CharlieBee
Well-Known Member
HP dv7 Laptop and other models Screen Hinge Failures are a common problem with recent models. I hope this write up is helpful to some.
I have determined the root cause of HP dv7 laptops and probably other HP laptops hinge issues is due to a too tight hinge joint because the hinge nut is too tight. The high hinge tension is set at the HP factory or was set by the hinge manufacturer and then installed by HP. This nut tension specification is way too tight for what is needed to hold up the screen and is too high for the hinge nut holding pedestals not to fail with usage. A contributing cause is feeble plastic pedestals that hold the metal nuts used to hold screws that hold the hinge to the base of the computer. These pedestals need much more plastic to do the job.
The excessively tight hinge requires too much force to be used to open and close the laptop screen and eventually, often after the warranty expires, to loosen the hinge screws and the hinge arm puts unusual forces on the weak plastic pedestals, holding the metal nuts securing the hinge screws to the computer base, breaking them and allowing the hinge arm to destroy anything in its way.
If you notice your hinge catching or a hinge end corner of the laptop base separating at the seam, your too tight hinge has pulled the metal nuts off the plastic pedestals. The only fix is to open up the computer, repair the nuts with J B Weld and reinstall the screws. Then cut out the hinge covers over the hinge nuts with a razor saw and loosed the hinge nuts to maximum CCW to the stop, with a 7/32” open end wrench. The hinge nut only moves about 1/3 of a turn from unmovable tight to maximum looseness, which I found to be an adequate setting.
How I repaired my HP dv7-7027cl Laptop Hinge Failure
I recently had the hinge problem with my HP dv7-7027cl laptop. Luckily it was the right hinge that pulled the metal nuts out of the plastic pedestals holding the hinge to the frame. The plastic pedestals anchor the metal nuts to the bottom of the keypad deck. These were fixed with J B Weld (Marine-Tex would be a better choice as it is a putty with less running than the glue like J B Weld) and the hinge was attached to the bottom with four ¾ “ long, 2.5 mm bolts with fine treads to match the re-installed nuts in the strengthened pedestals.
The left hinge had loose hinge screws but no damage. I installed bolts in place of screws on both hinges. Bolts were installed with ½” flat fender washers, through the bottom of the laptop, tightened to the nuts on the pedestals, hinge added and capped with a lock washer and double nutted on top of the hinge.
I had bought a new set of hinges before I started the repair and computer disassemble but did not put them in. Upon examining the new hinges I could see and feel the extreme pressure that was required to move both of them. I then took a wrench and loosened the hinge nuts of the spare hinge, by turning them counter clock wise, looking head on the nut, to the stop. The nut only turns about 1/3 of a turn, stop to stop. Full CCW made the hinge much easier to move but is still quite tight.
I did not want to replace the old hinge with the new one as I would have to pull the screen frame all apart and there was nothing wrong with the originals hinges except too much tension caused by too tight of a hinge nut.
I figured out about where the nut on the hinges was behind the hinge covers between the laptop body and the screen frame. I used a hobby razor saw to saw two slots on each side of the nut in the plastic hinge covers and cut and broke out a 3/16 “ slot over each nut and used an offset, open end, 7/32” wrench to lower the torque needed to move the hinge by turning each nut full CCW. This made the screen much easier to open and close, similar to my old Toshiba laptop, and the screen was secure and holds its position. I installed a piece of black plastic electrical tape to cover the slot I cut in the hinge covers. This keeps dust out and hides the slot.
I hope this write up helps others with their HP laptop hinges.
Probullrider
I have determined the root cause of HP dv7 laptops and probably other HP laptops hinge issues is due to a too tight hinge joint because the hinge nut is too tight. The high hinge tension is set at the HP factory or was set by the hinge manufacturer and then installed by HP. This nut tension specification is way too tight for what is needed to hold up the screen and is too high for the hinge nut holding pedestals not to fail with usage. A contributing cause is feeble plastic pedestals that hold the metal nuts used to hold screws that hold the hinge to the base of the computer. These pedestals need much more plastic to do the job.
The excessively tight hinge requires too much force to be used to open and close the laptop screen and eventually, often after the warranty expires, to loosen the hinge screws and the hinge arm puts unusual forces on the weak plastic pedestals, holding the metal nuts securing the hinge screws to the computer base, breaking them and allowing the hinge arm to destroy anything in its way.
If you notice your hinge catching or a hinge end corner of the laptop base separating at the seam, your too tight hinge has pulled the metal nuts off the plastic pedestals. The only fix is to open up the computer, repair the nuts with J B Weld and reinstall the screws. Then cut out the hinge covers over the hinge nuts with a razor saw and loosed the hinge nuts to maximum CCW to the stop, with a 7/32” open end wrench. The hinge nut only moves about 1/3 of a turn from unmovable tight to maximum looseness, which I found to be an adequate setting.
How I repaired my HP dv7-7027cl Laptop Hinge Failure
I recently had the hinge problem with my HP dv7-7027cl laptop. Luckily it was the right hinge that pulled the metal nuts out of the plastic pedestals holding the hinge to the frame. The plastic pedestals anchor the metal nuts to the bottom of the keypad deck. These were fixed with J B Weld (Marine-Tex would be a better choice as it is a putty with less running than the glue like J B Weld) and the hinge was attached to the bottom with four ¾ “ long, 2.5 mm bolts with fine treads to match the re-installed nuts in the strengthened pedestals.
The left hinge had loose hinge screws but no damage. I installed bolts in place of screws on both hinges. Bolts were installed with ½” flat fender washers, through the bottom of the laptop, tightened to the nuts on the pedestals, hinge added and capped with a lock washer and double nutted on top of the hinge.
I had bought a new set of hinges before I started the repair and computer disassemble but did not put them in. Upon examining the new hinges I could see and feel the extreme pressure that was required to move both of them. I then took a wrench and loosened the hinge nuts of the spare hinge, by turning them counter clock wise, looking head on the nut, to the stop. The nut only turns about 1/3 of a turn, stop to stop. Full CCW made the hinge much easier to move but is still quite tight.
I did not want to replace the old hinge with the new one as I would have to pull the screen frame all apart and there was nothing wrong with the originals hinges except too much tension caused by too tight of a hinge nut.
I figured out about where the nut on the hinges was behind the hinge covers between the laptop body and the screen frame. I used a hobby razor saw to saw two slots on each side of the nut in the plastic hinge covers and cut and broke out a 3/16 “ slot over each nut and used an offset, open end, 7/32” wrench to lower the torque needed to move the hinge by turning each nut full CCW. This made the screen much easier to open and close, similar to my old Toshiba laptop, and the screen was secure and holds its position. I installed a piece of black plastic electrical tape to cover the slot I cut in the hinge covers. This keeps dust out and hides the slot.
I hope this write up helps others with their HP laptop hinges.
Probullrider
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