Your Least Favorite Board Part to Replace

Lifted traces. I hate replacing lifted traces and solder pads, especially around larger ICs. I'm usually pretty good, but some boards are so prone to it.
 
Lifted traces. I hate replacing lifted traces and solder pads, especially around larger ICs. I'm usually pretty good, but some boards are so prone to it.
I use 2 part high-heat resistant epoxy to put lifted traces back down. Super thin amount spread with a tooth pick then put a weight on it with some wax paper between the weight and the trace.

If I can't repair it, I'll use 30ga Kynar bodge wires for most things.
 
What's your least favorite board part to replace when rebuilding/repairing/whatever any board used in a game and why is it the TIP32 in use on Atari AR-II's? This is the only right answer.
Pretty much every part on a board is my least favorite to replace!! I struggle even with the simple things like caps. Chip sockets? Forget it.
 
+1 for machine pin sockets and botched repairs. Another one that can be tough without messing things up is the LM380 power amp IC found on pacman and boards of the era with that crappy gull wing heat sink. Actually, just pulling anything from a midway board without making a goof can suck. The pcbs were made from wet tissue paper.
 
Not exactly what you intended but … getting a CRT out of a cabinet. Have to deal with the high voltage, then maybe desolder the degauss wire, remove a bunch of connectors, cut yourself on the sharp frame, trying all the while not to crack the neck. Sometimes they have to come out from the front so you have more cabinet parts to remove just to get at it. And don't drop a screw down into the abyss of the cabinet floor … dark, dirty and lots of hiding places for a small screw.

Once on the bench, I breathe easier.

I install quick disconnect ends on degauss wires to save that step next time.

None of this is particularly hard but man what a hassle.

Thankfully, the next step is washing the nasty chassis … one of my favorite things to do!
 
Q: "What's the least favorite part to replace?"
A: "The broken one". (laughs)

Q: "What's the most favorite part to replace?"
A: "The easiest one". (usually, a socketed part or a drop-in upgrade)
 
Anything that been exposed to an Alkaline battery leak.

Multiple layer pcb that is bubbling / delaminating from exposure from too much heat way too soon.

Multiple layer pcb where the solder holes don't have copper inserts anymore.
 
LM305 - the chip lifter I use has a small notch in it..

That little notch helps position that one last leg for everything.. it can reach in and guide the pin to the hole..

View attachment 806247

Fantastic tool, I love them. I use the exact same one, but the prying edge is a tad too blunt, I think. Sometimes hard to get between a chip and socket if the chip was aggressively inserted.

I touch them up with a small hand file just to take the blunt edge off. Don't go crazy with a grinder or dremel, I find they just need a little kiss with the file to knock off any hard edges make them perfect.
 

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Transistors.. as easy as it is and even though silpads with no grease required make it even easier? I just find it mondane and more like a chore to be sure they sit and look just the way I like them, slight case of OCD.

Sometimes I'd rather replace a socket instead.
 
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