Repairing bent G5 case?

[Monkeyleg1]

I bought a used PowerMac G5 on Ebay, but it was damaged in shipping. From what I gather, this type of damage is common on the aluminum-cased G5's: too much shock to the right rear corner where the power supplies sit, and so the rear lower bracket and the strip under the access door were bent. (See photo).

I thought about heating up the bent areas to straighten them out, but that would mean removing all of the internals to keep them from being damaged. Also, it's my understanding that the anodizing on aluminum will harden and crack with heat.

So, I'm considering using a large clamp of some sort, putting a large piece of wood wrapped in cloth on the side opposite the access door, and a 2"x4" wrapped in cloth on the strip below the access door. If I see that the bent strip is becoming straighter as I apply pressure, and that nothing is happening on the closed side of the case, I'll figure that all is going well and continue. If I get the strip straight, I could then try a two-part epoxy or a liquid weld for aluminum.

Any suggestions or advice from experience? Replies much appreciated.

 

[ogacon]

It just seems cosmetic to me... so I wouldn't worry too much or go through too many problems to try fix it and accidentally breaking it all together. After all, it will be on a desk. Once you use it for a few days if you are at all like my, you'll have several inches of crap piled up anyway covering it Sorry I couldn't help much. I would just leave it, but then again I'm not picky into cosmetics.

 

[Monkeyleg1]

It is purely cosmetic, ogacon. But I'm picky about my "stuff."

 

[mac57]

I agree, I'd be picky too. Since you just received it, and it is damaged, can't you just return it? I think I would be inclined to do that and wait for another such opportunity to come along.

The G5 is a fine machine by the way. I have had this one for two years and have been very pleased with it. I am sure that you will be pleased with yours too.

 

[MacHeadCase]

Yeah I agree. I'd return it as well. Why accept damaged goods ?

 

[nbrowser]

If it was me, I'd remove the optical and hard drives, position the case against a nice firm surface where it's braced against it's stronger body, and simply take a piece of wood (like a 2x4) place it against that bent area and simply take a hammer to the wood to gentle force the metal into line......start off with easy hits and add more power til it starts to move and just keep hitting the wood into the panel until it looks about right, rememeber to hold the wood with your other hand so it doesn't fly off somewhere.....easy body shop kinda fix

 

[Monkeyleg1]

I've initiated a dispute with the seller because of the damage, but he's going to fight me all the way. He has agreed to pay whatever amounts UPS may give him as a result of my initiating a damage claim. Could be about $200 or so (yeah, I wasn't thinking when I bought the item; I should have insured it for full value).

If I return it, I pay $70 for shipping and have nothing. If I keep it and can repair it, I have a good machine. If I get the ~$200 from UPS and repair the case, I have a very good deal.

As for pounding on it with only the drives removed, I'd be leery about damaging other components. That's why I was thinking of using a clamp to gently straighten the piece.

I've done a lot of auto body work and have had to straighten a lot of metal, but I always used a torch for that. Can't do that here.

Any other suggestions are much appreciated.

 

[bryphotoguy]

Who knows what kind of long term damage there is. That computer took a real big hit to damage the case that much. If you want to keep the G5, take what UPS gives you and buy a new G5 case. What UPS gives you should be how much a new case costs if not the full amount it was insured for.

 

[Monkeyleg1]

Actually, bryphotoguy, I've seen this type of case damage frequently with G5's. The two heavy power supplies sit in that corner, and the case strip below the access door is just pop rivetted to the rest of the case. It doesn't take much to bend that aluminum and pull the rivets from the case strip.

 

[ogacon]

At first I thought you purchased it like that, knowing it was damaged and just were going to fix it yourself regardless. Did he have pictures of that corner originally, so you know he isn't just claiming UPS damaged it?

 

[Monkeyleg1]

ogacon, he posted pictures on Ebay that showed no damage. He could have posted photos of any G5, of course, but I take him at his word.

 

[ogacon]

Ya, that's why I hate ebay. The pictures are generally not of what you are actually getting, and people rarely mention that. I'd rather pay the extra cost for a brand new product for the guaranteed quality. Well, hope you figure it out in the most cost efficient matter!

 

[bryphotoguy]

My only suggestion is to take that 2x4 and lay the board against the case and pound it out with a rubber mallet. The rest of the case is straight so the hills in the damage will flatten out.

 

[mac57]

Ya, that's why I hate ebay. The pictures are generally not of what you are actually getting, and people rarely mention that.

That is another one of those safety things you should always look for in an eBay posting. A good seller typically will include a line to the effect that the picture is of the actual item for sale. If you don't see that, it is time to question the seller.

My other "must do" when buying on eBay is to check the seller's feedback rating, to be sure that (a) they have been around for a while and (b) they have been generally reputable.

If you watch out for these two things, your purchase experience is usually pretty smooth. I am quite pleased with eBay. I buy a lot of used computer parts there.

 

[Monkeyleg1]

"My only suggestion is to take that 2x4 and lay the board against the case and pound it out with a rubber mallet. The rest of the case is straight so the hills in the damage will flatten out."

Bryphotoguy, I know that I'm new here and all, and so I have to tread lightly, but I seem to recall at least one computer user manual that said, "do not pound on computer with a hammer."

 

[bryphotoguy]

"My only suggestion is to take that 2x4 and lay the board against the case and pound it out with a rubber mallet. The rest of the case is straight so the hills in the damage will flatten out."

Bryphotoguy, I know that I'm new here and all, and so I have to tread lightly, but I seem to recall at least one computer user manual that said, "do not pound on computer with a hammer."

Well Monkeyleg1, you remove all of the internal components first and then go at it. You're hitting the 2x4 so it's taking a lot of the force. You said the aluminum isn't very strong so it won't take that much force.

Sounds a lot less risky than a torch or epoxy IMO.

 

[Monkeyleg1]

Well Monkeyleg1, you remove all of the internal components first and then go at it. You're hitting the 2x4 so it's taking a lot of the force. You said the aluminum isn't very strong so it won't take that much force.

Sounds a lot less risky than a torch or epoxy IMO.

I know, bryphotguy. I was just kidding with you.

 

[elskovspony]

Repairing Popped Rivets

Might anyone have some experience to share with regard to repairing the same sort of damage the original poster provided photos of?

I am thinking of ordering some J-B Weld (J-B Weld Company - World's Finest Cold Weld - Don't Scrap It! J-B Weld It!) to hopefully adhere the two parts back together again (with clamps holding things together whilst the J-B Weld cures).

Does that seem an overly-optimistic (or otherwise silly) approach?

Thank you

 

[Mac SK]

Just try to bend it back for now and be on the look out for a clean empty case on eBay.
Place the computer on the floor against the baseboard in a narrow hallway and with a 2X4 and a small car jack from the other baseboard wall,pump the jack slowly and straighten the metal.

 

[elskovspony]

Thank you for your nice, helpful and speedy reply. I appreciate it very much and will give your approach a try.

Thanks again!