Hardware ok... What is up with these stuck screws on my 3ds?

[MikaTh]

Ok i already tried every trick on the book. Rubber, the super glue, a hammer, and even heat the screw with an iron soldering tool. The freaking 3ds back screws won't budge (note, not the battery cover, the inside ones). I managed to get 2 out by cheer brute force, one that almost broke the screwdriver's head. The 3ds upper screen is broken as i am for almost 4 years, and i only managed to buy a new screen that i have for 1 year just to try to replace it myself. I already tried going to a technician so he could open and do the job for me with the screen, but no one in the next 7 towns work with the 3ds... So i'm literally stuck with, sending the thing to an unknown guy in another state, with the money i don't have, or doing the job myself. The only solution i can think of right now is by hamering down a flat screwdriver to break open the shell, that i don't have a repair one. Anyone got any idea? This 10 years old thing is driving me nuts!

 

[poisoned_soap]

The screws are probably hella stripped, which basically means you're fucked

 

[godreborn]

your only option may be to drill through the screw to get it out. obviously, you're going to have to be extremely careful. then just fit it with some new screws. I think a lot of Nintendo stuff uses triwing, so you might replace that with philip's head. that's what I did with the torx screws on my 360 controllers, since the bit and screwdriver can't get down far enough into the top holes.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Carefully drilling off the screw heads is pretty much the only option when they are badly stripped. Rubber band, super glue… that doesn't work for those tiny screws.
Once the plastic cover can be lifted, it is easy to unscrew the broken screws with pliers.

[…]I think a lot of Nintendo stuff uses triwing[…]

Triwing isn't used on the 3DS family with the N2DSXL being the exception. All other 3DS models have JIS screws that supposedly are easy to damage with Philips bits – more of a problem than the difference between JIS/Philips is the bad metal quality. Really bad. The screws almost strip from looking at them – combined with being TIGHT on some consoles (some open very easily).

 

[Hayato213]

Ok i already tried every trick on the book. Rubber, the super glue, a hammer, and even heat the screw with an iron soldering tool. The freaking 3ds back screws won't budge (note, not the battery cover, the inside ones). I managed to get 2 out by cheer brute force, one that almost broke the screwdriver's head. The 3ds upper screen is broken as i am for almost 4 years, and i only managed to buy a new screen that i have for 1 year just to try to replace it myself. I already tried going to a technician so he could open and do the job for me with the screen, but no one in the next 7 towns work with the 3ds... So i'm literally stuck with, sending the thing to an unknown guy in another state, with the money i don't have, or doing the job myself. The only solution i can think of right now is by hamering down a flat screwdriver to break open the shell, that i don't have a repair one. Anyone got any idea? This 10 years old thing is driving me nuts!

You probably used the wrong bit size, an ifixit kit would work well here.

 

[MikaTh]

You probably used the wrong bit size, an ifixit kit would work well here.

That's the most annoying part, i'm using the ifix kit. Or should i say, was, cuz this morning the tip of the screwdriver went bye bye... And i managed to get a third screw out.

 

[MikaTh]

Carefully drilling off the screw heads is pretty much the only option when they are badly stripped. Rubber band, super glue… that doesn't work for those tiny screws.
Once the plastic cover can be lifted, it is easy to unscrew the broken screws with pliers.


Triwing isn't used on the 3DS family with the N2DSXL being the exception. All other 3DS models have JIS screws that supposedly are easy to damage with Philips bits – more of a problem than the difference between JIS/Philips is the bad metal quality. Really bad. The screws almost strip from looking at them – combined with being TIGHT on some consoles (some open very easily).

Do you think mr. Drilling it could damage the board?

 

[Hayato213]

That's the most annoying part, i'm using the ifix kit. Or should i say, was, cuz this morning the tip of the screwdriver went bye bye... And i managed to get a third screw out.

you got terrible luck then, if you are using ifixit kit

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Do you think mr. Drilling it could damage the board?

Of course drilling is dangerous. But you are supposed to drill off the screw heads only -- not annihilate the complete screws. When the screw heads are gone the part of the shell should be loose and you should be able to lift it as if it was unscrewed.

 

[MikaTh]

Of course drilling is dangerous. But you are supposed to drill off the screw heads only -- not annihilate the complete screws. When the screw heads are gone the part of the shell should be loose and you should be able to lift it as if it was unscrewed.

the scenario of me drilling my 3ds like a maniac, really made my day sauhsauhsaushausaushu thanks, gonna try tomorrow