Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

5

Time Required

                          10 - 20 minutes

Sections

1

  • Click Wheel
  • 5 steps

Flags

0

  • BackiPod Nano 5th Generation

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Click Wheel
  • Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive underneath the plastic bezel at the bottom of the iPod.
  • Use a low heat setting and do not hold the heat gun in place for too long to avoid melting the plastic bezel.
  • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the bezel from the case of the iPod and remove it.

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive underneath the plastic bezel at the bottom of the iPod.

Use a low heat setting and do not hold the heat gun in place for too long to avoid melting the plastic bezel.

Use a plastic opening tool to pry the bezel from the case of the iPod and remove it.

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Step 2

  • Unscrew two screws from the metal retainer at the bottom of the iPod:
  • 4.4 mm angled Phillips screw
  • 5.4 mm Phillips screw.
  • Even if they are loose, the screws may not come out on their own. Be sure not to lose the screws when removing the retainer.
  • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the metal retainer out from the bottom of the iPod and remove it.

Unscrew two screws from the metal retainer at the bottom of the iPod:

4.4 mm angled Phillips screw

5.4 mm Phillips screw.

Even if they are loose, the screws may not come out on their own. Be sure not to lose the screws when removing the retainer.

Use a plastic opening tool to pry the metal retainer out from the bottom of the iPod and remove it.

Step 3

  • Insert a metal spudger into the slot at the bottom of the iPod just above the dock connector.
  • Use the metal spudger to pry up the bottom edge of the click wheel.

Insert a metal spudger into the slot at the bottom of the iPod just above the dock connector.

Use the metal spudger to pry up the bottom edge of the click wheel.

Step 4

  • Place a guitar pick between the click wheel and the case of the Nano and remove the metal spudger.
  • Pry up the edges of the click wheel with the guitar pick until the click wheel comes free from the case.
  • Do not try to completely remove the click wheel yet, as it is still held in place by a ribbon cable.

Place a guitar pick between the click wheel and the case of the Nano and remove the metal spudger.

Pry up the edges of the click wheel with the guitar pick until the click wheel comes free from the case.

Do not try to completely remove the click wheel yet, as it is still held in place by a ribbon cable.

Step 5

  • Lift the click wheel out of the way with one hand and use a plastic opening tool to pry the click wheel ribbon cable connector off its socket on the logic board.
  • Remove the click wheel.

Lift the click wheel out of the way with one hand and use a plastic opening tool to pry the click wheel ribbon cable connector off its socket on the logic board.

Remove the click wheel.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                                                                                      44 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 9 other contributors 


                    David Hodson

Member since: 04/13/2010

147,700 Reputation

                                      127 Guides authored                  



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slith - Jan 20, 2011

Reply

I just replaced the click wheel on my iPod Nano 5th Gen and I found that this guide could be better. The reason is that the bottom edge of the click wheel is held in place by the same metal bracket that surrounds the connector port at the bottom of the iPod. So, before you remove the click wheel I recommend performing the following three steps:

  1. Remove the plastic cover at the bottom of the iPod

  2. Unscrew the two screws on either side of the connector port. Of the three screws at the bottom of the iPod, these are the middle and right hand screws as you look at the front of the iPod.

  3. Remove the metal bracket that surrounds the connector port of the iPod.

After replacing the click wheel, perform the above three steps in reverse order. Make sure that when the metal bracket is re-inserted that it secures the click wheel and prevents it from falling out as some people have experienced after replacing the click wheel.

garyvirago - Mar 9, 2011

I discovered the same solution after having destroyed one wheel by trying to pry it out without taking out that bottom bezel.That should definitely be the first step in this guide.

no way - Jan 7, 2012

mwm1962 - Jul 28, 2011

Reply

Agreed. I ended up breaking 3 of my six tabs. It works but the wheel isn’t quite flush now. Wish I’d looked at the tear down instructions first. That should be at the top of the list as well. This description just isn’t at all complete.

Keith - Oct 4, 2011

Reply

I agree with the other notes please see step 3 BEFORE 1&2