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PowerBook 3400c Repair Stories

raoulduke

Well-known member
[(I agree with Techknight, but:) As a note - Is the 5300 keyboard fully compatible with the 3400c?  (just as a warning - i don't think i'd personally leave it in there permanently - but i'm not 100% sure about compatibility, but I don't think they are - it also may not matter much.  They are labeled differently in the 5300 and 3400c manuals, respectively [i think the Kanga keyboard may also be labeled differently]).]

 
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raoulduke

Well-known member
Good to know. Thank you.

I misread Techknight. I would clean the connector really well with Scrubbingbubbles... or whatever you use, since I know you said that's not possible in Austria.

I'm afraid if it's not the keyboard connector it's probably something worse.

 
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MikeatOSX

Well-known member
I used a fiber optics eraser first to remove the verdigris and then water and after that Isopropyl alcohol.

But I forgot to look on the bottom side, although I held the logic board in my hands to take pictures.

Yes I know: it's crazy! :(

 

MikeatOSX

Well-known member
BTW: Here's a new version of the Kanga logic board pic with some labeling.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/cb2726zofowbqkg/PowerBook_G3_Kanga_Logic_Board_HiRes.jpg
I‘m proud to say: the Kanga is working again!   :cool:

What I did:

I used a Scratch Brush

http://www.amazon.com/Scratch-Brush-Fiberglass-Colors-vary/dp/B0019V18D2/ref=pd_bxgy_469_img_y

first to remove the verdigris and then water and after that Isopropyl alcohol.

But the most important tool was a magnifying glass and very good light.  ::)

Didn‘t realize, that my eyes went older...

So thanks for your help!

Next to do: still the PB 3400c and several 5300 …  :rambo:

PowerBook G3 Kanga.jpg

 

galgot

Well-known member
Congrat ! :)

Will try that Scratch Brush on one of my 3400/240 boards . Only tried with a tooth brush, and it couldn't reach every places.

 
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MikeatOSX

Well-known member
Good luck! I doubt to be successfull with mine, as the leaking PRAM battery was above the keyboard connectors and video part. The worst place ever! :(

 

MikeatOSX

Well-known member
All three PowerBooks (PB 3400c + PB G3 "Kanga" + PB 3400c) are booting to desktop, the left one still with faulty keyboard connectors.

PB 3400c+Kanga+3400c.jpg

 

raoulduke

Well-known member
What precisely is the fix for the loose power socket issue?  I tried soldering mine at each of the contact points to stiffen it up but that had no effect.  It seems dead unless you really wedge the adapter to one side and then it's perfectly normal, although it's not really usable since one hand has to be on the plug...

I couldn't find a thread on this, but I've heard it mentioned a bunch.

 

raoulduke

Well-known member
I figured it was the contact between those leads and the boards, but I guess it's an issue with the right-angles where the leads bend.  I'll fix this when I have time to do it carefully.  Thanks again.

 

raoulduke

Well-known member
I also had to do the two contacts on the bottom and the contacts on the top-side of the board (like where the two metal prongs on the bottom come up).  The picture you posted, I think, just shows the three pads on the bottom but that didn't work by itself for me [like at all; I found I had to push the plug in exactly as I did before soldering, so I figured it had to be other contact points].

And now it doesn't get past the mouse (lol... unreal).  This is the Kanga I got from Uniserver, which was in pretty good shape.  I actually used this guy a bit last year.  I put in a new PRAM battery and there was no noticeable corrosion as of a month ago.  So I'm not clear on how this happened; and it's right above the PCMCIA enclosure and on the other side of (I think) the VLSI chip.  Really disappointing.  I'm soaking it in scrubbing bubbles but I think that must be it.  Next step will be a wash.  I'd be really shocked/annoyed if it died.

 
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raoulduke

Well-known member
it's the replacement PRAM batteries I recommended in another thread.  They've caused serious corrosion in the Kanga and a 3400c over only a few months.  The 3400c still seems fine.  The Kanga gets past the RAM test and to the screen on-mouse, but that's it.  I haven't tried the SCSI yet.  I'll try cleaning them both more thoroughly tomorrow.

But so clearly I guess if you don't intend to use these machines very regularly (because I think this is a NiCAD regular use/maintenance issue but somebody feel free to correct me) then don't put PRAM batteries in.  Probably a better rule... just don't put PRAM batteries in.

 

raoulduke

Well-known member
Yep. That's a relist of the one I posted. Let me know when it destroys your machines, but keep in mind it didn't take very long for me. And it didn't drop. It just corroded with the irregular charge/discharge schedule. I suppose perhaps I had some very obscure problem, but I would take the battery out.

 
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raoulduke

Well-known member
No I understand.  My damage wasn't immediately under the battery on the 3400c.  Is it possible that corrosion can travel along wires or traces - which would also explain why the wire from the battery to the power distribution board (all along that wire) is often corroded.  I mean on the 3400c one random via seemed corroded.  [Via catalysis, for instance.]

 
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MikeatOSX

Well-known member
There is an adapter on half of the length of the original PB3400c/Kanga PRAM battery cable, which I never could open, as it's always corroded too.

 
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