Mac SE - SE/30 recap service?

[Tom2112]

I have a pair of old Macs - an SE and an SE/30 that need recapped - logic boards, analog boards, and power supplies. I was going to do them myself, but I haven't done much soldering in years. I pulled out some things to practice on, and frankly, I just can't see well enough anymore to do a good job. I came across www.maccaps.com, and was going to send them out to him. But I haven't received a reply to my email to him.

Can anyone here recommend a knowledgeable Mac recapping service?

 

[bibilit]

The SE don’t need any service, apart from some soldering in the AB area. 

The SE/30, in the other hand yes. 

 

[nottomhanks]

If you’re in Canada, I’d recommend @MrFahrenheit

 

[68krazy]

Where are you located?  You might be near a forum member who would be willing to help you out.

 

[Tom2112]

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'm in the USA, Western Pennsylvania (Sharon) about 1/2 way between Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Oddly enough, my Mac SE/30 is missing all its caps. That's how I got it via eBay. To make it even stranger, it boots up just fine, only problem is no sound. But I'm sure it's not a good idea to run it like that, so I want to repair it. My Mac SE has no video, which I had started troubleshooting at the power supply. The voltages are not where I think they should be. Off the top of my head, I can't remember which rail was off, but that's about as far as I got.

 

[bibilit]

To troubleshoot the SE, you can swap the Logic board in the SE/30 casing. 

The psu can also be swapped. 

 

[joshc]

The SE don’t need any service, apart from some soldering in the AB area. 

While it's true SEs don't have the really leaky surface mount caps, they still use electrolytic capacitors on the logic board - the axial type. I had a Plus which had some similar capacitors that were starting to fail. Just like any component, these won't last forever, so if you are getting machines recapped, I'd have the SE done too.

The SE uses the same analog board and PSU as the SE/30, so those need recapping too.

 

[MrFahrenheit]

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'm in the USA, Western Pennsylvania (Sharon) about 1/2 way between Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Oddly enough, my Mac SE/30 is missing all its caps. That's how I got it via eBay. To make it even stranger, it boots up just fine, only problem is no sound. But I'm sure it's not a good idea to run it like that, so I want to repair it. My Mac SE has no video, which I had started troubleshooting at the power supply. The voltages are not where I think they should be. Off the top of my head, I can't remember which rail was off, but that's about as far as I got.

If you’re only interested in a logic board recap I can have you ship it to my US address and I can ship it back to you from my US address. 

 

[Tom2112]

If you’re only interested in a logic board recap I can have you ship it to my US address and I can ship it back to you from my US address. 

What do you charge? Do you want me to provide the caps? I'd like to have it done with polymer tantalum caps. Would you do the analog board and power supplies as well?

 

[MrFahrenheit]

What do you charge? Do you want me to provide the caps? I'd like to have it done with polymer tantalum caps. Would you do the analog board and power supplies as well?

I would charge $100 USD including the return shipping for the SE/30 logic board recapped, using my own supply of tantalum caps to replace the aluminium electrolytic caps, and new through-hole caps to replace the through-hole ones.  I only do the logic boards. I test afterwards.

If you're looking for work done with specific caps, or with your caps, I'm not interested, unfortunately.  I only recap with capacitors I'm familiar with.  If you have other machine models, the cost may vary, depending on the work required.  If you send more than one board, cost goes down.

 

[MrFahrenheit]

I would charge $100 USD including the return shipping for the SE/30 logic board recapped, using my own supply of tantalum caps to replace the aluminium electrolytic caps, and new through-hole caps to replace the through-hole ones. I only do the logic boards. I test afterwards.

If you're looking for work done with specific caps, or with your caps, I'm not interested, unfortunately. I only recap with capacitors I'm familiar with. If you have other machine models, the cost may vary, depending on the work required. If you send more than one board, cost goes down.

Just want to clarify on this post because I’ve received numerous messages lately on this topic:

1. I was testing the waters of recapping boards for people. I did a couple and decided to suspend doing it at all for others.

