Pedal Mod Help

[bubs_42]

Alright I've done dozens of pickup swaps but this is the first time i've tackled a PC Board. How do you take off a Capacitor? The poles are further apart than a Diod and I can't get them hot at the same time, what am I missing? I'm guessing there i'm useing the wrong TIP on my Iron? I'm just using the cylinder with a point.

Thanks in advance.

[Bloozguy]

Shawn,

You need to get a tool called a "solder sucker." It's a spring loaded little vacuum tool. You heat one of the component leads until the solder is liquid then suck the solder out with this tool. Repeat for the other lead and the part should just drop off. You can get those at Radio Shack.

[bubs_42]

Shawn,

You need to get a tool called a "solder sucker." It's a spring loaded little vacuum tool. You heat one of the component leads until the solder is liquid then suck the solder out with this tool. Repeat for the other lead and the part should just drop off. You can get those at Radio Shack.

Thanks I tried Desoldering Braid and that is not doing the trick. So out to RS I go.

[Thundernotes]

At this point you may want to re-apply solder to the joint, so that the sucker has something to suck.

Not sure how far apart these leads are, but once you've removed most of the solder, if the cap doesn't fall out, heat one lead and reach around the board and "rock" it out of the hole. Repeat for the other lead. It takes some practice. I recommend grabbing an old PC board from a computer or old stereo and practicing on something like that.

Good luck!

[bubs_42]

Thanks the particular one is in a tight spot and no wiggle room. I do have some spare computer parts so I'll start with one of them. Thanks for the tip.

[dewey finn]

Apply heat to one end ans slowly pull up on the cap. Then apply heat to other end and w"walk" the part out by alternating back and forth until it has been removed.

[backinit]

Try some mini hemostats. Also work nice as a heat sink.

[Ethan]

That braid stuff kind of sucks...this dude I know that builds amps likes it but he is old school...I like the solder sucker better.

[whiskeyzulu]

+ 1 on solder sucker, I have cheap bulb type (cost 2-$3 and worth it) and practice on old board - repairing mistakes on PCB can be a real PIA.

Having just done a bunch of PCB mods to my Blues Jr I can earnestly recommend the following:

1. Invest in a good iron, preferably w/ temp control, the RC $10 irons are dangerous on PC boards - too much heat on the board can cause the copper trace to lift and curl like these mistakes

I invested in a Hakko 936 and it was the best investment I have made in a while I've been soldering everything in sight for weeks - lol.

2. If temp controlled try using iron at around 650 degrees.

3. Using diagonal cutters or preferred flush cutter, cut leads of cap from top side of board - this is a must if the legs are bent on bottom side b/c the bent-over leads can be difficult to straighten without damaging the printed circuit. The traces and solder pads on the back of most PCB boards are small and can easily be damaged.

Instead, clip the cap from the other side, heat and use a solder sucker to lift the solder and the stub of the lead - one at a time. Attempts to salvage the old caps by removing them intact are likely to destroy the traces on your board.

Take your time and good luck.

[bubs_42]

Thanks everyone for the help. I completed the pedal a couple of days ago and have been testing and running it through its paces.

The pedal was a Danelectro Daddy'O Pedal. Supposed to be an overdrive but it sounds between a BluesDriver and a Fuzz before and after the Mods. Exept now with more gain than I know what to do with and all the Harmonics are in the right places. 3 band eq really adds to being able to dial it in on top of an already dirty amp. So thanks again it was fun. I may try another mod soon then a full build sometime.