Acill's Amiga Repair Thread

[Acill]

Well it looks like the first post is not editable any more. I'll post status updates to the end unless a moderator can unlock it foe me to do continously on first post.

[Acill]

I'm working on obtaining an Amiga as we speak so one of the first things I plan to do is send the motherboard your way for a re-capping. Thanks for everything you're doing for the Amiga community!

Thanks! Also as a reminder you DO NOT need to supply the caps kits any longer. I take care of all of it now. I just cant edit the first page.

[Acill]

I received an A4000 in for a recap from WLemonds. All went well and it tested fine when I was done. Sent it back and I get word he cant select any AGA modes. I was upset I missed this, but I didnt know and so I asked him to return it.

I am pleased to say I fixed it after repairing several traces in the battery area I found weak, and had to replace U976. Since I missed this one and returned it (working on it or not I have no way to know), I didnt charge for all this work. Pleased to say we have one more working Amiga back in the world though!

Some examples of bad traces found. These are part of the RTC circuit.


Old U976 removed, cleaned up pad and solder paste going on to put the new chip in place.


New U976 in place along with a new coin cell holder.


256 colors mode is now working again!!!

[Acill]

First step in restoring Magnetics A4000D. This one was given to me as a dead A4000. I've slowly been getting it restored to working condition. Before this simm socket change everything worked, but its getting RAM Lib errors when we try to install a mediator 4000, including a brand new black one just in from Elbox. The previous owner actually used Superglue to hold these old RAM sticks in the old broken sockets!

Old Sockets after first one removed.



Getting closer to these crap plastic clip ones being GONE!



Old sockets  gone and ready for a refresh!



Yup, three is all you need if you install them in this order. 2MB in slot 0 for chip, 16MB in 2 and 4, or 32MB if you have done the 64MB hack!

[Acill]

What's the 64 meg hack?
I always thought two eights were the highest on the motherboard.

Ah, well... Its a must do hack! John's way at this link is the best way I know if doing it. I can do this as well. I have to order some more GAL chips, but thats easy.

http://wordpress.hertell.nu/?p=303

[Acill]

Just received an A1200 in from Kirk_M for a recap. If you look where the swab is pointing you can see it came just in time. That is a leaking cap and you can see where its spread out onto other components if you look closely at the dull finish on the solder joints around it. This one should be done soon and working fine. Stay tuned!

[Acill]

Huge new order of caps just placed for A600, A1200, A4000 and CD32 as well as a few of the CPU cards and other accessories for sidecar add on expansions for various Amiga models.

I also ordered enough A4000 SIMM sockets, Super Buster-11 and sockets to do 4 machines if you need a repair or an upgrade on your 4000.

I can also do classic game consoles and add support for Atari 2600/5200 composite and audio output so you can play on a modern TV.

[Acill]

Perfect. My Amiga 600 should be delivered by the end of the month. Soon as it is I'll get in touch with you about doing a re-cap.

Put a note in with it letting me know if you want the modulator removed. I do it for free if I am doing a recap. Have the gear out so its a couple minutes longer is all.

[Acill]

More progress on Magnetics A4000 restoration project. I did a recap today. Also discovered the clock chips and traces are bad. Will be repairing those soon.

Caps removed and ready to be replaced.


Rough Looking clock chips and traces. Will have to repair these next time I work on it.


Solder paste down for two caps. Some of you asked how I do this, and this is how.


Cap soldered into place and the next one ready to go in beside it.


The A4000 all complete with new caps.


On to the next project!

[Acill]

enjoying your work pics.  quick question, what do you use for desoldering?

thanks

It depends on the job and the component. For surface mount caps I use a hot air desoldering station. For SIMM sockets I prefer to use a handheld desoldering pump but sometimes use a vacuum desoldering station. I also do that for through hole components. Surface chips are all removed with hot air. Through hole all with vacuum desoldering station so it is quick.

I do have a set of Hakko desoldering tweezers, but I dont like to use them. Its to easy to kill a solder pad with those things, so I prefer to just break out the hot air unless its for something fast like one part.

Great job Acill!Thank you so much!
Guys: Paul is amazing. The work he does is very top notch!

Thanks for the compliment. I am trying hard to save as many as I can and make sure its done right for a fair price!!

[Acill]

Thanks for getting my board fixed. When anyone needs caps done you need to send your boards to Acill. I've got more boards to send (hopefully not as bad as the last one) soon.

It made it back to you ok? Glad things are all working. It was a challenge!

[Acill]

Some more of Magnetic's 4000. Today I had to remove U177, U975 and U976 so I could clean up under them. U177 is part of the clock circuit and its toast. Luckily it and its other chip above you will see in the last photo can be out of the circuit and the 4000 still functions, just with no clock functionality. You can also see how bad the traces coming off U177 and around it are. They will have to be repaired eventualy if I want to get it working I am sure. My meter isnt working well and I am having a hard time tracing them out to see just how bad they really are.

Chips removed. You can see the real bad traces off to the left from U177


Closer view of the area near U177


U975 and U976 removed. Not quite as bad, but still needed to be replaced with new chips just to be sure.


Cleaned up as best as its going to get and fluxed up for new chips to go down.


New replacements soldered into place


This is the clock chip socket. I removed the chip and well to test the socket for any bad pins and the socket itself. It seemed to be okay.


I still dont have the two 8MB simms in yet to test the simm sockets I replaced. I cant get it to boot because the chip RAM is all I have to use and it runs out of memory and fails to boot from HD. If I boot from a 3.1 floppy it goes to WB and shows only 285,000 free chip RAM. Hope thats correct, but we will see. This is by far the most challenging board I have had in for a long time.

[Acill]

Kirk_M's A1200 caps removed and cleaned up. You can see in the last shots the cap that leaked. Its caused some corrosion but I've cleaned it up and the circuit seems to be fine. This is a perfect example of why you need to recap your Amiga's BEFORE a problem is noticed. These machines are going on over 20+ years. They were never expected to be running as long as we all have been using them.

All cleaned up and ready for recap. First radial is in up near the composite jack.


Close up shots of the leaking cap area before cleanup.






This one will get done once I return from a work trip wednesday next week.

[Acill]

Since I am yet again leaving town for a week on tuesday for a work trip I made sure Kirk_M's 1200 got done. I removed the modulator, replaced the power connector with a NOS one, did a full recap and cleanup. I also reinstalled the indivision AGA MK2 for him. This one is out the door on the 2nd as requested.

[Acill]

Just a quick Buster 7 to Buster 11 upgrade in progress here. All cleaned up and ready for the socket to arrive.

[Acill]

Acill I just noticed. There is sticker: Amiga re-caps by Acill. I do not have sticker, I'm so jealous. I think I need discount next time, due to emotional loses .

LOL! Yeah, this is my NEW thing! Next time you get a discount and a free sticker!