PowerBook Repair Series: Trackball Repairs & Battery Door Removal

[JDW]

I acquired my first 68K PowerBooks this year (2026), starting with the 180c and 165c. These machines aren't as bad as the LC500 series which fall apart during delivery, but they are pretty bad when it comes to broken stand-offs. Battery leakage is another issue. Then we have Trackball issues, drive issues, LCD, issues and the list goes on.

The following video is my first installment in what I want to be a PowerBook repair series covering major issues.

Thanks to @Ron's Computer Videos for his advice!

#MARCHintosh

 

[eric]

I really dislike how Apple did SCSI in these powerbooks - the pins on the back of that SCSI ribbon cable sit so close to the metal cage of that just "pressure fits" the HDD. I personally would put some tape or something to protect the back of that ribbon cable. Even if you are able to fix those standoffs I just don't trust the design much.

Interested to see how you fix the screens - I've been lucky and not had one yet.

 

[JDW]

@eric
Here are photos of the BlueSCSIv2 PowerBook Edition sold by @jcm being installed in my PowerBook 165c for a first test...





The spinning platter HDD has extra pins not offered by the BlueSCSI.
What are those extra pins used for, do you know?

 

[eric]

IIRC they are 5/12v rails and maybe an ID select? A quick search this morning I couldn't find the pinout but thats my recollection.