How to Perform an IBM ThinkPad X60s Fan Spindle Replacement

ID: 37881

Description: This guide details how to replace the rotating...

Steps:

1. Turn the laptop upside-down, with the battery oriented away.
2. Slide the battery lock switch to the left.

3. Complete these steps after disconnecting the laptop from power and after powering the laptop down.
4. Simultaneously complete the following:
5. Slide and hold the battery release switch to the right.
6. Push the battery away from you, out of the back of the laptop.

7. Unscrew the black 4mm Phillips #2 screw securing the hard drive enclosure cover.
8. Pull the hard drive enclosure cover up and to the left to expose the hard drive caddy.
9. Pull the hard drive caddy out by the plastic pull tab.

10. Unscrew the two black Phillips #1 screws securing the RAM cover plate.
11. These screws will remain attached to the cover plate.
12. Remove the exposed RAM sticks by prying outward (away from the edges of the RAM sticks) on the securing tabs.

13. Unscrew the eleven black 6mm Phillips #1 screws securing the keyboard and palmrest.
14. Flip the laptop over.

15. Simultaneously complete the following:
16. Push the keyboard backwards (away from yourself) with both hands.
17. Pry your thumb under the mouse buttons to lift the keyboard upwards (away from the work surface).
18. Pull up to detach the keyboard ribbon tab.

19. Pull up to detach the fingerprint scanner ribbon tab.
20. Lift up on the faceplate to remove it.

21. Unscrew the five silver 3mm Phillips #1 screws securing the motherboard.
22. Unscrew the silver 7mm Phillips #1 screw securing the motherboard.

23. (Optional) Lay a piece of paper, or other protective material, over the laptop screen.
24. Flip the motherboard over onto the screen (or protective material).
25. Flipping the motherboard over should not require forceful motion.
26. Take extreme care not to damage any ribbon cables or wires still connected to the motherboard.

27. Pry back the three metal tabs on the now-exposed underside of the fan housing with needle-nose pliers.
28. Flip the motherboard back over.
29. Flipping the motherboard over should not require forceful motion.
30. Take extreme care not to damage any ribbon cables or wires still connected to the motherboard.

31. Lift the metal housing off of the fan.
32. There may be foil tape securing the housing. If so, remove it carefully in order to put it back after replacing the fan spindle.
33. Remove and replace the fan spindle.