade after grinding the teeth down and made a cloth case for same. I slide it under the Poqet when opened to prevent the screen/lid from going back too far. Len