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Post by bbking on Feb 12, 2019 20:01:02 GMT
Hello!
I recently decided after much reading on this forum about X-CAN V2 mods, that i would give it a go myself.
Still waiting on a couple of bits to arrive, so i thought i would take the thing apart and clean the PCB with some 99% isopropyl alcohol as it was a bit of a mess from a repair done by previous owner.
However, after cleaning the PCB what i am left with has got me a little worried.
This is worst of what i had to remove:
A little more flux i had to remove (i am assuming from previous repair?)
This is the bit that has me worried though! wondering if this may be beyond my beginner skill level. Two very bad solder joints and track which has been laid externally. What exactly am i looking at here? it looks like the 2 pads have lifted maybe? (link to a higher resolution version of this picture)
Suggestions would be appreciated 
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nando
Been here a while! 
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393 
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Post by nando on Feb 13, 2019 18:31:54 GMT
So two pads have come loose of the pcb and by the looks of it some track too.
You could repair it with a bit of wire point to point if the track fails?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 13, 2019 20:39:52 GMT
So two pads have come loose of the pcb and by the looks of it some track too. You could repair it with a bit of wire point to point if the track fails? No..... the best thing to do is desolder the transistors and then reseat them properly so there is no stress on the pads...... the pads have parted company with the board because of the heat from the trasnsistors AND the fact they weren't locked down onto the PCB properly. It's an easy enough fix (I also like to scrape the tracks back to bare copper and supplement the whole area with reinforcement)...... if you feel it's out of your comfort zone bbking then send the bottom board to me and I'll do it for you, free of charge, return postage would be all I ask for. Seriously, it's not a biggie so don't lose any sleep over it :-) I'm more than happy to sort that for you. All the best, Mike. |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Feb 14, 2019 14:13:17 GMT
Is there still cupper left in the pcb?
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Post by bbking on Feb 14, 2019 22:18:08 GMT
Mike that would be very kind of you to do that, replacing a few caps and a few other bits n bobs is no bother, but i am worried i could mess this up if i do myself! Hey nando thanks for your reply mate, but i think i am going to leave this to the professional! |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 15, 2019 21:47:34 GMT
Mike that would be very kind of you to do that, replacing a few caps and a few other bits n bobs is no bother, but i am worried i could mess this up if i do myself! Hey nando thanks for your reply mate, but i think i am going to leave this to the professional! No probs Simon..... happy to help.... email sent. Mike. |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Feb 16, 2019 16:03:41 GMT
Mike that would be very kind of you to do that, replacing a few caps and a few other bits n bobs is no bother, but i am worried i could mess this up if i do myself! Hey nando thanks for your reply mate, but i think i am going to leave this to the professional! You’re welcome. If you let Mike do his magic it will be better than new. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 16, 2019 21:28:16 GMT
Mike that would be very kind of you to do that, replacing a few caps and a few other bits n bobs is no bother, but i am worried i could mess this up if i do myself! Hey nando thanks for your reply mate, but i think i am going to leave this to the professional! You’re welcome. If you let Mike do his magic it will be better than new. Bloody hell, I wouldn't go that far Nando  No way (on planet earth) is track / pad repair / supplementary reinforcing going to "look" new but, yes, it will last forever so, yes..... better than "new" on the longevity side of the coin..... ugly looking repair but will last a lifetime / belt and braces UBER guaranteed until 2099 type of thang  Anyhoo...... proof of the pudding equals the eating ( as "they" say)....... I'll upload the pRon as soon as I've finished the job Mike. |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Feb 17, 2019 10:26:49 GMT
Mike, that are a lot of words to say that I was right.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 17, 2019 11:42:12 GMT
Mike, that are a lot of words to say that I was right. |
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Post by bbking on Mar 12, 2019 15:21:19 GMT
Hey Mike, sorry i never get around to sending the board up to you, been mad busy with family stuff and got completely sidetracked.  I will get it on the way to you tomorrow. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 12, 2019 20:17:49 GMT
Hey Mike, sorry i never get around to sending the board up to you, been mad busy with family stuff and got completely sidetracked. I will get it on the way to you tomorrow. I know what it's like, it's one thing after another and then.... all of a sudden.... another year has passed before you know it. Will let you know as soon as it touches down. Mike. |
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Post by bbking on Mar 17, 2019 19:48:03 GMT
