Loose hinge on late-2013 iMac 27"

[MarcusB]

Ok made it to Apple Bluewater and checked the machine in. Passed all tests and taken away.
Repair sheet does say that you have to pay but the genius said it was a known problem and would be free.

Collected machine 5 days later - no charge.

If your hinge has gone then get it sorted- don't wait.

Cheers

M

 

[Moskiton]

Same problem here on my iMac 27 from May 2013!
I had some calls with the apple assistance and they suggested me to go to an apple store and take an appointment to the Genius Bar (actually I'm in Italy). They took my iMac and it's going to be ready in a couple of days!
I should normally pay 65€ for the intervention but they said that they will cover all the charges for free!!

Good job Apple!! You have kept a really close user!

 

[NJEG]

This is a consistent issue with ALL iMacs from 2009 on, particularly 27" due to weight. The mechanism is a faulty design. Apple surely knows it. During repair for the mount, they damaged my machine two times and finally had to replace it. This issue must cost them quite a bit of money. A lot cheaper for Apple to redesign it don't you think?.

 

[samuellavoie]

Just happened to my late-2012 27" iMac.
Heard a "snap" by gently moving the screen down like I've been doing for years occasionally. Now screen tilt all the way down

Will see if I can get away with free repair at the Apple Store!

 

[YYsMD]

Very interested to hear if you get one. A family member of mine has a 2012 model too and has been propping it up with a bobbin so if free repairs are still on the cards, the'll be all over this.

Seems utterly goofy that a big heavy tilty Mac would be held up with a flimsy piece of plastic

 

[lasloduncan]

not sure but maybe a recall issue took mine in fixed same day...seems like it is common dealt with em.2013 27"

 

[Acorn]

This just happened to my 2012 imac. I wasn't there when happened but I came home to a floppy screen. Nobody touched it or moved it. It is always in the same position and never moved and it broke anyway.

 

[A Hobo]

This just happened to my 2012 imac. I wasn't there when happened but I came home to a floppy screen. Nobody touched it or moved it. It is always in the same position and never moved and it broke anyway.

Book an appointment at the Apple Store, leave it with them for a few days and They'll sort it.
Make a backup.

 

[RyanXM]

This is covered still. I have two iMacs in to a local Apple Store for this exact issue. See attached for GSX (Global Service Exchange) on this exact issue.

 

[klky]

The hinge on my 2013 27" gave way last year. I ordered one of those monitor props from the Mac Hack and it does the trick. It works great and for the price, a much better option than carting my iMac to the Apple Store and handing it over to those "geniuses"!

 

[Acorn]

The hinge on my 2013 27" gave way last year. I ordered one of those monitor props from the Mac Hack and it does the trick. It works great and for the price, a much better option than carting my iMac to the Apple Store and handing it over to those "geniuses"!

The problem is you have to take care of it eventually. At least I do anyway because at some point it will be sold and I can't sell it with a broken hinge that way. Well I could but people would expect to pay less. I agree its a pain in the rear but if you want to keep the most value for it you have too. I actually wish I could pay them to put a vesa mount on it because they have to take it apart anyway but ive already asked in the past and aside from when you first buy it they won't install a vesa mount later even if you pay them.

 

[klky]

The problem is you have to take care of it eventually. At least I do anyway because at some point it will be sold and I can't sell it with a broken hinge that way. Well I could but people would expect to pay less. I agree its a pain in the rear but if you want to keep the most value for it you have too. I actually wish I could pay them to put a vesa mount on it because they have to take it apart anyway but ive already asked in the past and aside from when you first buy it they won't install a vesa mount later even if you pay them.

I hope to get a new iMac in the next 12 months. The existing one I can probably give to one of my nieces or nephews for their use.

 

[chukronos]

Just had it happen on my late 2012 iMac. Sounded like a small rock hit a windshield.

 

[Wetwheels]

Just found this thread. Wish I'd found it earlier. Yep, 2012 model constantly drooping screen. Now have to make an appointment, make 2 round trips of 40 miles each (drop off and collect), plus pay whatever they charge. Just reading all the failure posts here, clearly there is a fault with this component. Not happy Apple.

 

[A Hobo]

Just found this thread. Wish I'd found it earlier. Yep, 2012 model constantly drooping screen. Now have to make an appointment, make 2 round trips of 40 miles each (drop off and collect), plus pay whatever they charge. Just reading all the failure posts here, clearly there is a fault with this component. Not happy Apple.

They won’t charge you for the parts or labour.
[doublepost=1513813937][/doublepost]

The problem is you have to take care of it eventually. At least I do anyway because at some point it will be sold and I can't sell it with a broken hinge that way. Well I could but people would expect to pay less. I agree its a pain in the rear but if you want to keep the most value for it you have too. I actually wish I could pay them to put a vesa mount on it because they have to take it apart anyway but ive already asked in the past and aside from when you first buy it they won't install a vesa mount later even if you pay them.

The vesa mount isn’t a part we can order during repairs on these machines, no part code means even if we wanted to we couldn’t fit it for you. Sorry.
[doublepost=1513814026][/doublepost]

This is covered still. I have two iMacs in to a local Apple Store for this exact issue. See attached for GSX (Global Service Exchange) on this exact issue.

You shouldn’t share this.

 

[FriendlyMackle]

This is covered still. I have two iMacs in to a local Apple Store for this exact issue. See attached for GSX (Global Service Exchange) on this exact issue.

Thanks for sharing this. My late 2013 iMac 27" has this problem - I heard the 'snap' one afternoon about 8 months ago! Sure enough, broken neck iMac. I have crammed several books of just the right height below the bottom of the screen and the foot. This keeps it propped up. I haven't wanted to take this in to Apple since I don't want to be without my computer for a week. But since I purchased in early 2015, I still have time to take this in and have Apple fix it. I do hope the 'fix' is now a permanent solution with an improved part.

