How to replace touchpad on a CF-29?

I took the bottom of and replaced the little controller board with 3 ZIF connectors on it and that didn't fix the problem. I now know that I need to replace the touch pad its self. But what do I need to do to do this?

Thanks

PS, the mouse is jumping around when you touch it and, NO, it isn't the GPS patch problem.

 

From the CF-29 Service Manual:

Removing the Palm Top Cover
Sheet, Palm Top Cover, Touch Pad
Adhesion Seat, Touch Pad, Touch
Pad SW Knob, LED PCB and SW
LED PCB

1. Remove the Palm Top Cover Sheet.
2. Remove the five Screws<e>, and remove Palm Top Cover.
3. Remove the Touch Pad Adhesion Seat.
4. Remove the Touch Pad.
5. Remove the Touch Pad SW Knob and Touch Pad SW Knob In.
6. Remove the LED PCB.
7. Remove the PW LED Sheet.
8. Remove the Screw<f>, and remove the SW LCD PCB.

Setting the Palm Top Cover Sheet, Palm Top Cover, Touch Pad Adhesion Seat, Touch Pad, Touch Pad SW Knob, LED PCB and SW LED PCB

1. Set the SW LED PCB.
2. Attach the Power LED Packing Sheet to the LED Spacer Sheet.
3. Attach the LEDX6 Spacer Sheet on the SW LED PCB.
4. Fix the SW LED PCB using the Screw<f>.
5. Attach the PW LED Sheet.
6. Pass the Cable of LED PCB through the hole 1 on the Top Cabinet, then set the LED PCB.
7. Attach the LED Spacer Sheet on the LED PCB
8. Set the Touch Pad SW Knob In and Touch Pad SW Knob.
9. Attach the TP Bottom Tape to the Touch Pad.
10. Pass the Cables of the Touch Pad through the hole 2 on the Top Cabinet, set the Touch Pad.
11. Attach the Touch Pad Adhesion Seat.
12. Fix the Palm Top Cover using the five Screws<e>. No1 to No5
13. Attach the Palm Top Cover Sheet.
Note:
Tighten the Screws in the numbered order (No1 to No5).

 

Well, I did that and totally ruined the touchpad and the plastic sticker that goes on the palm rest.

What a nightmare! I though I could have a donor machine since I got about 10 parts CF-29's laying around... GUESS NOT!

I will have to order replacement parts from Heartland.

Ohh well

 

Dont Throw It Against The Wall !!!

 

This is the worst repair possible
I won't even try to replace any of the touchpads on the fully rugged models
The only option is to have a new cover
As when you replace the old cover you mess it up and wreck it

 

Talk to saddlemaker. He has done several touchpad and palmrest replacements. It is possible and not insanely difficult if you know the tricks. I have done one myself.
Hot water and a wide putty knife are the required tools. Real slow is the required speed.

Shawn

 

Yes, thats why this repair is difficult for someone like Rob or myself
We are sales oriented
Going slow means missing out on business, and eating baloney sandwiches rather than a nice steak

I work full speed ahead without regard to damage I cause
Heck thats why we own Toughbooks

 

I did one of these on my CF-28; the trick was to cut a small piece of aluminum plate (I used some 1/16" plate from an old HDD chassis, but I'm sure any old PC case would be thick enough) just big enough to protect the PCB. Remove the metal retaining bracket and ribbon cable to the controller (pretty much everything you can unscrew) and heat the shell around the touchpad from the BACK. When the top side is hot enough that you need to stick your finger in your mouth after touching it for a full second (Yes, that IS how I tested it on mine; I know - real "Engineer-ily" ) let the plate fall to the floor while you flip it over. On mine, I barely had to press on the touchpad for it to fall out; I heated the chassis again for a minute to soften the glue and put the new/used one in the same way. Solid as a rock.

mnem
Tsssst! is TOO HOT!

 

Thats how I do it to, works like a champ! Do the touch-pad replacement often, when they are used alot they get glossy from wear and your finger sticks to it.

 

Yup. That's how mine was... but it was "skippy" too. New/used one from Gravitar (Thanks, dude - wherever you are) fixed me right up.

mnem
Squeee!

 

Picked up a 29 on ebay with a dent in the touchpad for a couple hundred bucks. Purchased all of the recommended replacement parts in the manual from Heartland and followed the manual instructions. Was fairly simple if you follow the procedure. Haven't had a problem since.

fstik

 

@fstik
What parts did you order, and what was the cost

 

It's been several years, so I don't remember the parts ordered or the costs. I remember the touchpad adhesive strips, the touchpad itself, and the top cover decal. I ordered a couple of the touchpad strips in case I had trouble placing the touchpad assembly. Like everyone else has said, take your time...

fstik

 

What is the top cover decal , does it cover the whole palmrest area ?

 

Sorry, it is the Palm Top Cover Sheet. Basically a big decal/sticker that covers the top cover around the touchpad. I only ordered one of those, so had to be careful when I installed that.

fstik

BTW, I used to post under fstik1, did some work with the GPS mod a couple of years ago. Couldn't remember my login.

 

How do you remove the palm rest cover? I have found that if you take rubbing alcohol and rub lightly on the Touchpad it brings it back to new. My MK2 gets shiny pretty quick and this is how I bring it back. What's wierd is that my MK3 does not get like this. My 31 is too new to tell yet.

 

If you are careful you can use nail-polish remover on the touch-pad. It
"melts" the surface just enough to get rid of the shinny surface. Don't get it on the other plastic parts though as it will eat them. Safest is to remove the palm rest panel then wipe down the touch-pad with the nail-polish remover.

 

Acetone, noted! Thanks for the tip!

 

Or... Just paint the touchpad with red fingernail polish!

 

If this is actually something you can do without damaging anything I will paint my blue............ Thoughts??

 

Last night I was cleaning my CF-28 touchpad. It started jumping and as of this morning is still bad. I am so annoyed.

This means I'm down to (2) working systems and I guess I have to learn how to replace them on a CF-28 or look for a newer CF-28 on EBAY.

I have a bunch of parts including system tops so I'll also see about exchanging the entire top.

It would be nice to find some new touchpad assemblies, I have a heat gun and good karma.

I haven't been here in a long time, been too busy working and trying to survive and although I've rebuilt 3-4 systems since the last time I spoke I just am too busy actually using them to talk about them.

Greetings to those who still remember me.

 

Since you have to remove the whole top to replace the touchpad you might just as well just swap in a whole top with a good pad.
CAP

 

That's what I've done before now. If NEW touchpads were available I might like to try it at least once to develop some kind of easy to perform procedure.

I've been on ebay today looking for suitable donor machines and it's the first time I've looked in a few years. The pickings are slim, the vendors seem unusually clueless and from reading their auctions, I don't much trust anything they say.

The time is drawing closer to when I will just have to shift to newer systems. I will miss my CF-28s.