Touch Made 1 good Kobo Touch from 2 Dead ones

smoggy · 06-26-2013, 01:00 PM

I had a Kobo touch given to me as a replacement for my "original" rubber button model.
that one died out of warranty with a frozen screen while changing font size, and I bought another Kobo Touch Fortunately I never tossed the dead one. I've had my "new" one for about 6 months, can't find the receipt, and am now kicking myself from not paying the $10.00 for the Wal-Mart automatic replacement.
Anyhow, my newest kobo touch broke the screen. I had dropped it a couple times, and had 3 screen dents. while in the car, I usually store it in a console pocket, standing on the long edge. This last time I stood it upright, and I guess the screen contacted something and the 3 screen dents played connect the dots, and I no have a jigsaw puzzle screen.

Now the good part.

Looking these over carefully, I realized I have a kobo that doesn't work - with a good screen. I also have a Kobo that works - with a broken scree.

So I started a disassembly, and managed to take apart the one with the good screen without breaking anything.

Some parts are held together with double faced stick tape.

I disassembled the one with the broken screen. These 2 were not identical inside, but I figured what the heck...........

I put all the good parts together, plugged in the USB cable, and the screen flashed, the rom started to do its first use setup, went to Kobo & updated the rom, and I have one good Kobo out of 2 duds.

The only caution I would give, is that when you are removing the battery, it is sticky taped to the case, and it's almost like a permanent glue.
There are 3 spots where you can slide a small flat pry under the battery and lift it up. The second battery was very soft, and I managed to puncture it, it has a funny smell, but the unit still runs. I'm going to find me another battery & then I'm 100% again.

gotta love it.

I had asked Kobo for a repair and they refuse to touch anything that is out of warranty.

The case back just snaps out, you can see the join, I used a Stanley utility knife blade to spread the join a bit to release the snaps. When done, everything snapped back together again, and I'm still reading.

John F · 06-26-2013, 01:28 PM

Good job MacGyver.

smoggy · 06-26-2013, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Good job MacGyver.

Hi & Thanks.

I thought it was worthwhile posting so others thinking about it could see it wasn't horribly difficult - and I would be happy to answer questions too.

potatohead · 06-26-2013, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoggy

Hi & Thanks.

I thought it was worthwhile posting so others thinking about it could see it wasn't horribly difficult - and I would be happy to answer questions too.

TechniSol · 06-27-2013, 01:23 AM

Good for you. I've done the same thing with a couple of Nook STRs. Please be EXTREMELY careful if you're actually using that punctured battery, you're very likely to have it catch fire during discharge or charging.

smoggy · 06-27-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechniSol

Good for you. I've done the same thing with a couple of Nook STRs. Please be EXTREMELY careful if you're actually using that punctured battery, you're very likely to have it catch fire during discharge or charging.

Ok - thank you - I'll search out a replacement today

I've just thought, on the original board, I pooched the battery connector plug, it broke while I tried to muscle it apart. I know - easy does it - & be gentle & all that.

Anybody replaced battery and has tips how to separate the "plug" from its "receptacle"?

filmo · 06-27-2013, 02:26 PM

I try to use guitar pick or corner of credit card as first choice with less chance of damage compared to metal tool to separate top from bottom cover half.

Grab connector with needle nose pliers and pull connector from pins on circuit board works for me most times.

Sure thing no damage cut battery wires leaving some hanging from board. Solder wires from new battery, after checking correct polarity, to old wires left on circuit board. I use 20 watt soldering iron. Use rosin core solder. Cover solder joint with fold of electrical tape. Easy for me but I once had job soldering hundreds of wires a day. New bee practice soldering before soldering real critical connection.

ottdmk · 06-27-2013, 04:58 PM

Just to mention, you can get a replacement Touch for only $69 at the moment. Might be worth the time & energy spent finding a replacement battery. Or it might not.

