G4 iMac refurbishment queries

[CooperBox]

I've fallen to temptation. Again! Got hold of yet another iMac 'Sunflower' which I'm in the process of completely refurbishing.
There are 2 issues I've not come across in the past and hope some help can be given.
i) The neck appears a little weak and results in a droop. The top screen swivel joint is ok, it's the lower joint that is causing the screen assembly to droop. I would guess that one requires a 3-pinned wrench (x2) to attempt to retighten the neck joint. Is this the case, and has anyone manufactured one and successfully tightened the neck assembly this way?

ii) There are a number of very fine scratches in the (plexigless?) screen surround. What's the best polish or paste to remove these scratches?
I plan to install an SSD with Leopard and Sorbet dual-boot, and provide the work in progress.

 

[Wild Hare]

Almost certain that there is (somewhere) a 3-pinned wrench tool made exactly for these machines… BUT I once fashioned a very primitive one that worked quite well - before I then sent it off to a friend in New Zealand.


It took a bit of effort but it can be done. See the following for how constructed:

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,4660.msg33643.html#msg33643

For scratches I lightly use a product called Novus Plastic Polish only AFTER I’m certain that the “scratches” have been cleaned with Goo-Gone (or even lighter fluid). As often what are perceived as scratches are really smudges from something else. The Novus Polish comes in three grades and I only use the lightest because it doesn’t take much rubbing before you end up with too much.

So lightly and sparingly are the operative words here… and that goes for any so-called scratch remover.

 

[CooperBox]

Thanks for the reply, and the photo.
Regarding the scratches, I assume the screen surround is an acrylic material - similar to that on less expensive watches, where PolyWatch is recommended for polishing out scratches on 'plastic' watch faces. I'm told toothpaste is also an alternative, so I'll give that a try too.

For the articulating neck, can I assume that using the pin wrench you were successful at rectifying a sagging screen assembly? Did you not find that the 'nut' on the opposite side turned too, necessitating the need for a second pin wrench?
I'll certainly try my hand at making a pair of these wrenches just in case 2 are required.

 

[siddhartha]

Just a word of caution: with Goo Gone (acetone) or lighter fluid, it can melt older plastics. Test on a small inconspicuous area first. I learned this the hard way, with an older Cube's display.

 

[Wild Hare]

ALWAYS Best Practice to test on inconspicuous area first. I always confuse GOOF OFF with GOO GONE too. [Goo GONE is the safest of the two - NO acetone.] And I’ve even been known to use Meguiar’s PlastX for cleaning and polishing too (in very rare instances).



Have never used PolyWatch or toothpaste before. Will try. Thanks.

And I’m lazy too… only made one of the crude wrenches. Used common snap ring pliers to hold the other side with only two pinholes used to tighten the assembly with the primitive contraption. And yes, no more sagging. If you read back through those posts in the thread (provided link above) there’s more info.

 

[CooperBox]

I've yet to attempt polishing out the minor scratches, but tightening the articulating neck was easier than I imagined.

I found an old key and modified it to suit. Shown below together with circlip pliers:





Together with the circlip pliers on the opposite side to prevent rotation, this worked a treat to tighten the neck:



It was after this was completed that I had an additional thought. There's also a 'quick & dirty' method that will also work. I found a Cable Staple with 2mm legs which when tweaked slightly wider were a perfect fit. This can be turned with pliers, together with circlip pliers to prevent turning on the opposite side as shown below:




Whichever 'tool' is used, a relatively easy fix can be acheived.

Again, thanks for the tips provided by others so far.

 

[Wild Hare]

BRAVO!

Mother is the necessity of invention.

OR from Plato:
“our need will be the real creator”.

Thanks for the info and pics.
No need to construct that thing I made.

Think of all the droopy ones now being easily fixed!