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+--- Thread: Opening a 31E (/thread-15686.html)
Opening a 31E - jwr - 10-05-2020 12:46 PM
I'm trying to restore a 31E and I've hit a snag at the very beginning: I can't open the case. I've removed the two screws above the battery compartment and tried to pry the case halves apart, but they are firmly hooked together at the bottom. I don't want to use more force, because I can already see a crack appearing in the case.
Does anybody have a picture of an opened case, so that I could see the hook mechanism? Any suggestions on how to pry the hooks open?
RE: Opening a 31E - rprosperi - 10-05-2020 03:46 PM
An infamous problem, likely the most common complaint about opening an HP Calc. for service (possibly tied with removing labels from Classic models w/o damage).
There are several 'proven' methods, but none are perfect, nor stress-free, but here is one that seems to work for most people:
https://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=925
RE: Opening a 31E - jwr - 10-05-2020 06:48 PM
Thank you! That link was golden. I was able to open the calculator. Wow, this thing really wasn't meant to be serviced much.
Unfortunately, it seems that this particular 31E is toast. I was hoping that cleaning the contacts (PCB, chips and display pins) would help, but the display still only shows changing selections of some 8s and 9s.
RE: Opening a 31E - Dave Frederickson - 10-05-2020 09:11 PM
SLP to the rescue.
http://panamatik.de/html/hp_low_power.html