TechniSol · 06-27-2013, 06:06 PM

I've never unplugged a battery on a Kobo, but I recall someone posting that the plug was not "intuitive" which made me wonder if it unplugged in a manner other than you'd think by looking at it... Anyone care to comment whether they slide out in the direction of the wires or lift straight up off the board or what? It's been so long since I opened one of mine up, I've forgotten what the connector looks like.

smoggy · 06-28-2013, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottdmk

Just to mention, you can get a replacement Touch for only $69 at the moment. Might be worth the time & energy spent finding a replacement battery. Or it might not.

It just irked me that they were not interested In doing anything for my original touch, and having 2 dead ones that would be garbage otherwise, It was time to drop all the pieces in a big bag, shake it around a bit & see what came out.

Seriously, I think Kobo could generate some goodwill by doing simple fixes to frozen readers - even if they are out of warranty.

The $69.00 I don't have to spend on a new e-reader will go towards repairing something else.

06-26-2013, 01:00 PM	#1
smoggy Member Posts: 20 Karma: 9590 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Campbell River, BC. Device: Kobo	Made 1 good Kobo Touch from 2 Dead ones I had a Kobo touch given to me as a replacement for my "original" rubber button model. that one died out of warranty with a frozen screen while changing font size, and I bought another Kobo Touch Fortunately I never tossed the dead one. I've had my "new" one for about 6 months, can't find the receipt, and am now kicking myself from not paying the $10.00 for the Wal-Mart automatic replacement. Anyhow, my newest kobo touch broke the screen. I had dropped it a couple times, and had 3 screen dents. while in the car, I usually store it in a console pocket, standing on the long edge. This last time I stood it upright, and I guess the screen contacted something and the 3 screen dents played connect the dots, and I no have a jigsaw puzzle screen. Now the good part. Looking these over carefully, I realized I have a kobo that doesn't work - with a good screen. I also have a Kobo that works - with a broken scree. So I started a disassembly, and managed to take apart the one with the good screen without breaking anything. Some parts are held together with double faced stick tape. I disassembled the one with the broken screen. These 2 were not identical inside, but I figured what the heck........... I put all the good parts together, plugged in the USB cable, and the screen flashed, the rom started to do its first use setup, went to Kobo & updated the rom, and I have one good Kobo out of 2 duds. The only caution I would give, is that when you are removing the battery, it is sticky taped to the case, and it's almost like a permanent glue. There are 3 spots where you can slide a small flat pry under the battery and lift it up. The second battery was very soft, and I managed to puncture it, it has a funny smell, but the unit still runs. I'm going to find me another battery & then I'm 100% again. gotta love it. I had asked Kobo for a repair and they refuse to touch anything that is out of warranty. The case back just snaps out, you can see the join, I used a Stanley utility knife blade to spread the join a bit to release the snaps. When done, everything snapped back together again, and I'm still reading.

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06-26-2013, 01:28 PM	#2
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,886 Karma: 70186493 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	Good job MacGyver.

06-27-2013, 01:23 AM	#5
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	Good for you. I've done the same thing with a couple of Nook STRs. Please be EXTREMELY careful if you're actually using that punctured battery, you're very likely to have it catch fire during discharge or charging.

06-27-2013, 02:26 PM	#7
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	I try to use guitar pick or corner of credit card as first choice with less chance of damage compared to metal tool to separate top from bottom cover half. Grab connector with needle nose pliers and pull connector from pins on circuit board works for me most times. Sure thing no damage cut battery wires leaving some hanging from board. Solder wires from new battery, after checking correct polarity, to old wires left on circuit board. I use 20 watt soldering iron. Use rosin core solder. Cover solder joint with fold of electrical tape. Easy for me but I once had job soldering hundreds of wires a day. New bee practice soldering before soldering real critical connection.

06-27-2013, 04:58 PM	#8
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,220 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	Just to mention, you can get a replacement Touch for only $69 at the moment. Might be worth the time & energy spent finding a replacement battery. Or it might not.

06-27-2013, 06:06 PM	#9
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	I've never unplugged a battery on a Kobo, but I recall someone posting that the plug was not "intuitive" which made me wonder if it unplugged in a manner other than you'd think by looking at it... Anyone care to comment whether they slide out in the direction of the wires or lift straight up off the board or what? It's been so long since I opened one of mine up, I've forgotten what the connector looks like.

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