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[tigers_gonads]

I've got a nice Cyrus 2 amp which I use for music only.
It must be getting on for 30 years old and still sounds great so I want to keep it BUT, I keep getting dry joints on the CD input plugs 

Re soldering it is not a problem for me but its getting to the point were I'm having to strip the thing down every few weeks now 

Now i'm just using bog standard solder from maplins but for whatever reason, it is becoming harder to get a decent electrical joint as time goes on 

To be fair, the cables (Audio quest Turquoise) between the amp and cd player are a bloody tight fit but I feel its more a case of the circuit board starting to perish   
I don't fancy stripping the lacquer off the circuit board to get a better joint due to the risk of damaging it due to its age   

Any ideas to either get a more durable joint OR stop the circuit board flexing and breaking the joint welcome 

[Stemo]

I've got a nice Cyrus 2 amp which I use for music only.
It must be getting on for 30 years old and still sounds great so I want to keep it BUT, I keep getting dry joints on the CD input plugs 

Re soldering it is not a problem for me but its getting to the point were I'm having to strip the thing down every few weeks now 

Now i'm just using bog standard solder from maplins but for whatever reason, it is becoming harder to get a decent electrical joint as time goes on 

To be fair, the cables (Audio quest Turquoise) between the amp and cd player are a bloody tight fit but I feel its more a case of the circuit board starting to perish   
I don't fancy stripping the lacquer off the circuit board to get a better joint due to the risk of damaging it due to its age   

Any ideas to either get a more durable joint OR stop the circuit board flexing and breaking the joint welcome 

Sell your omega and get a proper car. Sell your record player and get a modern piece of equipment 

No need to thank me. 

[pscocoa]

I had similar affinities to my rather huge Kenwood system with massive sub woofer and several speakers. Bit of a wrench but just took the decision to move on and great sounds and flexibility available from smaller kit.

Wouldn't waste time on it and enjoy space saving and tidier look.

[Kevin Wood]

Sounds to me like you're not making a good solder joint for some reason. What type of solder are you using? You don't want lead free stuff on equipment of this vintage for a start.

Also, what soldering iron? Lead-free solder with an iron that's a bit weedy will make it difficult to get a successful joint.

Well worth keeping one of those working. They are a nice amp and fairly compact even by modern standards.

[Kevin Wood]

Ahh, these had the phono plugs pointing upwards from the PCB at the rear of the case? Hence the strain on the PCB.

[zirk]

Never worked on that Amp, but if the joints are drying up, try reinforcing the Solder joint with Tinned Wire.

Another reason for getting continues dry joints can be using the wrong solder (prefer the old stuff myself) or your Iron isn't hot enough meaning the solder is not flowing (flooding) in to itself properly. 

[Bigron]

I used to teach Electronics for 20 years before I retired, and soldering was obviously part of what I did.
Lead-free solder has always been pointless (no danger if you wash your hands after using it and especially before eating), but resin-free solder is well worth using, for your own safety; colophony fume has no safe limit.
Now, to your problem. Any chance of a photo of the parts in question, please?
In the absence of a picture, you already have good advice given, but may I add that decent solder of the above type, a good hot iron and reinforcement with wire around the joints are all good techniques.
If you love your amplifier it's well worth keeping.

Ron.

[AndyRoid]

As you've said you got the solder from Maplin, I'm guessing the same as Kevin that it's going to be the lead free $hite.

If that's the case then you need to up the normal iron temperature by at least 80° C just to get that crap to even look like it has a decent run going.

[Kevin Wood]

As you've said you got the solder from Maplin, I'm guessing the same as Kevin that it's going to be the lead free $hite.

If that's the case then you need to up the normal iron temperature by at least 80° C just to get that crap to even look like it has a decent run going.

.. and if your iron also came from crAplins...

PM me your address and I'd be happy to chuck a length of good old fashioned 60/40 in the post so you can try that. I suspect that you will need a reasonably powerful iron to make those connections, because the body of the connectors conduct heat away from the joint, as does the ground plane on the PBC you are trying to solder them to.

[Entwood]

Old fashioned 60/40 is still cheap and easily obtainable ....

http://Readinge_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item27c2f9d03e

http://www.ebay. co.uk/itm/SOLDERING-IRON-WIRE-SOLDER-TUBE-LEAD-KIT-HIGH-QUALITY-/170774876222?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item27c2f9d03e

I have no idea what the word filter is doing to ebay ads .. but changing most of the thread title to reading is a tad daft !!

try ebay item no 170774876222

[Martin_1962]

Maplins solder is lead free

Get some Drapers leaded solder, Hobbycraft stock it.

You will need to wick off or solder pump off as much as possible before resoldering with leaded solder.

For difficult joints I also use plumbing flux then clean the item afterwards.

[tigers_gonads]

Firstly, apologies for the delay in answering this lot.
I've been upto my neck in family problems so not being around for a few weeks.

Yes Kevin, the amps sockets are vertical so the heavy interconnects do tend to put a strain on the sockets 

As for the iron, it used to be my old mans so must be 40 years old and probably past its best 

As for the joint, agree i'm not getting a decent joint so i'll invest in a solder pullit and some proper solder when I get chance and suck off all the old crap and totally remake the joint 

The amp is working fine at the moment or it was this morning when I blasted out  played at a nice reasonable level Iron Maidens, Somewhere in time for a couple of hours 

Thanks for the help 

[Kevin Wood]

Can't beat a bit of Maiden on a Sunday morning.

[zirk]

Can't beat a bit of Maiden on a Sunday morning.

Preferably extra loud with the speakers in the garden 

[Stemo]

Can't beat a bit of Maiden on a Sunday morning.

Preferably extra loud with the speakers in the garden 

My mate did that (not Iron Maiden, but something equally as loud) one Sunday morning after a night out. The neighbours were not amused and kicked effing big holes in his speakers.