Well, the bottom sigments have been out on flash. I narrowed it down to the resistors on the master display. (thanks Clay). One of those resistors looked burned and didn't test anything. I said what the hell, i'll try to remove it and replace.

Went to the shack, bought the .022 solder as told, the wick, and the resistors. Took me all of 15 mins to pull the old one, clean up the old solder via the wick, and replace with the new. And it works.

Total confidence builder. Just had to share!

#2 12 years ago

SunKing

Pinside member

Houston, TX

13y 130K 3,983 5 21

WooHoo - Congrats~!~! It's a great feeling when you bring an old pin back to life.

#3 12 years ago

robertmee

Pinside member

Raleigh, NC

12y 82,800 6,430 15 9

Good Job!...You'll be replacing 40 pin PIAs before you know it

#4 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

The feeling is great. And I'm learning so much. I'm a lawyer in my other life so this is all completely foreign to me.

It was hard keeping my hand still while doing this. I was a tad nervous for some reason.

#5 12 years ago

robertmee

Pinside member

Raleigh, NC

12y 82,800 6,430 15 9

Lawyer....Good to know where to send my legal questions

Always say the best people to have in your family....A doctor, a lawyer and a plumber

#6 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

I do think I owe you Robert. Anytime!

#7 12 years ago

ESA

stangbat

KC Pins

13y 86,900 3,111 19

I was hoping when I saw this thread that it was Blackbeard that was posting it. Good job and congrats!

#8 12 years ago

PNM

shock_me

Pinside member

14y 71,800 2,490

It's fun to fix stuff. Good job Blackbeard!

#9 12 years ago

RLP

rplante

Pinside member

Forest Lake, MN

13y 46,650 497 5

Hey way to go Blackbeard.

It is a good feeling isn't it.

I would suggest you pick up a solder sucker at RS as well. Works much better than the braid.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062745

You'll be repair maniac in no time!

#10 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

Thanks fellas. Truly a satisfying feeling.

#11 12 years ago

PCB

PaulyB18

Inactive member

12y 43,950 766

OP
Quoted from Blackbeard:
Thanks fellas. Truly a satisfying feeling.

It sure is. Grats!

#12 12 years ago

CAL

mojozone

Pinside member

Fort Dodge, IA

12y 51,400 2,557 4 32

wow thats awesome. I have yet to do any board work, it looks a little scary. way to go

#13 12 years ago

LITZ

Pinside member

Anchorage, AK

12y 59,400 1,163 7 19

#14 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

The guy in that video sounds like Clive from coin op cauldron.

#15 12 years ago

robertmee

Pinside member

Raleigh, NC

12y 82,800 6,430 15 9

Yeah let me see you flick your WMS MPU board

#16 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

Quoted from robertmee:
Yeah let me see you flick your WMS MPU board

Was thinking the same.

#17 12 years ago

JWJ

johnwartjr

That Pinball Place

Columbus, IN

12y 77,400 6,479 14

That is Martin from pinbits in the video.

Great job!

#18 12 years ago

KWD

v8torino

Pinside+ Frequent

14y 74,550 1,531

BIG Congrats Blackbeard,I was also hoping this was your post,as I was sure you could do it,when YOU were ready.
You know we were just teasing/encouraging you a couple weeks ago.
Did you end up getting a gun style soldering iron ? or did that 40 Watt pencil soldering iron do the trick?
Good going man,pretty satisfying huh----------------Kirk

#19 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

Did it with my 40 watt iron. The part I found most difficult was removing the burnt resistor. Everytime I'd heat up the back side, id drop the iron and grab my pliers to grab the resistor and pull, but by that time it would have cooled off. Those helping hand clips must be pretty helpful.

#20 12 years ago

HDC

HELLODEADCITY

Inactive member

15y 72,650 5,822 8

very nice Blackbeard

#21 12 years ago

JWJ

johnwartjr

That Pinball Place

Columbus, IN

12y 77,400 6,479 14

Did it with my 40 watt iron. The part I found most difficult was removing the burnt resistor. Everytime I'd heat up the back side, id drop the iron and grab my pliers to grab the resistor and pull, but by that time it would have cooled off. Those helping hand clips must be pretty helpful.

That is why you have 2 hands Set the board on the bench, or use a vise.

I use one of these.. if you find yourself doing a lot of board work, you may want one. I have an expansion bar so I can put a board as big as a WPC power driver board in it. The base is weighted so it won't tip over.

panavise.jpg

#22 12 years ago

AAW

Firebaall

Inactive member

Regina, SK

12y 61,150 1,741 4 9

That's a nice vice! What's the model number?

#23 12 years ago

SES

sscharf

Pinside member

Chattaroy, WA

12y 48,400 130 11 10

Wow, I have never seen vises like that. I did a quick google, and found some products by Panavise.

This one looks pretty amazing, but only goes 12" wide. I'm sure there are other models that might be more appropriate.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SSPNBU/ref=as_li_ss_tl

steve

#24 12 years ago

???

jalpert

Pinside member

Unknown

14y 70,050 7,516

It's much easier and I think better to cut the old parts off the board first. Then clean the holes up and your ready for your new parts.

OP
Quoted from Blackbeard:
id drop the iron and grab my pliers to grab the resistor and pull, but by that time it would have cooled off. Those helping hand clips must be pretty helpful.

#25 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

I thought about that Jalpert, but I had some lousy wire cutters that couldn't get into the resistor well enough.

I think this weekend I'll reflow the solder joints on my gorgar's cpu as those displays are acting up too.. and i think it's cracked solder joints.

Im feeling brave.

#26 12 years ago

JIM

pintastic

Pinside member

Rocky Mt, VA

13y 41,400 833 6

Congrats! I still cringe a bit at the board work but still go for it anyways. Ive only ruined one and a few displays but it really does get easier the more you do. Havent smoked one lately so Im probably due. Its definitely gratifying to trouble shoot one and get it fixed. Kick a$$ vise John!

#27 12 years ago

SEF

practicalsteve

GoldenStatePin

El Cerrito, CA

12y 104K 7,623 5

Way to go blackbeard! that is my next step and I am nervous as hell too, great to hear that with no experience you were successful, congrats!

#28 12 years ago

Blackbeard

Pinside member

12y 106K 12,105 6 20

The new issue i'm having on gorgar is the 1st digit being strange on the first player display and also player 3 (i believe..).

When I jiggle the connectors on the top of the cpu, the problem disappears and then reappears. I'm guessing either cracked joints or the pins need recrimping.

#29 12 years ago

CAM

Jediturtle

Pinside member

Plymouth, WI

12y 109K 4,480 14 66

Congrats! Cool feeling when it works, isn't it? My first board repair was a Stern Memory Lane that battery acid had wiped out darn near a quarter of the driver board. Nothing like trial by fire! If you make a habit of board work, I'd suggest investing in a nice temp control solder station. I know a lot of people recommend a de-solder station too, but I've honestly gotten along just fine with a bulb sucker. It's kind of fun actually...

#30 12 years ago

DEY

absocountry2

Pinside member

Wasilla, AK

13y 82,050 7,424 29 72

Congrats, If you want to practice more get some cheap PCB from Radio Shack or tear apart some old electronics and play with the board.

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