HELP! I had another stoopid!

dougo83

dougo83

Joined
Feb 28, 2008
Messages
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So...somehow I managed to break off the end of my 3.5mm jack for my computer speakers inside my laptop. I tried using a set of surgical tweezers to reach in there to no avail. I want to get it out, so I have two questions for our membership:

1. How in the heck do I remove said broken piece without disassembling the laptop? I do not have the tools or skills to do so. I also do not have the money to replace the laptop if I mess it up.

2. Is it possible to repair the jack on the speakers?

I have attached a (terrible) photo to show the broken jack and a good one to show how much is broken.

SDC12900.jpg


Thanks Y'all
Dougo
 
How on Earth did you manage that? :eek:

Honestly, I can't think of any way to remove it without popping the case open. With a PC it should be a fairly simple task, the case is generally held together with Phillips screws or torx screws, which you had better have, being on a knife forum :p.

If it's a Mac, uh-oh.
 
GWashington1732 said:
How on Earth did you manage that? :eek:

Honestly, I can't think of any way to remove it without popping the case open. With a PC it should be a fairly simple task, the case is generally held together with Phillips screws or torx screws, which you had better have, being on a knife forum :p.

If it's a Mac, uh-oh.
Click to expand...

It was an idiotic balancing act that, in hindsight, was totally uncalled for. My roommate knocked over a beer that was entirely too close to my laptop, so I picked it up and at the same time tried to unplug it from the speakers, then I almost dropped it, breaking the jack. Hard to explain, but that's pretty much it.

ETA: I keep wondering if a small pair of those detail pliers would be able to fit in the port and remove the broken piece. The problem the tweezers had was bending on the tips instead of gripping the broken piece.
 
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How about a pin, with some adhesive on the head? I'd be real careful trying it, but your headphone jack may be hosed anyway. I'm not sure what type of adhesive to use (my 1st thought was 2-part epoxy), but that takes time to set up (and if yer off a bit, you may hose it up more.).
 
Is it jammed up in there or can you see it and access it? My first thought was to try to solder a bit of wire to it, and pull it out.

I like the adhesive idea better, though. Less chance of meltin' stuff. Use a tiny amount and a steady hand.

ETA - Second question, jack repair. Yes, it's quite possible to repair it. All you have to do is find another stereo jack and do some cut 'n splice. You might check at like Radio shack to see if they carry a bare 3.5mm plug. Then you just solder wires on and insulate.
 
Get a a drill bit that fits easily into the jack -- a bit less than 1/8". Put a tiny dot of superglue -- preferably the gel variety -- on the blunt end of the bit. Push the bit into the jack. Count to one hundred. Gently pull out the bit and the attached broken plug. You'll easily break the broken plug off of the bit and return the bit to your drill index.
 
+1 on Mr. Gollnick's idea. It's the best solution offered so far IMO (other than taking apart the laptop).

Gollnick said:
Get a a drill bit that fits easily into the jack -- a bit less than 1/8". Put a tiny dot of superglue -- preferably the gel variety -- on the blunt end of the bit. Push the bit into the jack. Count to one hundred. Gently pull out the bit and the attached broken plug. You'll easily break the broken plug off of the bit and return the bit to your drill index.
Click to expand...
 
I had a buddy, tech nerd, pull it out of the jack. I will try to swing by the Shack and pick up a new plug tonight. I only get sound out of one speaker right now and my sub is pretty weak. :(

Thanks for all the help. The drill bit thing apparently worked.
 
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