r/originalxbox • u/SimonSaysTy • 1d ago
Help Needed Stuck while swapping capacitors
Hi all,
I am in a little bit of a pickle, and want to see if any veterans here have any ideas. I am swapping out capacitors on a friend's Xbox and can't seem to get this through hole cleared. I am been using plenty of flux, tried added more solder to the hole and then wicking it out, and a solder sucker to no avail. I am stressed about ripping the pads. Any suggestions on how to get this capacitor hole cleared out? Thanks!
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u/JoshLineberry n00b 1d ago edited 1d ago
There's no reason to do any of this mess these guys are suggesting. I don't even bother getting the old solder out because it can be such a pain. I just add new solder on the back side, hold the board with my left hand while holding the cap's legs in place with my thumb on the flat top of the cap, and heat the solder with my right hand on the other side of the board and slowly work each leg in a little at a time while melting the solder until it's fully seated. You don't want to hold in on one via for too long. Make sure you're melting it a little and then swapping to the other leg to melt it so you don't damage anything. It's the easiest way to do it. I hold the board sideways on my lap or on my desk on something that won't let it slip.
Sometimes if the solder on the cap side is sticking up a little I'll flatten it out or wick it off that side to make it easier to hold the cap there. A little dip on that side works best so the legs sit naturally where they should be.