Insights from full recap and restore of Trayloader G3 iMac

[mattsoft]

Thanks for the write-up! Recapping a bondi blue (rev a) tray loader now, and wow, there are a lot of screws and caps and boards!

 

[alectrona2988]

Great work, 68krazy! Reminds me, I should probably work on a list of caps and a servicing guide for the eMac's analog board. That's something Apple did not intend for the user to service... If you try finding a new CRT, let alone a new analog board, Apple would just give you a whole new top half that goes to the front bezel.

 

[mitchW]

Any info on original caps? Were they still in spec?
I don't think they leak
I know they are pushing 25 year mark, but I have some apple stuff pushing 40 year mark and still going strong with original caps (except RIFAs).

 

[joshc]

Any info on original caps? Were they still in spec?
I don't think they leak

Caps don't have to leak to be bad, but perhaps that's what you're getting at.
iMac G3s are known to have issues, especially on the down converter board, so bad caps in these wouldn't surprise me. And they were very much budget/consumer machines - and also subject to tons of heat because cooling in them is almost non existent, so again bad caps wouldn't surprise me.

 

[mikes-macs]

Anyone want an iMac? I have a rev D 333 MHz for parts, needs work. If you want it it's yours for the cost of shipping or free for local pickup.