[SOLVED] Replacing broken heatsink pushpin in router

[NAG007]

I'm in the process of moving to a new city 2 hours away so I bought a cheap Linksys router at a thrift store to serve as a temp until I could bring my good router over. Knew something was loose inside when I bought the router and found out that one of the 2 pushpins holding down a heat sink was broken.

I've looked around a bunch on the web and I can't find anybody selling the replacement style I need. Also can't seem to find any local hardware stores that sell nylon nuts and bolts as a replacement idea.

Any ideas on what I can use to help hold the heatsink down?

 

[Ralston18]

Which model Linksys?

Can you provide a couple of photographs?

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2173703/post-images-tomshardware-guide.html

Is it at all possible to push a small tie wrap up through the hole with the head "underneath"?

The use the "head" of another tie wrap to push down to and lock the original tie wrap into place.

Trim tie wraps accordingly.

 

[Ralston18]

Note: Also moving your post to networking.

Very sure that some of those folks have repaired routers.

There may be other ideas forthcoming.

 

[geofelt]

Is it essential that the replacement nuts be nylon or such?
See if you can find a suitable set in stainless steel.

 

[dudio]

I have bought replacement pushpins online before. Also, the tiewrap suggestion is worth a try. Finally, you could use a screw and nut..the hole in the board is not conductive, just the back of the board where the nut would go. You can get non-conductive washers to go between the nut and board or make one from thin plastic.

https://www.google.ca/search?safe=o...uMjQuMZgBAKABAbABDw&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp

 

[NAG007]

Which model Linksys?

Is it at all possible to push a small tie wrap up through the hole with the head "underneath"?

The use the "head" of another tie wrap to push down to and lock the original tie wrap into place.

Trim tie wraps accordingly.

It's a Linksys EA6350. Considering I paid $6 and plan to just turn it into a range extender in a month or so, I don't want to invest a lot of money in repairs.

I don't think I could do the tie wrap thing as the the heatsink is pretty much in the middle of the board.

https://imgur.com/E5E8bvB

View: https://imgur.com/E5E8bvB

Unless I'm not understanding what you're saying?

Is it essential that the replacement nuts be nylon or such?
See if you can find a suitable set in stainless steel.

I'm not sure if it has to be nylon or not. Obviously the PCB itself is not conductive, but one of the trace lines goes right around the hole. Red circle is the broken pushpin hole, blue is currently still attached pushpin.

https://imgur.com/4lbGefr

View: https://imgur.com/4lbGefr

I've read online that I should use both nylon nut and screw as to not short out the board. Not sure how accurate that info is as electrical conductivity is not my forte.

Here's an image of the original push pin (minus the spring) that glued roughly back together so I could look for the rightish length I was browsing the hardware stores for something I could use as a replacement.

https://imgur.com/q0QY2IK

View: https://imgur.com/q0QY2IK

 

[kanewolf]

Use a nylon machine screw and nylon nut -- https://www.grainger.com/category/fasteners/screws/machine-screws?attrs=Material|Nylon&filters=attrs

 

[Ralston18]

Tie wrap does appear to be "out".

Ask, look around: family, friends, work - you might be able to find another Linksys router to cannibalize a pin from. Maybe for free....

That said, nylon screw and nut likely to be the most viable.

And pull the other pin and replace it in the same manner. Keep the connections/mounting consistent. Whatever the end solution ends up being.

Home Depot and Lowes carry nylon nuts and screws.

Inexpensive as well.