clh333
Veteran Member
Last week, spurred by interest in the Mac SE, I acquired an SE/30 to add to the collection. The seller represented the machine as "working", but that may have been optimistic: It powered up exactly three times before refusing to boot. Internal inspection revealed the usual problems: dead battery, dirty FD, etc.
However, when it DID boot I noticed two "peculiarities" that after some research I now believe indicate failing mobo capacitors. The signs were: very faint chime on power-up and occasional distortion of the video. The video distortion was not regular, and had to do with horizontal rather than vertical sweep. "Tearing" might describe the phenomenon, and it was most prevalent when first started.
I took out the RAM and ROM and washed the board. There was no sign of leakage on the traces or any indication of lifting, for which I am thankful. So: I can send out the board to someone who will recap it for ~ $80 or I can take on the job myself. I have performed through-hole replacement on other boards but this is SMT, a different (and foreign) kettle of fish. Don't have a hot-air rework station, never made such a repair.
Any advice?
-CH-
However, when it DID boot I noticed two "peculiarities" that after some research I now believe indicate failing mobo capacitors. The signs were: very faint chime on power-up and occasional distortion of the video. The video distortion was not regular, and had to do with horizontal rather than vertical sweep. "Tearing" might describe the phenomenon, and it was most prevalent when first started.
I took out the RAM and ROM and washed the board. There was no sign of leakage on the traces or any indication of lifting, for which I am thankful. So: I can send out the board to someone who will recap it for ~ $80 or I can take on the job myself. I have performed through-hole replacement on other boards but this is SMT, a different (and foreign) kettle of fish. Don't have a hot-air rework station, never made such a repair.
Any advice?
-CH-