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Nintendo's upgraded version of the Nintendo 3DS. It features bigger screens, longer battery life, better pixel density, and a better design.

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How to dislodge hinge?

I have to replace the top lcd of a 3DS XL (also known as 3DS LL) and have problems dislodging the hinge. I've done may 3DS's and Dsi's but this one seems to be a bit different. Normally, there is a plastic piece that needs to be removed so the metal hinge can be pushed to the inside of the console, however, the 3DS XL does not seem to have this plastic piece. It does however have the metal hinge, so it has to be moved somehow, only I can't find out how. I tried pulking at the plastic but all I did is chip of pieces of plastic. Unfortunately, the information available for this Nintendo is very limited. Only thing I could find is a tear down that was already linked in an earlier question, but in this specific tear down, the top is not dislodged from the bottom part, rendering it useless for replacing the top lcd. So if anybody has done this repair succesfully or knows how to do it, any help is much appreciated!

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I was just looking for this answer myself and couldn't find anything helpful. So I decided to just forge ahead and fix it or break it. I'll call the side without the ribbon cables the hinge side. If you look at the hinge side from the bottom, you'll see where the power indicator plastic is. Look very close, and you'll see the hinge peeking out very small ways. You need to gently pry that hinge with a small flat-blade screwdriver. Once you've moved the hinge far enough, the plastic insert for the power indicator will be dislodged and come out with no effort. Now you can push the hinge the rest of the way out, gently maneuver the ribbon cables into the slot, and remove the top assembly.

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I have been fixing phones for two years but never have I opened a 3ds. I went crazy looking for information and videos but out of everything this was the most useful info I read. Thx a lot.

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Glad it helped- just beware that when you put it back together, the hinge pin is slotted a specific way- and if I recall (been awhile since I've worked on one) the best way to get it to fully slide in is with the lid around 3/4 open (or was that closed?).

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Eyy there.

When you say put the hinge in at 3/4ths in, is that when the ribbon cables are already through the bottom half or no?

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I was able to insert the barrel completely by opening the 3DS nearly completely. Very close to fully open. The problem I have now is that the barrel slides out when I try to close the 3DS and attach the top cover...

edit: oh I flipped the barrel over and it now works! If your barrel isn't going in, pull the barrel out, flip it over, and try again! You really need to press on the barrel as you open the 3DS wider and wider to find the sweet spot. Once you find the sweet spot, the barrel slips right in.

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This worked, thanks man!

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hinge pin fix of understanding

anybody that still doesn't understand and needs a visual, PLEASE check out that link, it will help you greatly. that pin has to be pushed all the way to the left, where it is at the top right of the LCD screen. it's the only way to go about it

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No link anymore. 404'd

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWmoXDuU...

Skip to 5:50

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