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My first SE/30 - will I be happy or sad?

chiptripper

chiptripper

6502
I found an SE/30 locally after years of looking, got it for a good price. When I showed up to pick it up, they handed me the original carrying bag, manual, keyboard, mouse, and a SCSI ZIP drive. Wow! So I was feeling pretty good. But then I got home, started opening it up, heard the rattle. You all know what I mean, that rusty bits and pieces sound. Uh oh!

So here it is. It's in the bath now. Beyond hope or salvageable? I think it's the latter but feel free to place your bets.

IMG_1133 (2).JPEG
 
Honestly, I never saw a motherboard in these conditions but It can be just a "visual thing", try to cleanup to understand the amount of the damage.
 
Glad you found one - nothing is impossible if you have the skills! Having noted that you will need new RAM, ROM sockets and many of the chip legs are corroded elsewhere. Also look into the SE/30 Reloaded replica boards.
 
It depends on how many things got taken out when the Maxell battery exploded. It might be possible to salvage, but unfortunately it's not gonna be easy.
 
yikes, those poor se/30's had nasty batteries. Hope you can repair that, but no kidding, that could be a project and a half. Best to clean up as best you can and see what traces and legs have been eaten away.
 
Post a good high-res. photo here once you've cleaned it up and the more experienced members will be able to tell you if any serious damage has been done.
 
claanu said:
Beyond hope or salvageable? I think it's the latter but feel free to place your bets.
Click to expand...
Intended to say "I think it's the former", tired brain.

BUT, check this out. This is after initial soak and scrub. I'm astonished to see almost every trace is intact. Credit to the high quality finish on these boards! They are real works of art.

IMG_1162.JPEG
 
I still think this one is beyond help, or rather far more work than I'd reasonably like to take on. I've done a ton of board restorations including battery bombs, but I've never successfully brought back one with damage this extensive.

What I'm worried about here is that the rot has crept down the vias and between layers. I can see that the via copper on several has been completely dissolved. That's not to mention the sorry state of the RTC, FPU (can't really see but it's ruined), ROM SIMM area, whatever I'll find under those RAM sockets, etc.

I think there's enough here to do one of Bolle's boards, I'll probably do that!
 
claanu said:
I still think this one is beyond help, or rather far more work than I'd reasonably like to take on. I've done a ton of board restorations including battery bombs, but I've never successfully brought back one with damage this extensive.

What I'm worried about here is that the rot has crept down the vias and between layers. I can see that the via copper on several has been completely dissolved. That's not to mention the sorry state of the RTC, FPU (can't really see but it's ruined), ROM SIMM area, whatever I'll find under those RAM sockets, etc.

I think there's enough here to do one of Bolle's boards, I'll probably do that!
Click to expand...
Indeed, the troublesome part are the via's.
If you loose continuity between the layers, the board becomes virtually irrepairable afaik, unless you're lucky and the all the damaged via's are between the 2 outer layers only.
I think the original board consists of 6 layers!
 
claanu said:
It's in the bath now.
Click to expand...
So... first, I agree batt-bombed SE/30 'boards are a challenge... I'm maybe 50/50 - perhaps less - on successful recovery. What I am interested in is your "bath" potion. I have a batt-bombed IIgs 'board with similar 'yellow/cream' ooze. Your bath potion seems to have sorted that - what's the recipe?
 
mg.man said:
So... first, I agree batt-bombed SE/30 'boards are a challenge... I'm maybe 50/50 - perhaps less - on successful recovery. What I am interested in is your "bath" potion. I have a batt-bombed IIgs 'board with similar 'yellow/cream' ooze. Your bath potion seems to have sorted that - what's the recipe?
Click to expand...
Well, that the picture above is after a heck of a lot of toothbrush time.

My method is: board-sized tub, just enough distilled water to cover the board, a few sloshes of isopropyl (99%), and plain liquid dish soap. Leave overnight, then toothbrush while still submerged. Rinse and scrub with more distilled til suds stop. Sometimes I do a few rounds of rinsing, I don't like leaving any soap on the board. Then usually a spray of IPA to speed up the drying process.

All temporary until I can convince my wife that an ultrasonic cleaner is a necessary and worthwhile investment.
 
Thanks!
claanu said:
My method is...
Click to expand...
...good old-fashioned elbow grease! :) Interesting that your technique shifted the yellow 'crust'. As I said, I have a IIgs 'board that I'm still trying to shift the same off - will try the overnight soak, etc.
claanu said:
until I can convince my wife that an ultrasonic cleaner is a necessary
Click to expand...
If you are successful, do be careful. I ended up crippling a SE/30 'board that I'd re-capped, was working fine but started to act up after being run for 3 - 4 hours. I assumed there was still some cap goo lurking, so popped it in my shiny new US cleaner - with the recommended PCB cleaning solution. Well... I guess I hit it too hard (= 4 or 5 x 5 minute cycles) - it now no longer works and is with Dr. @max1zzz to see if he can bring it back to life. :cry:
 
O
claanu said:
I found an SE/30 locally after years of looking, got it for a good price. When I showed up to pick it up, they handed me the original carrying bag, manual, keyboard, mouse, and a SCSI ZIP drive. Wow! So I was feeling pretty good. But then I got home, started opening it up, heard the rattle. You all know what I mean, that rusty bits and pieces sound. Uh oh!

So here it is. It's in the bath now. Beyond hope or salvageable? I think it's the latter but feel free to place your bets.

View attachment 45504
Click to expand...
Ouch! That looks like it's gonna be a lot of work to do. Good luck!
 
Wasn't intending to upset anyone just suggesting more info. Not everyone is great at fixing and yes some people do charge for their time. Personally I reckon that's OK it's up to the individual to choose what's right for them.
 
I find expertise levels are equivalent. 68kmla is more my vibe, but lots of hobbyists participate on both sites and that’s cool by me.
 
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