Sucker for punishment - Stern MPU-100

[AskJacob]

Yeah, crazy. This is pretty far gone, but I skipped this board for my Drac, so it is sink or swim for this PCB. Either it gets saved for the Magic, or it can be declared dead and junked rather than take up space, and I buy another.

Horrific previous work has removed tracks, but there hasn't been much on TV lately so it's something to do. At a bare minimum, more practice on doing corrosion repairs, can always learn something new.

For some reason I just don't like giving up on these old PCBs unless I HAVE to













Cheers
Jacob

[The pinballist formally known as Dean Morgan]

Wow, the Butcher of Ballydad has been at that one. 

[pinballist]

Wow those IC pads look terrible, especially challenging when they are completely missing, I hope you have another board that you can use as a reference to rebuild those tracks!!  Lots of work to get that one back up and running  and to make sure you get continuity in those plated through holes but definitely not too far-gone.

Good luck & patience Jacob.

[Strangeways]

Now thats a shocker !

I'll bet you will get it going - but it will be "hard yakka".

[ddstoys]

Good Luck on that one i have one that looked similar trying to repair but its on hold maybe seeing you get your going will motivate me 

[arcadoz]

There were PCB track repair kits at one time consisting of self adhesive tracks and pads with different sizes.
Worked quite well but I haven't seen or used them for ages.

[AskJacob]

Yep, they are nearly artists tools. Very nifty stuff, but incredibly expensive. I applied a few times for samples over the years, they never even emailed me back. Was not keen to shell out $$$ if 1. it cost more than the board and 2. I find out I can't use them properly :)

There was resins and colour agents to repair the fibreglass, all kinds of copper stock, shears, knives, applicators and laquers. Cool stuff!

I'll make do with some naked Kynar and raiding the mrs' nail polish 

But I'd still like a sample kit!

Cheers
Jacob

[ajlaird]

The term 'glutton for punishment' does come to mind.

If you want all the computer parts we throw out because they don't work anymore, let me know!

[MartyJ]

Wow, big job but best of luck.  Looking forward to the repair log on it!

[pinball god]

A lot of that stuff I've seen before in Mark C's coffee. Interested in your progress Jacob. Will await further postings

[AskJacob]

Ok, lost track of time on monday night on this, thought "gee I'm a little tired - I wonder what the time is... and it was 2:20 am  "

So thought I'd give it a break last night :)

I also have worn out my solder-sucker - the lip that catches on the trigger has rounded off!. I spent some time here http://www.ludatronics.com.au/ dreaming about owning a Aoyue 2702+ Complete Re-work, soldering & De-soldering station.

Oh how sweet that would be!

Well, I don't think I can spend $450+ right now... so off to one of the few real electronics stores left to buy another $15 sucker-pen...

I have taken a few pics as I have been going along, will get them posted tonight I hope.

Interesting observation - a LOT of the pads when I have been removing the components are BARE COPPER. Not tinned! (and no, I am not ripping out components and peeling off the tracks!)That is incredibly odd, as there is no real way bar sanding them down that you could remove the alloyed solder off the copper. My theory is that the corrosion has attacked the alloy of solder/copper in the joints, basically etching out a thin cross section in the joint. The good news is the copper cleans up reasonably well and tins nicely.

Cheers
Jacob

[pinballist]

so off to one of the few real electronics stores left to buy another $15 sucker-pen...

Amen to that brother!!

Dick Smith Electronics was the last great hobbyist shop that every electronics whiz kid in the 80's wanted to work in but has now reduced itself to selling TVs & White Goods, who's next Jaycar, Altronics??

[Strangeways]

WOW - That 701 rework station is an EXACT copy of the Hakko 701 !

Hmmm.. I think I might have to invest in one of these.

[jpd]

so off to one of the few real electronics stores left to buy another $15 sucker-pen...

Amen to that brother!!

Dick Smith Electronics was the last great hobbyist shop that every electronics whiz kid in the 80's wanted to work in but has now reduced itself to selling TVs & White Goods, who's next Jaycar, Altronics??

I reckon you can thank the Woolies/Coles thing about who has what and in the end we have nothing but no service and no competion . Reckon Dick Smith himself (being a True blue) would shake his head and think OMG.Try buying a set value resistor there now!!!

[pinballist]

Reckon Dick Smith himself (being a True blue) would shake his head and think OMG.Try buying a set value resistor there now!!!

The huge DSE Powerhouse near us removed all the hobbyist stuff last year, lucky we've got a Jaycar about 20Kms from here.  And hey what a waste of space that Tandy Electronics is it may as well be a Retravision.