Guide to Taking Apart W810i/W800i/K750i, Video & tips on how to rip your phone apart Options

[NovaJet]

So I just changed my W810i's housing from the store bought satin black shell to a new fusion white one....

I thought I'd share my knowledge and resources with those contemplating doing it. It's easy once you've done it. For download are the pictures I used; and this video on youtube is great (if you don't understand what he's speaking it's alright. I found that watching his actions is good enough), showing how to change a k750i's housing to a w800i's. Use videodownloader for Firefox (an add-on) to save it; I would've uploaded it, but it's too big... The difference between all 3 phones is minimal and this can be applied to all of them.

There are also pictures of a W810i and k750i being changed. Watch/download the video, use the pics and you won't go wrong. I've reached the stage where I can rip apart and put the phone back together with relative ease. I will share some noteworthy points (and some of the problems I faced) when attempting the housing mod.

Do's and Don'ts:

- Wash your hands throughly before disassembling your phone at all times (Dry them throughly, as well, *duh*...) to prevent leaving oil and/or dirt on its inside matters. Handle all internal components by the edges (regardless of how clean you think your hands are).

- Important: Static electricity - Ground yourself with a metal object before you open the phone. I don't have to mention that a tiny bit of static discharge from your body can kill the internal components of the phone. Wear cotton clothing, and avoid nylon, if possible.

- For tools, make sure you have all of these essentials:
1. T6 phone screwdriver (preferably magnetized at the tip to make things a whole lot easier handling those tiny screws)
2. Small cross-head screwdriver to loosen screws on back cover
3. Flat headed plastic opening tool
4. Pincers (like the one shown in the video, this is important as well)

- When unscrewing, it's preferable to use the same screw back in the same hole, all the time. Reason for this is that all the screws on your phone don't have thread patterns that are 100% the same. The thread pattern bored into the hole by the screw will get "rewritten" should you use a different one. This prevents stuck screws, or messed up holes.

- Remove your simcard, memory stick and battery. Seems pretty obvious, but once I left my simcard inside and was wondering why the hell the motherboard couldn't come out. By then I had nearly bent the sim out of shape...! Thank goodness it was still alright...

- If you're having difficultly removing the back or front cover, remember that it is latched onto the top. Angle the cover (still hinged to the main chassis) at a 45 degree angle and wiggle it a bit and it should come out. Remember: around 45 degrees is the sweet spot

- My phone had a foam-type seal that was glued to the LCD display onto the front cover. If you're having difficulty removing the front cover, slowly peel both apart, then remove that seal and transfer it on your new front cover to prevent dust from getting into your phone.

- Take care when removing the connectors inside the phone (4 in all: keypad, LCD, camera and flash) Reattach them carefully, but firmly. A good way to see if they are plugged in properly is to observe the flat piece of plastic on top of each (except the flash). If it's flush with the general surface of the phone (not leaning to one side), it's in. You don't want to put everything together and realize your cam isn't connected properly...

- After removing your LCD and setting it aside, place the old front housing cover on top of it to prevent dust from settling on it. Oil on the LCD is a to clean off so handle it by its edges.

- The component part to remove, to me, was the motherboard. It's locked in tight, for sure... What you do is this: the two clips obstructing it from coming out are on the left and right, just about 3/4 of the way up the length of the board. Loosen the right one (the easier one) and ensure the board is past the ridge of the clip. Then use the pincers to expand the left clip (for some reason the left side of the mid-chassis seems more resistant than the right) and free the motherboard at that part. After that, lift the motherboard up vertically up from the chassis.

- After removing your camera, take the opportunity to clean the lens with a spectacle cleaning cloth (i used my Oakley microfibre bag).

- Remove and reattach the antenna module (that flat green thing) with care. Don't bend it. You don't want bad reception along with your spanking brand new (looking) phone.

- I found out, by accident, that the metal frame of the LCD makes up part of the phone's ability to pick up a good reception. Make sure (when reassembling) that you screw the top 2 T6 screws (for the LCD) tightly in, if not, your reception will take a hit.

- DO NOT lose the bluetooth aerial (looks like a paper clip, with two prongs sticking out). Remember to reinsert it in the new housing or your bluetooth range will be severely affected.

- I used the pincers to loosen the glue that stuck the flashlight LEDs to the mid-chassis. Work at the edges CAREFULLY, there're fine wires underneath that small white piece!

- If your new keys don't fit well or don't click firmly enough, take the liberty to adjust the T6 screws at the bottom of the phone (near the sim) to a position that will allow the keys underneath the front cover enough space to breath (and click).

Hope this information and the video is useful to anyone who needs to take their phone apart, and what with housings on ebay getting cheaper, anyone should be able to perform a housing mod. It's safe if you do it carefully. I am not in any way liable if you screw up your phone in the process of modding. Enjoy your new fone!

This post has been edited by NovaJet: 2007-09-19 16:47

Attached File(s)

 W810i_and_K750i_housing_change_pictures.rar ( 1.96MB ) Number of downloads: 412

 

[NovaJet]

I've also put up the W810i service manual, for full instructions on how to take the phone apart.

UPDATE: I just ordered yet another W810i housing (this is the third one I have now), this time it's blue/black, with the blue being a rubbery finish, for real real cheap (prices have been falling). I'll snap some pics when I do change the cover and post it up here... this'll prob be my mini-blog for my handset modding changes, so do check back again from time to time!

This post has been edited by NovaJet: 2008-01-11 02:47

Attached File(s)

 W810i_Service_Manual.pdf ( 1.86MB ) Number of downloads: 231

 

[lawrencep93]

nice tutorial. I'll view the video and see what it's like.

[Ciggy]

i have both videos on my pc. i got to the part where i had to take out the motherboard and didn't know where to go from there so i just reassembled my phone. lol. i know, i wasted a lot of time

[NovaJet]

It's a bit tricky at first... read the part 'bout removing the motherboard in the first post, it might give you an idea...

[Ciggy]

i bookmarked this page because i'm not going to open my phone again yet. i'm waiting to buy a new housing and a new back speaker for my phone first, then i'll open it.

[drq1001]

nice tutorial

[YouSmeg118]

Thanks.

Every time i open my phone i hear that snap and think ive broken it lol

[zlrig]

Thanks for the Post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nchalada]

Thanks for this post, bought a red/orange and silver case of off eBay and swapped it with the black case... everything works

Tony