best way to desolder xbox 360 components?

[minnieman]

trying to figure out the best way to desolder xbox 360 components... anything i should know?

[collinE]

Best way is to dremel the pins down (solder side) of the component you want to desolder so they don't get in the way as much, put some flux on the solder to ensure best possible melting, then use a desoldering iron that has the bulb attached to the iron (minimum 45w).

Sometimes you get lucky and it sucks everything out of the hole and you can verify it by wiggling the pin. For the ones that don't suck clean, add some leaded solder to it and re-suck it out. I say do it a couple times and even if you can get it all out, at least the leaded solder will have mixed in and lower the melting point.

Once you've gotten as much solder out as possible, switch to a normal iron (at least 45w). Wedge a flathead screwdriver under a corner of the component and touch the iron to the pins. It should melt and slide out just a little. when you pull the iron away, it'll harden in this new position and you can continue doing it with other corners of the component until it's eventually far enough that you can pull it off. It may help to have a sharper tip to help poke the pins further through when they're melted. dremeling the pins before this step helps because you have less pin to pull through the hole.

Be carefully not to pull too hard or the traces will lift off the board or the pins will pull out of the component. It can help if you have someone else holding a second soldering iron and can help you melt multiple pins at a time.

It may take a looong time, so be patient.

[minnieman]

any idea where i can get a 45watt? all i have right now is a 25watt

[collinE]

radio shack, home depot, lowes, random hardware store, online.

[minnieman]

thanks... BTW love your xbox lappy on ebay