Unscrewed: Finding Replacement Screws for Palm Tungsten T3 (Jerz’s Literacy Weblog)
A few weeks ago, I was comparing PDA’s with Josh Sasmor (a Seton Hill math professor), when Josh noticed that one of the four tiny screws on the lower body of my Tungsten T3 was missing. I forgot to bring the charger home one weekend, and took the following week off, so my PDA’s batteries died and I didn’t use it for more than a week. When I picked it up again, I noticed that now, three of the four tiny screws were missing.
I hit the Internet, and found that I am not alone. Palm does not sell replacement screws, and in fact will not replace them at all unless you send in your PDA for servicing — which costs $125, plus shipping and the time you have to spend without a PDA — and that you might get somebody else’s used PDA back instead of yours. A few posters in online forums mentioned finding replacements in out of the way places, so I was hopeful (though Finn never replied to my e-mail). One online poster said a railroad hobbyist eyeballed the screw, said “Looks like a #80,” opened up a drawer, and presto — problem solved.
After checking Wal-Mart, Lowe’s (a hardware chain), three eyeglass stores, two jewelry stores and a Radio Shack, I was feeling pretty discouraged. The culture here in Pennsylvania is small-town friendly, so I didn’t get the idea people were blowing me off; but nobody had a drawer full of odd screws, and nobody knew how to get in touch with a supplier who might stock such parts. “The parts I’m supposed to need just arrive from the warehouse,” said one employee.
Today I was in downtown Greensburg, and found screws that fit at Bortz Hardware. They had about twenty in a little drawer; The part number: 0-80X 1/8, flat head Phillips, 64084. I bought seven. When I told employee Peggy Felton about the Tungsten problem, she looked in her drawer and said, “I’ll order more.”
Update, June 25 (photo added): The replacement screw, on the right, sticks out ever so slightly on the downslope edge, but it seems to fit tightly.
If you’re looking for replacement Tungsten T3 screws, you might want to give Bortz Hardware a call at 724 834 3770. (I have no financial stake in the transaction… I’m just hoping I might be of some service to somebody whom Google throws my way.)
According to the chatter on user forums and an online petition, Palm’s position is that the screws were lost due to user error, and thus the replacement is not covered by warranty. Many unhappy consumers note that they have owned countless electronic devices with tiny screws that do not need to be tightened regularly, and feel it is a design flaw.
Oh… the price Bortz Hardware charged for the screws? Eighteen cents each. That sure beats $125.
Post was last modified on 2 Jul 2020 2:26 pm
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Does anyone know the exact size of the screws for the T3? I am going to talk to a machinist to see if he can get them in. Thanks all.
You're not a spammer, Carmine, you're a real human being who's offering a real solution to a problem I've blogged about, so you're welcome here.
Hi folks -
I will have to apologize for the $1.00 increase but please give me an opportunity to point out that I am doing my best to provide a useful service at a reasonable cost which covers my expenses and makes the effort worthwhile. After all, my web site alone costs me several hundred dollars a year to maintain, and my estore manager (esellerate.com) takes 10% off the top of all my sales (compare that to 40% to 60% for PalmGear / Handango / et al!).
I package my screws well (as anyone who has purchased from me will attest, I believe) to ensure safe and fast delivery and I pay the cost of postage within the US (and only charge the difference outside the US, $0.23 for Canada/Mexico, $0.43 elsewhere. I do not charge inflated "handling" fees of any kind.
Compare this to the only other site who (claims - I have not seen the items) to sell replacement screws, pdaparts.com / gethightech.com. He came along nearly a year after I made these screws available and sells them at $6.99 + (the last time I looked - alert me if I am wrong) $5.95 shipping/handling. And at that, the web site plainly states, "This items is NON Returnable, Non Refundable and Non Exchangable." Now, what's that all about?? Also, I ship worldwide; PDAParts.com ships only to the US and Canada (again, correct me if I am wrong).
Overall, I think I have done a good job. Google my name (and notice, I do not hide behind phony names or a business title; I use my real name and have always been proud to do so) - anyway, Google "Carmine Castiglia" or "infosystemspro" and I guarantee you will find many, many, positive comments and not a single negative one.
Jerz, I apologize for using your blog as a sounding board, but appreciate your allowing me to do so.
Carmine Castiglia
InfosystemsPro LLC
Are you an engineer? Interested in ISO 286? Please drop me a note via email.
Yeah, I noticed the $1 increase as well... I guess there's a large enough captive market to make this a profitable business. I also notice that nowhere on the 'net is there a specification for the exact replacement screw. #80-1/8 is close, but apparently not exact (which doesn't surprise me, it's probably a metric screw not an imperial one). Does anyone know what the designation is for the exact replacement?
What a joke.. Last time I'm bying palm... I have walkman, calculators, cell phones among other things and I have never had to replace screws.. only glasses.. Stumble acrros these pstong great help... Just saw thought that prices have go up at Carmine's by a $1, I thought that the smallest denomination allowed was $4.95.. Just wandering what happened?
Another possibility is to visit a local machine shop or find a machinist that may have the screws or can get them for you. I am going this week to see if this is feasible. Will keep you posted (no pun intended)...
Actually, Aaron, at one point I had to reinstall Docs to Go, and I think it was on the CD with a very uninformative name.
Great website, I may have to order the screws as I just lost one and my local Skycraft which has some of everything didn't have quite the right screw.
I looked and I don't have my leather cover as I prefer the hardshell from Rhinoskin. If I had it I would have offered it here in exchange for some screws..
Hotsynch Software comes with Palm desktop download. That does not include the Docs to go and other software. I think it does include Outlook synch, but I'm not sure since I use Beyond Contacts. If you look on Ebay there is often someone selling a broken palm with the software or just a the software. Or try Beyond Contacts. Get the trial and wait the thirty days, they will keep emailing you lower prices. I got mine bundled with Docs to GO for less then the price for one of the products alone.
I wish palm had better support. If I didn't like the T3 so much better hten anything else on the market I'd tell them to take off. Glad I bought it on Ebay instead of from them.
Thanks for the update. My Bortz screws are still fine... I've probably retightened them three times since I replaced them, but I think only once did the screw seem to move when I turned it. I'd agree that tightening screws that use Loctite is probably unnecessary.
Update on Loctite. As in my comment above (#35), I used Loctite "medium strength blue threadlocker". I used it when my T3 was 3 months old because the screws had fallen out twice. I'm happy to say that after 6 months they still haven't fallen out. So far, so good. I do not regularly tighten them because I think tightening may strip the screws or loosen the Loctite.