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Posts: 147 | Thanked: 228 times | Joined on Feb 2010 @ Toronto, Canada
#12
Originally Posted by atunguyd View Post
IT might be worth adding one thing to your instructions. Before applying the epoxy wipe the usb connector and surrounding PCB area with an ear bud soaked in ethanol (alcohol) or acetone (nail polish remover). This will remove any flux that may still exist on the board from manufacture and ensure a better bond for the epoxy.
Very good point, I actually hadn't thought of it. It should definitely help. I can't go back and redo mine, it's epoxied for good.

It might also be a good idea to try somehow cover the holes in the USB socket to ensure that epoxy does not get into it and prevent the plug from being inserted cleanly. I have been trying to think of a way to acomplish this. One ide is to use very small pieces of blue-tac (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-Tack) since if these get through to the internal connecter they should be harmless and probably come out with the plug next time it is removed.
Alternatively gaffer tape or masking tape would work too. I opted not to bother, and just keep the epoxy mainly in the back of the USB port. Not that you don't have enough room to apply more of it. The way the n900 is designed, the system board has a LOT of room around it where the USB port is located.

I intend to do this mod to my N900 this weekend. As they say prevention is better than cure.
Well, this fix only applies to working N900s. Once the USB port breaks, there's nothing you can do about it.

Originally Posted by Hoxzer View Post
Many of us, especially with no experience in hardware modding have no courage to open their 500 euro phone just to make sure it doesn't break. I rather risk my USB port breaking and then returning it to nokia for repairs than void my warranty. Of course it is different in your case as you didn't have the warranty in the first place.
I understand completely, but I can't be the only one who bought his n900 on the grey market without warranty. And believe me, I was very nervous about taking apart my n900, especially after seeing those guys butcher it in the youtube clip, and having no other instructions to follow.

Then again, I have some experience repairing laptops, so that helped. The main rule to follow is that nothing should take a lot of force to take apart.
 

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