• Hello MLAers! We've re-enabled auto-approval for accounts. If you are still waiting on account approval, please check this thread for more information.

Semi Successful Recap on Classic II

Elfen

68020
On the very first try too! Well, not my first recap job but the first to get a dead machine limping...

It's the Classic II I found in the trash a couple of weeks ago. It came up with thick B/W bars and did nothing. While I waited for caps to arrive, I checked out the hard drive, it's on its last legs but I managed to rescue the system, apps and files on it. Then I managed to low level format it with Sliver Lining, and that seems to bring the hard drive back to life.

Did the recapping today as soon as the caps came in - SMD/SMT Tantalums and Ceramics. I chose this mix as to something I read on an old post by Uniserver that you can use any caps to recap a board, but preferably they should be solid state caps. I found the Ceramics to be pennies on the dollar compared to Tantalums, but for those f'ed up leaky 47µf caps I chose black Tantalums. The board looks nice though a couple of caps are crooked.

I also used SMD/SMT Solder paste, though used an iron to heat things up. This was a great help and made the job EASY! 10 Caps later and the board was done. But would it work? I put the Classic II back together and turned it on. No "Beep!" but the screen lit up in shifting grey pixels. I was wondering what was going on until I realized it was the memory test for the Classic and then the Mouse pointer came up. This was followed by the Sliver Lining SCSI ID and finally it booted in a few seconds! It works!

But with no sound. I tried the Sound control panel, nothing. I put in headphones (though I'm not sure if they worked themselves as my iPod headphones are missing), still nothing. I still got to clean the board up from the excess solder and flux, but at least I get it this far! Perhaps on Saturday I'll work on it some more.

BTW: The Classic II has 4megs of RAM, 2 megs on the motherboard and 2 - 1 meg SIMMs. I would like to get it to 10 megs, so I would need 2 - 4 megs SIMMs. It's on System 7.0.1.

What you guys think is wrong with the sound?

 
I have a classic that has the exact same issue. All good but no sound. Thinking of sending it to Uniserver for repairs but the cost is larger then the value of the computer so I have been hesitating. i may break and do it one day soon.

 
Uniserver or Techknight can get it recapped and fixed if you like, J English Smith. If you like to do it yourself, talk to Trag, he has the caps for cheap. Look at Ferrix97's LC recapping videos on how to remove the caps without damaging the traces by rocking the caps back and forth. Link:      Macintosh LC Restoration Video Series     It works like a charm! Then cleaning the board becomes a breeze.

Using solder paste in a syringe for SMD/SMT soldering made the job easy! A tiny dab on the traces, put the cap on the dab and hold it down with a tweezer leg with one hand and touch the cap & solder on one side with the iron with the other until it starts to flow and then pull away. The touch the cap and solder with the iron on the other side until it starts to flow and pull away. There is a large cap by the ADB Port which makes it tricky to solder but not impossible.

TechKnight - I'll look into that this weekend when I recover. Got too much on my mind if you know what I mean. I think I'll multimeter the traces as I go from end to end and patch up what I find.

 
Back
Top