 

[lali]

This is covered still. I have two iMacs in to a local Apple Store for this exact issue. See attached for GSX (Global Service Exchange) on this exact issue.

Thanks for
[doublepost=1515636858][/doublepost]Thanks for that. With your attached note I was able to get it repaired free of charge. My 5 years expire in 1 month. Thanks again

 

[William_B]

This is covered still. I have two iMacs in to a local Apple Store for this exact issue. See attached for GSX (Global Service Exchange) on this exact issue.

Thanks for posting this... Trying to contact Apple local store now in regards to this.

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Five years from date of original purchase and if like repairers Down Under they will want the original Bill of Sale to prove this to fix it F.O.C. under five year warranty extension.

 

[iMacC2D]

Removed.

 

[RyanXM]

The mechanism is unchanged with the replacement on the 2012 and 2013 iMacs with one exception: the retainers are now metal instead of plastic. Having worked on machines from 2014 and 2015, they came with the updated mechanism from the factory. I would imagine the iMac Pro has a better mechanism as well.

 

[Belmontboy]

The questions I'd like to ask about this hinge issue is :

(1) Does it affect ALL iMacs from 2012-2014
(2) Do the plastic washers in hinge snap by REPEATED USE AND MOVING OF THE DISPLAY, or do they snap due to the overall weight of the display 'pushing' down on them - almost like a ticking 'timebomb' inside the hinge mechanism.

The reason I'm asking is that I have just gotten hold of a 2012 27inch iMac in immaculate condition (7.5 years old) and my thoughts are that if the hinge mechanism was going to break, it would have done so already.

Should I take pre-emptive action and buy one of those clip on hinge supports to help hold the weight of the display, or are the plastic washers going to go 'snap' one day regardless ?

Cheers ?

 

[barbu]

The questions I'd like to ask about this hinge issue is :

(1) Does it affect ALL iMacs from 2012-2014
(2) Do the plastic washers in hinge snap by REPEATED USE AND MOVING OF THE DISPLAY, or do they snap due to the overall weight of the display 'pushing' down on them - almost like a ticking 'timebomb' inside the hinge mechanism.

The reason I'm asking is that I have just gotten hold of a 2012 27inch iMac in immaculate condition (7.5 years old) and my thoughts are that if the hinge mechanism was going to break, it would have done so already.

Should I take pre-emptive action and buy one of those clip on hinge supports to help hold the weight of the display, or are the plastic washers going to go 'snap' one day regardless ?

Cheers ?

mine broke all on its own after 14 months from new or so. I almost never adjusted the display. They just break from the weight of the screen. I imagine yours was already serviced. I bet you could call Apple and ask.

 

[Azrael9]

Hey guys.

My one month old 27" iMac (about a month old) at work seems to have developed a loose hinge so that the screen always tilts at its most downward. It still tilts up and down, but will always return to that position by itself.

I've booked an appointment at a local iStore for tomorrow, but I was wondering if anyone knew the kind of work that would have to go into fixing it - how long would it be out of action?

Is there just something that needs to be tightened or will there be way more labour involved?

Thanks for any advice!

I seem to recall a 'blue plastic wheel' that snapped. And I thought, what a crappy pieces of material to use in a £2k machine. Nickle and diming. Poor design.

This was a news story a while back where someone had the 'chin' in a slumped position because the blue plastic cog had 'failed.'

So? They had to use a card box or something to rest the 'chin' on so it could be tilted at a normal viewing angle instead of the screen looking downwards to the table.

Azrael.
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The questions I'd like to ask about this hinge issue is :

(1) Does it affect ALL iMacs from 2012-2014
(2) Do the plastic washers in hinge snap by REPEATED USE AND MOVING OF THE DISPLAY, or do they snap due to the overall weight of the display 'pushing' down on them - almost like a ticking 'timebomb' inside the hinge mechanism.

The reason I'm asking is that I have just gotten hold of a 2012 27inch iMac in immaculate condition (7.5 years old) and my thoughts are that if the hinge mechanism was going to break, it would have done so already.

Should I take pre-emptive action and buy one of those clip on hinge supports to help hold the weight of the display, or are the plastic washers going to go 'snap' one day regardless ?

Cheers ?

With too much adjusting? Probably. I've had mine (late 2012 iMac) for 7.3 years. It's not the washer that's gone but the GPU has failed (under load...it couldn't cope with a year's worth of nominal load on an old game...*slow hand clap.)

But when I heard/saw the blue cog? I barely touched my display after that. Just put it at a neutral angle and left it at that. The only time I touch the screen is inputting USB peripherals.

I've had two iMacs. But I fully understand the machine's detractors. 100%. If Apple offered a mid-tower, I wouldn't buy it.

Azrael.
[automerge]1587225776[/automerge]

mine broke all on its own after 14 months from new or so. I almost never adjusted the display. They just break from the weight of the screen. I imagine yours was already serviced. I bet you could call Apple and ask.

Really? Geeze. 14 months? :O I guess I got lucky. The display is quite heavy. That's a lot of weight on a blue plastic cog.

Poor design.

Azrael.

 

[lasloduncan]

bad design--apple replaced mine for free ...still a hassle been a few years..I would say hang it around thier necks they don't like unhappy owners based on their b.s.-talk with a senior advisor and none of the goofy kids on line...they will fix you right up...with a round trip to apple store leave it pick up soon...sooon ...???
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my is a late 2013--btw the geniuses are woefully misnamed and are imposters..