My 'new' A600 - warning... DIRTY!

ali-b · 29 July 2014, 15:21

So I popped open the recent A600 purchase to see what the situation is... it boots fine but there is a lot of cleaning to be done.
top - not too badly yellowed. The back panel is heavily yellowed though so this was obviously in a window for a good while.... (all pics, click to embiggen)

Now let's just pop the lid off and see what we are dealing wi... OMG MY EYES! GAH TAKE IT AWAY!!!!

ok maybe that was an over-reaction, but it's still a bit grim in there...

Interestingly, there was no RF shield on this one. and doesn't seem to have EVER had one. I broke the seal on it, and the retaining tabs are pristine (haven't ever been bent/unbent)

now how about those caps...

As far as I can tell all look good... CS21 appears to have some gunk on top but seems to be glue or something but WTF is going on with the modulator lid??!!

so next step.... CLEAN!! (any suggestions?)

ancalimon · 29 July 2014, 15:25

It seems like your A600 have a thing for carpet weaving.

Mad-Matt · 29 July 2014, 15:27

My A600 bought in dec1992 (wild,weird,wicked pack) Also never had a top layer of shielding. It had a hd caddy yet the rom was 37.299 with no internal scsi.device to drive a hd.

ali-b · 29 July 2014, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad-Matt

It had a hd caddy...

oh yeah, there was an HD caddy, but I took it out for the pic...

Quote:

yet the rom was 37.299 with no internal scsi.device to drive a hd.

Aaaahhhhh. Does that mean I may have to upgrade the ROM if I want to add a (internal) CF?

liviux76 · 29 July 2014, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by ali-b

Aaaahhhhh. Does that mean I may have to upgrade the ROM if I want to add a (internal) CF?

If your rom is 37.299 yes, you have to replace it with either a 37.300 or a 37.350 in order to use an hard drive / cf...

ali-b · 29 July 2014, 15:45

OK cheers.

demolition · 29 July 2014, 16:04

A lot of the vias are dark which could indicate leaking caps, however it may just be dust, so hard to say for sure until it has been cleaned thoroughly.

That modulator lid looks weird indeed. If it is rust+dust, then it also a sign of leaky caps somewhere.

Even if the caps turn out to all look fine, I will say that there is a great chance they will start to leak as soon as you power it on, so I'd replace them all before that happens.

ali-b · 29 July 2014, 16:28

Thanks. Nothing more is happening with this one til I can get it cleaned up a bit.
What's best for that?

demolition · 29 July 2014, 16:34

I put the motherboard in the dishwasher (shortest and coldest program), followed by a rinse using demineralised water and a couple of hours in the oven on low heat to dry it. Some people will tell you it's not good, but I never had any problems with it. The MB looks like new after such a treatment. Only negative thing is that paper stickers will be damaged.

john1979 · 29 July 2014, 19:14

Why did all the dirt collect on the RF mod and not around it. Something to do with magnetism or heat?

alexh · 29 July 2014, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by john1979

Why did all the dirt collect on the RF mod and not around it.

Rust. The corrosion adds a rough surface where the dust can attach to.

ali-b · 30 July 2014, 01:50

yet more thanks guys.
Demolition: whenyou say lowest and shortest dishwasher cycle, my dishwasher only hs 3 settings with 55c and about an hour for the lowest/shortest. I'm thinking that's probably too much eh?

NovaCoder · 30 July 2014, 04:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad-Matt

My A600 bought in dec1992 (wild,weird,wicked pack) Also never had a top layer of shielding. It had a hd caddy yet the rom was 37.299 with no internal scsi.device to drive a hd.

Commodore were probably just throwing parts together to get them out the door at that point

At least it came with a motherboard...

demolition · 30 July 2014, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by ali-b

yet more thanks guys.
Demolition: whenyou say lowest and shortest dishwasher cycle, my dishwasher only hs 3 settings with 55c and about an hour for the lowest/shortest. I'm thinking that's probably too much eh?

My dishwasher has a speed setting, which is 45 deg./45 mins, however I stop it manually when there's 15 mins left since that is about when it starts drying, so it's in there for about 30 mins in total. I don't need the machine drying since I'll be rinsing it off manually and drying it in the oven (~75 deg. for several hours).

I don't think 55 deg. should be a problem for it and you can probably take it out after 25-30 mins. It should be rinsed thoroughly under the tap afterwards to remove any traces of detergent which is also corrosive. Then I finish off with the demineralised water to get rid of the minerals from the tap water. Then it should dry without leaving any patches.

ali-b · 31 July 2014, 17:48

so you use detergent too? we have tablets which are a bit abrasive...

demolition · 31 July 2014, 20:03

Yes, I use one of the same tablets that I use for the dishes. Actually, since it is basic, it should even neutralize the acid from any leaking capacitors, although it is still corrosive in itself. But if you keep the exposure time short and wash it off completely as soon as you take it out of the machine, it should be fine. I think not using any detergent will not give the same nicely looking results.

