SE/30 no fun with new purchase

[CharlieFrown]

Hi, 

Yesterday I got a package containing SE/30. Fact the PDS cover was lying separately told me it was a bad sign (probably the box was dropped). When I turned it on, it started with chime, gave me a jittering sound  and horrible smell of burnt plastic. Immediately turned it off. So I guess the entire display needs replacement (?) The white tab on the neck of kinescope seems tilted. Is there any visible sign of completely dead CRT?

On the bright side, motherboard seems to be working, the small battery leakage didnt get out this little compartment. I will recap it in a local shop. 

 

[Jaek_3]

When my first Classic came, it had been dislodged too - just plug it back in and see if it'll work. Before doing so, make sure that you haven't turned the thing on in a while, and GROUND THE CRT!!! - also, stay away from the flyback transformer, and you should probably be fine

 

[tanaquil]

I'm no expert, but the jittering sound and the smell of burnt plastic sound like a burned out flyback transformer. That can happen anytime due to age.

The tilted white tab looks ok, as Jaek says it can just be gently pushed back on. But if you're planning to recap, you might want to remove the analog board as well (observing all proper voltage precautions, do you know how to discharge the CRT?) and study it closely. Larry Pina's Repair and Upgrade book describes how to locate and replace burned out components on the analog board. Most likely the picture tube is fine, the yoke doesn't look broken.

 

[Byrd]

The yoke board is significantly dislodged (perhaps from a rough shipping ride), you need to reseat this (push it back down) - don't bother if the glass around the yoke is cracked though.  Before powering it on, check the analogue board for any charred components/smell, and gingerly power it up ...

 

[Jaek_3]

Larry Pina's Repair and Upgrade book describes how to locate and replace burned out components on the analog board.

I'd be interested in the repair book, link?

 

[tanaquil]

Repair book: courtesy of maccaps (hope this is ok):

http://maccaps.com/MacCaps/Repair_books_files/Macintosh%20Repair%20and%20Upgrade%20Secrets.pdf

The physical book is also widely available (there are several copies on ebay complete with items for $30), and can be worth purchasing just for the included disk and ruler. I actually own the physical book, and find the physical copy very useful for quickly flipping back and forth; I am seriously considering buying another copy just to get the bookmark/ruler, which I once had but have long since lost!

The same author wrote several updated volumes for later macs, as well as The Dead Mac Scrolls. Great stuff.

(The original volume linked covers both the Plus and the SE - the SE/30 uses the same analog board as the SE.)

OP: Given the symptoms already reported, there are almost certainly burned components on the analog board that need to be replaced before you try starting up again. One bad component can take out several others when it fails. This may have already happened, but might as well not aggravate the problem.

If you need replacement components, there are flyback transformers on ebay for $30, search recent discussions for details. I'm still trying to figure out the best components to use to replace some other parts (e.g. C3 and J1 - I have a burned analog board and a dying flyback of my own, on two different computers!).

 

[CharlieFrown]

ok thank you guys, looks like I need to take it repair shop (they do retro stuff as well) either way, I might try to order flyback transformer just in case.

 

[uniserver]

hope you get it resolved... 

 

[techknight]

I would say the CRT is gassed out, youll have those exact symptoms if it is. 

Also, "kinescope"? Really? Someone must have worked at RCA in the 40s/50s!

 

[tanaquil]

Glad to hear you have a repair shop to take it to! They can look at the whole machine and figure out which part has gone wrong.

 

[CharlieFrown]

seems more smelly on analogue board side 

"gassed out" might sound like game over for this one, but will do my best to save this old champ. In the worst case scenario I can try to put SE/30 board to a working SE I spotted in local ads. 

 

[Byrd]

Was it reportedly working when you bought it?  I'd still say the disloged yoke board would have caused some of the bad faults you experienced.  You could make a good proper SE/30 if you can source a SE by interchanging the plastics chassis etc.

 

[CharlieFrown]

Byrd: yes, I have a picture showing the computer as fully working (incl. screen)  just before the package pick up. 

Originally this seller offered local pickup only, so I guess above description must have been true. I just convinced him to send it to another country... 

 

[tanaquil]

I tried to start up an SE/30 with a dislodged yoke board (I didn't realize it was loose until much head scratching ensued) and the only symptom was black screen/no video, while other operating sounds proceeded as normal. I doubt that was the cause of anything.

If you can get a cheap local SE, even better (than putting the SE/30 motherboard in a working SE) would be to use the SE guts to replace non working components in the SE/30.

 

[CharlieFrown]

do you guys have any tips on shipping compact mac? seems any shock during transportation might be lethal to it. Some styro on sides, top and bottom?

 

[techknight]

popping/cracking/arcing with smell = gassed out CRT. 

 

[CharlieFrown]

ok here's quick update to my SE/30. Took it to retired university technician with 45 years experience, who opened it up. He disconnected it from a yoke board and found a separate piece of glass from CRT neck, so it was degassed for sure. On the other hand he tested flyback and said it was fine. Too bad it's harder to find a working CRT these days than flyback you can get new old stock on eBay. Agreed to replace CRT if I find one.

Should I throw entire CRT to the garbage (well technically give it to electronic waste center) or save some parts of it (like cables)?

 

[techknight]

You just need to replace the CRT. they pop up on ebay from time to time, although as time goes by the more rare they get. 9" point of sale monitors or 9" CCTV monitors usually have compatible CRTs, I have done that before as well. 

 

[tanaquil]

Oh, too bad about the CRT. I guess your first instinct (blaming damage in transit) was the right one after all.

I have definitely seen advertised-good 9 in CRTs coming up on ebay, and not for outrageous prices - I think there is a seller offering them in the Trading Post right now as well. Good luck!

By all means save the cables, why not? If they test bad with a new unit (don't know why they would) you can always throw them out later.