2. I no longer do this for people. I never offered a business/service on this, it was a trial and I didn’t like how it ended up. The stress of working on someone else’s board was too great for me, worrying about ruining something.

I did have someone ask me to recap their board, and when I ran into problems, I was blasted for ruining their original, owned from new, “baby”. I eventually got their board to work, but the damage was done. I never want to go through that experience again, so I decided to just no longer do it.

Again, if you’re looking for a “recap service”, I’m not able to do this for you. I never offered an official “service” as a business, I tested the waters by accepting a couple boards for recap.

 

[mikes-macs]

There was a place in Rochester NY. Specializes in Amiga but does Macintosh boards and power supplies as well. Not sure if they are still doing them as this was pre-covid. The website is down so I don't know... I'm in the same boat with several Macs that need recap.

 

[chiptripper]

Amiga of Rochester, he was active up until very recently. Knows his stuff.

I’ve thought about offering recap services too but have the same reservations.

 

[Torbar]

For anyone looking for recap services,
I see Amiga of Rochester on Facebook/Twitter still pretty actively, so one of those places might be the best place to contact him.

https://twitter.com/amiga_rochester

facebook.com/AmigaOfRochesterNYUSA


Another option is Joe Strochnider from Joe's Computer Museum youtube channel. https://jcm-1.com/services/

 

[Phipli]

While it's true SEs don't have the really leaky surface mount caps, they still use electrolytic capacitors on the logic board - the axial type. I had a Plus which had some similar capacitors that were starting to fail. Just like any component, these won't last forever, so if you are getting machines recapped, I'd have the SE done too.

The SE uses the same analog board and PSU as the SE/30, so those need recapping too.

The reason the "don't recap" advice is given is that some axials last at least 60 years (there aren't many about that are older ). They really should be done on condition, as you might be replacing good caps that would last ages with less good ones that will fail sooner. The other thing is you might accidentally cause some issue working on the machine.

I'd always say wait until there is a fault with SEs / IIs and older.

 

[Phipli]

The stress of working on someone else’s board was too great for me, worrying about ruining something.

I did have someone ask me to recap their board, and when I ran into problems, I was blasted for ruining their original, owned from new, “baby”. I eventually got their board to work, but the damage was done. I never want to go through that experience again, so I decided to just no longer do it.

Yup, I completely understand. I've only ever tried to repair a tiny number of things for other people and one didn't work and it caused awkwardness with a friend. I try to remember to refuse to work on things for other people that aren't close family (all Engineers, all understand, usually do it themselves ).

 

[mg.man]

wait until there is a fault with ... IIs

Umm... "IIs" - as in Macintosh II and IIx (the IIfx a little less so) *do* have those prone-to-leak surface mount electrolytic cans... so you probably want to replace - esp. if they are the "yellow band" / 'blank' top ones.

I agree to wait for an issue with SE / Plus / 128k|512k...

Of course, YMMV!!

 

[Phipli]

Umm... "IIs" - as in Macintosh II and IIx (the IIfx a little less so) *do* have those prone-to-leak surface mount electrolytic cans... so you probably want to replace - esp. if they are the "yellow band" / 'blank' top ones.

I agree to wait for an issue with SE / Plus / 128k|512k...

Of course, YMMV!!

Some of the original Mac II (not II series) are axial only. I was trying to avoid someone being picky.

 

[mg.man]

I believe it was only the very early "Rev.A" II 'boards - the later ones (and FWIW every "II" I've repaired) used the yellow-band 'cans'.

It's not about being picky, just avoiding being misleading. Not all "IIs" (even within a specific model) were equal...

 

[Phipli]

I believe it was only the very early "Rev.A" II 'boards - the later ones (and FWIW every "II" I've repaired) used the yellow-band 'cans'.

It's not about being picky, just avoiding being misleading. Not all "IIs" (even within a specific model) were equal...

I completely agree. I know what you're telling me. I was just using "<" differently to how you are, in part because I had only been awake for a few seconds.