Hewitson · 02 August 2014, 17:17

I think you'll find not using any detergent works just as well. I normally put dirty boards under the tap and they clean up perfectly.

ali-b · 04 August 2014, 13:14

we have VERY hard water in this part of the UK, so i'd probably want to utilise anything that will help avoid scale deposits

demolition · 04 August 2014, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by ali-b

we have VERY hard water in this part of the UK, so i'd probably want to utilise anything that will help avoid scale deposits

Which is why it should be rinsed in demineralised water right after the cleaning. Then there will be no remains on the PCB.

Paul_s · 12 September 2014, 07:51

If you plan on going the Indivision ECS route with this one whip out that RF demodulator to free up some space

Does anyone actually use RF anymore?

29 July 2014, 15:21	#1
ali-b Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: hampshire Posts: 67	My 'new' A600 - warning... DIRTY! So I popped open the recent A600 purchase to see what the situation is... it boots fine but there is a lot of cleaning to be done. top - not too badly yellowed. The back panel is heavily yellowed though so this was obviously in a window for a good while.... (all pics, click to embiggen) Now let's just pop the lid off and see what we are dealing wi... OMG MY EYES! GAH TAKE IT AWAY!!!! ok maybe that was an over-reaction, but it's still a bit grim in there... Interestingly, there was no RF shield on this one. and doesn't seem to have EVER had one. I broke the seal on it, and the retaining tabs are pristine (haven't ever been bent/unbent) now how about those caps... As far as I can tell all look good... CS21 appears to have some gunk on top but seems to be glue or something but WTF is going on with the modulator lid??!! so next step.... CLEAN!! (any suggestions?)

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29 July 2014, 15:25	#2
ancalimon Supernormal Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Istanbul / Turkey Age: 43 Posts: 1,410	It seems like your A600 have a thing for carpet weaving.

29 July 2014, 15:27	#3
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,846	My A600 bought in dec1992 (wild,weird,wicked pack) Also never had a top layer of shielding. It had a hd caddy yet the rom was 37.299 with no internal scsi.device to drive a hd.

29 July 2014, 15:45	#6
ali-b Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: hampshire Posts: 67	OK cheers.

29 July 2014, 16:04	#7
demolition Unregistered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Copenhagen / DK Age: 43 Posts: 4,190	A lot of the vias are dark which could indicate leaking caps, however it may just be dust, so hard to say for sure until it has been cleaned thoroughly. That modulator lid looks weird indeed. If it is rust+dust, then it also a sign of leaky caps somewhere. Even if the caps turn out to all look fine, I will say that there is a great chance they will start to leak as soon as you power it on, so I'd replace them all before that happens.

29 July 2014, 16:28	#8
ali-b Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: hampshire Posts: 67	Thanks. Nothing more is happening with this one til I can get it cleaned up a bit. What's best for that?

29 July 2014, 16:34	#9
demolition Unregistered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Copenhagen / DK Age: 43 Posts: 4,190	I put the motherboard in the dishwasher (shortest and coldest program), followed by a rinse using demineralised water and a couple of hours in the oven on low heat to dry it. Some people will tell you it's not good, but I never had any problems with it. The MB looks like new after such a treatment. Only negative thing is that paper stickers will be damaged.

29 July 2014, 19:14	#10
john1979 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: UK Age: 44 Posts: 748	Why did all the dirt collect on the RF mod and not around it. Something to do with magnetism or heat?

30 July 2014, 01:50	#12
ali-b Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: hampshire Posts: 67	yet more thanks guys. Demolition: whenyou say lowest and shortest dishwasher cycle, my dishwasher only hs 3 settings with 55c and about an hour for the lowest/shortest. I'm thinking that's probably too much eh?

31 July 2014, 17:48	#15
ali-b Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: hampshire Posts: 67	so you use detergent too? we have tablets which are a bit abrasive...

31 July 2014, 20:03	#16
demolition Unregistered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Copenhagen / DK Age: 43 Posts: 4,190	Yes, I use one of the same tablets that I use for the dishes. Actually, since it is basic, it should even neutralize the acid from any leaking capacitors, although it is still corrosive in itself. But if you keep the exposure time short and wash it off completely as soon as you take it out of the machine, it should be fine. I think not using any detergent will not give the same nicely looking results.

02 August 2014, 17:17	#17
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,772	I think you'll find not using any detergent works just as well. I normally put dirty boards under the tap and they clean up perfectly.

04 August 2014, 13:14	#18
ali-b Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: hampshire Posts: 67	we have VERY hard water in this part of the UK, so i'd probably want to utilise anything that will help avoid scale deposits

12 September 2014, 07:51	#20
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,334	If you plan on going the Indivision ECS route with this one whip out that RF demodulator to free up some space Does anyone actually use RF anymore?

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