Motorola Moto 360 2nd Gen Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Mohammad Abuoliem

Comments: 24

Motorola Moto 360 2nd Gen Motherboard Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the motherboard in your device.

Tools

Step 1

Use your finger or the tip of a spudger to compress the pin securing the watch band.
With the pin compressed, remove the watch band.

Step 2

Insert an opening tool to into the small notch next to the microphone hole.
Slide the opening tool around the perimeter of the trim ring while prying up slightly to slice through the adhesive securing the ring to the watch.
If the trim ring does not readily separate from the watch, heat it with an iOpener or hair dryer to soften the adhesive.
Remove the trim ring.

I am salivating at the trim ring because I've needed one for about a year and a half ?

Buff Boi -

Step 3

Use an opening tool to slowly pry the button trim ring straight up.
If you bend or rotate the trim ring while removing it, you may damage the small pins that secure it.
Remove the trim ring.

Step 4

Use a small pin spanner to unscrew the button.
If you don't have access to the proper spanner, you can use a pair of tweezers, a very small screwdriver, or a paperclip to unscrew the button assembly. Insert your chosen tool into one of the grooves around the button and push sideways.
There is blue thread locker on these threads, so light heat on the button may help to soften the thread locker.
Remove the button.
There is a small red o-ring that may fall off the button threads when the button is removed. Make sure not to lose the o-ring.

Leave the ring from the previous step partially in and use it as a wrench on the actual nut.

bennettr8 - 04/10/20

It's a great idea in theory, but how do you grip the ring to turn it?

Ryan Erickson -

You are my hero! Heating and trying to turn it using tweezers didn't work, but this did.

Brent Womble - 03/02/21

Literally jabbed myself with tweezers trying the op way. Thank you for this. I’d rather keep the rest of my blood in my body.

Giovanni - 15/04/21

Brilliant suggestion many thanks.

Barry van Uden -

How do you get the ring to do that? Having a hard time with this step 😅

Andres Duran Kenny Espinosa -

Note that the recommended Spanner Set on this page is too big for this job, None of the "pins" fit.

Andres Duran Kenny Espinosa -

Ik heb werkelijk geen idee hoe ik die pijn los krijg. Kan dit vergroot worden getoond op de foto? Eventueel met meer uitleg (welke kant draai je op, wat draai je precies). Verder super blij met deze uitleg, maar ik loop dus helaas vast.

Roger Milder -

Step 5

While holding the outer case steady, twist the inner watch assembly clockwise until it stops.

Step 6

Hold the outer watch case steady and push against the bottom of the inner assembly to remove the inner assembly from the frame.
It should not take much force to push the inner assembly out of the watch frame. If it seems stuck, make sure that you've rotated the inner assembly far enough to release it from the frame.

Step 7

Use a fingernail or opening tool to pry the plastic lower assembly away from the display assembly.
Do not completely separate the lower assembly from the display assembly yet. There is a cable connecting the two that must be disconnected first.

Step 8

Use tweezers to remove the small rubber strip between the battery and the display ZIF connector.

What if the rubber strip tears? What is it’s purpose?

Neil Myrick - 06/02/21

This and the following step are unnecessary.

Drive Foxes - 22/04/21

Adding another comment not to do this step or the subsequent ones for removing the display connector. They are unnecessary, and the parts are fragile. Otherwise an excellent guide.

Andrew Champion -

Step 9

Use a spudger to lift the locking flap on the display ZIF connector.

Reattaching this is a nightmare. I never found any locking flap. The cable pulled out, but getting it to stay when I put it back together was tough. Not sure how long it will hold while in actual use.

bennettr8 - 04/10/20

I cannot reattach my display cable and my watch is now useless. Really angry as this step IS NOT NECESSARY. You can easily change the battery without doing this. DON’T DO THIS.

Richard Storer - 27/12/20

Agreed - this should be removed from instructions. It is just destructive. Wish I had seen these comments before I did this.

Robert Long -

Agree with all the above. AND I am replacing the display so I MUST attach the new cable and cannot for the life of me figure out this ZIFF connector. It is a mystery.

Gary Blasberg -

Step 10

Lift the display cable straight out of its connector on the motherboard.

Step 11

Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the battery out of the case.
The adhesive can be stubborn. If the battery does not come out initially, apply heat to soften the adhesive.
If the shield over the motherboard comes off with the battery, use an opening pick to separate the battery and the shield, then snap the shield back onto the motherboard.
Do not pull the battery all the way out after you separate it from the shield. There is a fragile battery cable that must be disconnected before the battery is completely removed.

It mentions that the glue is to be replaced, but it does not explain what glue to use and how to use it.

brandon graham - 27/03/19

Elmer’s rubber cement worked for me. I put some on the bottom of the battery and on the ring that had the glue softened in the first steps. It has held well so far, maybe 3 weeks or so.

Daniel Jacobs - 27/03/19

At this point, I would connect the new battery and re-assemble the watch (without the crown and ring) and test the battery and watch by trying to charge it. This way, if it doesn’t charge, you don’t have to do a full disassembly to figure things out. Once the watch is charged to 100%, you can re-assemble. Also, it took about a minute before the new battery looked like it was charging (while on the charger) so give it some time.

Something not mentioned here is that the gold crown trim piece has 3 long and 3 short prongs. You need to align these to the matching sized holes in order for it to go in correctly. If you don’t, the trim piece will not go in properly. Before concluding your work, ensure that pressing the crown results in going to the menus (to verify it’s screwed in enough and functional).

Dennis Periquet - 28/02/20

Step 12

Use tweezers to lift out the grey plastic cover over the battery connector.

Step 13

Use the point of a spudger to pry up the battery connector and disconnect the battery.

Step 14

Remove the battery.

Completed, but have a spot on the screen now. I have a feeling that taking this watch apart has killed all the water resistance and I’ll be in the market for a new watch very soon. Everything about this repair feels like a moonshot. Frustrating. it’s just a battery. they should be easily replaceable. Full stop.

bennettr8 - 04/10/20

Agree with the first comment. Also, does the copper foil that is on the old battery need to be installed on the new battery?

Neil Myrick - 06/02/21

Step 15

Detach the copper ribbon connecting the motherboard and the display.
Use the spudger to separate the motherboard casing from the rear housing.

Do not follow this it makes you break the piece that holds the button in. I broke my watch following this. I figure it out afterward but too late, the button and its surrounding unscrews out.

John DeLorenzo - 23/12/17

I screwed up my touch screen on this step. Not sure how the ribbon for the battery is removed.

Raymond Fong - 26/03/20

Conclusion

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

Author

Mohammad Abuoliem

Member since: 02/10/17

125 Reputation

One comment

Вопрос у меня возник. я на своих moto 360 2gen 42mm дисплей сломал.и думаю щас если весь корпус от 46mm gen взять, получится ли мою плату туда присобачить ? батарейка подходит от 46 а вот все остальное ? кто что знает

Ричи Грез - 18/11/18