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    CF-29/30 handles: where do they wear out?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by interestingfellow, Jan 8, 2012.

  1. interestingfellow

    interestingfellow Notebook Deity

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    FOr the life of me, I can't find the wear points in the handles of CF-29's and similar.

    Which part causes the tactile "snap" lock to stop working. In which fashion is does the cam lock operate?
    Is it the T shape washers? on the flats or the verticals?
    the magnesium oval rings? or does the plastic of the handle wear down (and those 2 black plastic chassis pieces)?????

    For the life of me, I just can't "see" it....and I'm pretty good at that sort of thing.

    I've jammed some thin washers in mine, and it has helped, but that's only temporary.

    tia!
     
  2. unclemack

    unclemack Notebook Evangelist

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    Weird system innit? :D
    Works kind of like a vise-grip. "Over-centre locking" is the term by which I've always known that mechanism type - not even sure that is the correct term.
    The handle assembly is just a tiny bit longer than the mounting points, and when pressed down has to be a tiny bit below them for it to work.
    The way to make it "clickier" is to increase slightly the overall effective length of the moving assembly in relation to the distance between the pivot points on the case.
    Turning the 4 oval plastic pieces "end for end" or fixing shims beyond their outer ends will work. A few thou' is all that's needed.
    The "top hat" bushes will be worn/compressed on one part of the inner circumference - turning 180 degrees and fixing in that position would help but can't see an easy way to do it.
    'course you could probably just buy the plastic parts from Heartland...
     
  3. capt.dogfish

    capt.dogfish The Curmudgeon

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  4. interestingfellow

    interestingfellow Notebook Deity

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    Thanks for the link, Cap. I like the bic pen idea. I had though of using heat shrink tubing to add to the thickness of the...."bushings". Either the hard shiny stuff so it will "click" or the softer textured heat shrink so it will glide.

    I'm gonna look a little more carefully at ace, home depot, true value, and taylors the next time(s) I'm in there...

    And anyone can just buy it from heartland... ;D (plus $25 shipping)
    thanks for the description. I think I get it....it will eventually just "click" in my mind.
     
  5. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

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    My CF-30 handle's snap lock wore out after only 1 year. Didn't care though. The finish on the magnesium alloy handle wore out in 3 years but only where the most meaty portion of my right index finger was. Probably from gripping and carrying it.

    Thanks
     
  6. interestingfellow

    interestingfellow Notebook Deity

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    Yeah, I wore the "snap" out of it in 6 months, and the finish on the inner edge of the handle in about 12 months. I take this thing everywhere though (literally). In and out of the car dock, everyday, too.

    The handle wearing out is.... a weak point (for lack of a better description) in the unit.
     
  7. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

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    My Toughbook is PERMANENTLY attached to my arm. I had a surgeon attach it that way... I literally NEVER EVER am without it...

    Is that bad? :D
     
  8. interestingfellow

    interestingfellow Notebook Deity

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    Oh yeah ;)
    I had mine wired into a port on the back of my head, implanted by a robot surgeon.....
    kinda like the matrix!

    finding drivers for that was a PITA.
     
  9. mnementh

    mnementh Crusty Ol' TinkerDwagon

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    So that's why all your posts come through upside-down. Here I figured it was just a user-specific reality filter.

    mnem
    Perception filters... at MAXIMUM!!!
     
  10. interestingfellow

    interestingfellow Notebook Deity

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    remember... there is no post.