De-Soldering Help on v1.0

[El_Campeador]

I decided to go from a X2.3Lite+ to an X3 because my box kept fragging after a while. I attributed it to the pogo pin install, and mustered up the balls to solder an X3 to my Xbox.

I want to do a pin header install.

The problem I'm having is removing the solder from the 16 holes that are filled in my v1.0 Xbox. The holes are small, and the solder-sucker I bought has too thick a nozzle to heat the solder and suck it out. It's also quite a clumsy contraption - I just can't see it working properly.

I have a de-solder wick, but all the tutorials on the web haven't worked for me. The tutorials tell me that it should take 5 minutes to clear them out - it's been 3 days, and I've so far managed to clear 2.

Questions -

1. Is there a tutorial that anyone knows of that shows detailed pictures on the placement, heating and removal using a desolder wick? The ones quoted off the main site aren't detailed enough, and - ok - I get it - "heat the wick not the board" - but I need more details.

2. Should I use the very tip of the wick like this -

----------------- <-wick
______________0 <-contact

or should I lay the wick flat on the contact like this -

---------------- <-wick
_______0______ <-contact

3. Where should I place the tip of the soldering iron - does it go immediately on the other side of the wick from the contact, pressed into the board/contact/wick - *or* does it go further up the wick, away from the board and the contact?

4. Should I consider forgoing the pin-header install and do this another way?

TIA.

-H

 

[BLUEku]

Here this may help, take the wick and line it up with the LPC hole your going to desolder,LAY IT FLAT OVER THE TOP WITH ROOM TO SPARE ON BOTH SIDES, make sure your Iron is fully hot, then put just a small dab of solder onto the tip of your soldering iron, now place that small beed onto the top of the wick so that it is right above the LPC hole that you desoldering, Now that small beed is going to get absorbed into the wick "Propose of this is to make a better heat transfer" Make sure your pressing the very tip of the iron into the hole, its not going to fit in there but close enough! Now watch the wick closely you should see solder starting to flow and spread out hold it there for 5 secs and then remove, you should have a nice clean hole, HOW EVER DONT HOLD IT TO LONG OR YOU WILL BURN YOUR MOBO! If you have any other questions just pm me and I will try and help

 

[ThaCrip]

pin header installs are generally recommended... but with a 1.0 xbox since the holes are already pre-filed with solder... the wires install option would seem like the easier choice

just my thoughts.

 

[junkman2]

Yeah for a 1.0 I would most definetly choose the wire install. It is very easy since there is already solder in the holes. It is more likely that you will screwup the lpc while trying to remove solder.

 

[cwest]

Push come to shove check this out. this is a great was to freshen up on your skills. Remember a 15w iron would may be a little better if your concerned about heat


http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/soldering2.php

 

[El_Campeador]

Thanks for the feedback lads.

I gave up.

The 16 holes started looking wary after days of trying to desolder, so I went with a wire install. I managed to attach the colored wires in the right order, then added the HD led and the LAN led.

Then I went at my D0. I stripped the trace and fecked up my box. Since it was a gift years ago, I decided to cough up the $150 for a new v1.6 and went at it again.

I should have read the entire tutorials (which I kinda did) before buying the chip. The documentation is lousy, and misleading - this is not at all easy, and I'm not a technology dumbass. I build data centers for a living. This entire Rebuild PCB sh*te threw me for a loop. Soldering the equivalent of a piece of cardboard to the bottom of my new board freaked me out, especially since the only tutorial tells me to aim my iron at a 45 degree angle *between the PCB and the motherboard*, keep it there for not more than 2-3 seconds, *and* "add solder" at the same time. How many hands does the dude think I have?

I'm bummed about being defeated, I'm bummed about spending $250 for a chip, new Xbox, soldering gear, and shipping, not to mention a week of frustration, but one thing I am *not* about to do is burn another box.

If anyone has any recommendations for an easier chip to install, I might try it again. In the meantime, who wants an X3?

 

[shagga]

Line up the rebuild PCB carefully then use some electrical tape to hold the board place sop you have your hands free to hold your iron and solder. You only need 1 pair of hands and some common sense. I understand how pissed off you must be after your troubles with the v1.0 but many other people with similar soldering experience to yourself have managed to mod their v1.6's myself included.

As for desoldering v1.0 I find it easiest to have 2 people do the job. One person applies the iron direct to the centre of the hole on oneside of the board while the person on the otherside of the board lines up a solder sucker with the middle of the hole too and removes the solder after a second or two of heat being applied. I found this the quickest and safest way to go about it without risking burning the board, just dont forget to tidy up any solder splashes.

 

[Cheb41]

Hey, as you can see on this site that there are a lot of people that have modded their boxes. 95% of have done there homework and have probably been just as frustrated as you but completed the mod and glad they did so don't lay down like a dog and give up. Everyone here is willing to help, so let,s crack open the xbox read the tutorials again and let's get started. Get things Cleaned up and start again. I see you you only have two posts so besides for the tutorials you need to ask the knowlage base of the site by this I mean the people thier a good bunch with a lot to offer! Good luck!!!!

Tools needed:
magglass
15 watt soldering iron
with the smallist tip you can find
.050 or smaller solder
Something that I found very worth while
is a solder sucker for cleanning up excess solder
or removing old solder before resolder

Like I said before, were all here for you.

Hopes this helps!!!!

 

[shagga]

I personally use a 25W iron has my 15W just doesn't do the job, if you must use a iron above 25W though you have to be very strict on how long you're prepared to leave heat on, 2 seconds at the very most. Better to not get the joint straight away than to burn a trace.

 

[NeeBick]

I've done two v1.0 pin header installs. I just used desoldering braid laid across each row and applied heat at each point, takes about 10 minutes. Nice and clean.

 

[drewdog77]

Cheb41 forgot one important item when soldering...

FLUX!!

If you don't use flux count on your box possibley fragging in a few months and having to open and resolder everything again.