Well Mike i posted the board to you on Wednesday via royal mail 24, and for some reason it has still not left London. It seems to be moving now and should be with you in a couple of days. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 18, 2019 20:20:03 GMT
Well Mike i posted the board to you on Wednesday via royal mail 24, and for some reason it has still not left London. It seems to be moving now and should be with you in a couple of days. Arrived this afternoon and job done...... The transistors looked like they had taken a knock at some point..... no way would they have been fitted like this:   I removed the transistors (TIP 115 & C3788)  Repaired the pads and decided to fit a brand new TIP 115 transistor.... I matched it to the same hFe (gain) of the transistor on the other channel so you now have a matched pair:   To supplement the pad repair I bent the leads of the new TIP 115 over (flush with the board) prior to soldering ensuring a bullet proof, solid (and a not too ugly) repair which will last the lifetime of the amp I also supplemented the adjacent TIP 110 transistor which had come a tad loose on its moorings. No charge for the pad repairs / transistor etc. BB (just return postage cost to you as per what I said in my previous post) I took it upon myself to replace all of the electrolytic capacitors at the same time (I hate to see a job half done!) the caps were clocking on for 20 years old so may as well replace them when I had the board to hand. I removed all the shitty el cheapo caps and replaced them with Panasonic FM and Nichicon MUSE. I fitted 470uF output coupling caps which will give you more bass extension and replaced the input coupling caps with non polar types too. I also noted that your quad input block was heavily oxidised so I fitted a new one.... a good clean input connection goes a long way. I also desoldered all signal path joints and resoldered with fresh 63/37/3 solder (3% silver) to ensure the signal path has the best possible sonic transmission line. No charge but if you want to buy me a beer I won't say no We now need to take this to first name status I think, I've got your e-mail address (the e-mail you registered when you joined the forum) and will pop you an e-mail now to get your return address.     |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 18, 2019 21:14:57 GMT
I did my best to keep it looking good  |
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Post by bbking on Mar 19, 2019 10:42:04 GMT
Mike, you have gone above and beyond there mate! After cleaning the board and revealing the mess that was left behind i have to say i had felt a little disheartened, now you got me really looking forward to getting the rest of this amp upgraded!
I would say it is not only looking good, you have given that board a new lease of life! How bad was that board compared to others you have had in front of you in the past?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 19, 2019 21:02:45 GMT
A very good example.... possibly one of the best I have seen...... don't worry....... good to go for many years. Posted today, should be with you tomorrow...... please report back.
All the best,
Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 19, 2019 21:08:40 GMT
Mike, that are a lot of words to say that I was right. Yes |
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Post by bbking on Mar 20, 2019 21:00:19 GMT
Just wanted say that the board turned up today Not done the upgrades yet, I plan on doing that in the morning. I am more than impressed with your work Mike! Before i sent you the board, this amp was a little noisy when you turned the volume up beyond say 11pm on the volume, now it is very quiet even if i turn the dial all the way up, not that i would ever do that with anything playing! The only noise i can hear is from one of my valves which is a little buggered, i know this as the noise changes channel when i move the valves. Oddly though, before powering down the amp the valve in question only used to hiss intermittently, I will be in touch with you about new set of valves soon i think I will update tomorrow after i done the mods |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 21, 2019 21:01:58 GMT
Just wanted say that the board turned up today Not done the upgrades yet, I plan on doing that in the morning. I am more than impressed with your work Mike! Before i sent you the board, this amp was a little noisy when you turned the volume up beyond say 11pm on the volume, now it is very quiet even if i turn the dial all the way up, not that i would ever do that with anything playing! The only noise i can hear is from one of my valves which is a little buggered, i know this as the noise changes channel when i move the valves. Oddly though, before powering down the amp the valve in question only used to hiss intermittently, I will be in touch with you about new set of valves soon i think I will update tomorrow after i done the mods Glad you're happy with it man, happy to help. Keep us updated. The valves will deffo need replacing (for sure) they will have drifted way out of spec over the years (101% sure of that) have good fun with the rest of your upgrade. All the best, Mike. |
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No way (on planet earth) is track / pad repair / supplementary reinforcing going to "look" new but, yes, it will last forever so, yes..... better than "new" on the longevity side of the coin..... ugly looking repair but will last a lifetime / belt and braces UBER guaranteed until 2099 type of thang 
