First post, by joebelter@hotmail.co
Well, live and learn I guess.
I searched EVERYWHERE on the web for instructions on how to desolder the DIP sockets from my 286 board but couldn't find anything.
There were TONS of info about removing the DIP CHIPS but not the sockets, so I tried to follow the same instructions.
1st I reflowed all the joints on the back of the board to start fresh.
Then I carefully removed the solder from the back of the board with my Hakko 301 and it seemed to get all the solder from the holes.
I moved each pin till it looked like it was free with a tiny screwdriver, but although the pin seemed to move back and forth a little, I could see it really wasn't free.
I made sure the pins were STRAIGHT!
I then used some flux and did a once over to see if I could remove more solder I hadn't seen. I did this like 5 times.
The holes "looked" clean but the DIP socket was like GLUED to the board.
I then tried to used my heat gun and heat up the area carefully and see if I could pull on the chip with a pair of pliers.
Nothing. Then I had the STUPID idea to cut off the legs and try to push the DIP chip leg out of the hole that way.
I went through and tried to unsolder manually each hole once more, pushing into the hole with a small tip on my soldering iron.
No change. STUCK to the board.
I ended up carefully cutting up the socket with my Dremel so I could try and get the pins out individually.
That didn't go well, as I couldn't get the socket parts apart to individual level of pins.
I ended up wiggling out the parts and finally the socket was gone.
BUT I was left with TINY pieces of socket legs in the holes!
I tried for HOURS to carefully unsolder those holes - used lots of flux, even reflowed each hole and tried over again.
In the end, I still have like 3 holes with tiny legs in them, and like 6 were I wore OFF the SOLDER around the VIA (hole) on the back and front.
So - there's got to be an easier way to do this that works. I've done chips, and they just fall off!
Now my 286 is just a learning experience.
Bummer!!! Worst 5 hours I've had in a long time!
Joe