First time PCB Trace Repair - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Mario87
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 10:43:43 am
content: Hi all,I recently got hold of a set of motorcycle clocks from a 2005 Suzuki GSX-R 750. To me it looks like the initial failure mode was a broken pin. Then someone has tried to remove the connector to fix it and caused lots of damage in the process, they even tried using conductive ink to attempt trace repair and attempted to repair the damaged pin (when a whole new connector is £3.50 from RS), unfortunately I dont have pictures of the conductive ink "trace repair" attempt.So I decided to take on the challenge of my first ever PCB trace repair, I have repaired plenty with jumper wires, but never attempted to rebuild traces before. I have continuity on all traces now so it looks like it should all be fine. Yes I am aware that 2 pads are still "missing", but the connectors is through hole and the soldering is done on the other side which is where the actual traces for those pads are located, so any "repair" to them would have been purely cosmetic, hence I never did it.I am currently waiting for the new connector from RS, once it is fitted all the damage / repair work will be hidden underneath.Any thoughts and advice for future rework is appreciated, but overall I am pretty please with it. Not the neatest job on earth, but I think it should last for the life of the clocks.Damaged connector with pulled pads attached (including through hole plating)...Broken pin...Damage to the traces pads, including gouging to tracks from a slipped screwdriver which I assume was used to pry the connector off while heatingCleaned up and removed solder mask in all affected areas...Traces rebuilt / repaired...Solder mask re-applied...

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 01:22:53 pm
content: what are the repaired tracks made of?

author: Mario87
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 01:43:18 pm
content: Quote from: m3vuv on March 06, 2020, 01:22:53 pm0.035mm copper foil cut to shape / size with an xacto knife.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 02:56:26 pm
content: Looks good well done, hopefully they didn't short anything out.

author: EEEnthusiast
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 02:59:56 pm
content: Did you use glue for the solder mask?

author: Mario87
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 03:49:28 pm
content: Quote from: Shock on March 06, 2020, 02:56:26 pmFingers crossed, should find out once I get the new connector....Quote from: EEEnthusiast on March 06, 2020, 02:59:56 pmNo, I used Chemtronics CW2500. I can see from the pictures why you would assume that it was glue, but it is proper solder mask.

author: Mario87
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2020, 10:29:43 pm
content: Got the connector fitted and it works! Well 99% works, there are 2 orange LED's on the left side of the resolver motor which are not working. I have traced this back to a bad resistor. It should be 560 Ohms like the one feeding the LED's to the right of the resolver, however this particular resistor is reading in the mega ohms range!Will be ordering some new ones from RS.