Would have removed the upper sliding part of the socket, and flushed the fixed part generously with some electronics cleaning spray. It should readily dissolve oil/grease. The loose sliding part can be cleaned with water and dishsoap to save spray.

Just be careful when you remove the sliding part, that old plastic might have become quite brittle with time.

kaputnik wrote:

Would have removed the upper sliding part of the socket, and flushed the fixed part generously with some electronics cleaning spray. It should readily dissolve oil/grease. The loose sliding part can be cleaned with water and dishsoap to save spray.

Just be careful when you remove the sliding part, that old plastic might have become quite brittle with time.

Oh, how do I remove the top part of the zif socket ? Does it just slide off ?
Which way does it slide off ( Forward or backward ).

Intel486dx33 wrote:

kaputnik wrote:

Would have removed the upper sliding part of the socket, and flushed the fixed part generously with some electronics cleaning spray. It should readily dissolve oil/grease. The loose sliding part can be cleaned with water and dishsoap to save spray.

Just be careful when you remove the sliding part, that old plastic might have become quite brittle with time.

Oh, how do I remove the top part of the zif socket ? Does it just slide off ?
Which way does it slide off ( Forward or backward ).

I've done this a few times by using a flatbed screwdriver. I needed to do this as I had a working motherboard gifted to me which had its previous user break the socket lever, so I used a socket lever of a broken board to repair mine and it worked! 😁

But it's easy to break something and tbf, a flatbed screwdriver did feel somewhat crude to me.
I'm not sure if your CPU socket is build the exact same way, but the sockets I pulled apart were s370/sA sockets and basically were top parts that were latched on top of the bottom parts. I needed to slide the flatbed screwdriver into slots located at the sides of the CPU socket and bend them slightly outward (kinda like when using a screwdriver when unlatching a CPU HSF clamp).

And remember, it's all at your own risk. I cannot be held responsible if you end up accidentally stabbing your gold fish yada yada.

I'd use a hair dryer for ten minutes or so on the ZIF socket. After that, the cheap thermal compound should have become dry and firm. Then, use a brush while holding the board upside down to clean the socket. Use compressed air afterwards to blow out any remains. Finally, soak the brush with isopropyl and give it a final clean.

Yes, I was able to take the Zif socket cover off by sliding it forward and lifting up.
Now I just need to purchase some electronic contact cleaner.