Les, I Fixed my radio display about two years ago and put it out on the group if they wanted it fixed I could do it also. I have only had one other taker. Most people want to upgrade. Yes it was a bad design. But your Fix and mine I feel are better than original. The circuit wires flex better and arn't as stiff. Nothing is permanent, not even us. John Hervey www.specialTauto.com --- In dmcnews@xxxx, Les Huckins <jhuckins@xxxx> wrote: > If you no longer plan to play tapes and just want your display working, > here are a few tips. First of all, as everyone cautions, you must be > able to solder well above average. The traces are close together and > you must get on and off quickly else the traces will lift up out of the > plastic and make you sorry you started the whole thing. The main > problem beyond that is that the traces are in such close proximity that > it's very easy to solder across two or three traces at the same time. > Here's what I suggest. Start from one side only, whichever is > comfortable for you, then just bare one trace at a time as you go along, > this leaves the traces in one direction still embedded in the tough > plastic and you can kind of "lean" that way as you solder. To bare a > trace, use a sharp razor blade, or equivalent (I use a carpet cutting > blade) and scrape only enough to make the joint, appox. 1/8th inch each > side. The heat of the iron is also important, I use a 30 watt with a > pointed tip (purchased at Radio shack for about $7). Too low doesn't > solder quickly enough and too high is too quick, there needs to be sort > of a rhythm. > > In removing the display assembly, detach the return spring from the > case, not from the display, also, note the amount of tension, it's about > one turn, you should put the same amount of tension on the spring when > you refasten it. Not as important as if you were doing it with wires > and planning to play tapes, but why not do it right. > > My prototype had all 16 traces separated, if you still have some intact, > it's very easy to check with an Ohmmeter to determine which need the > repair. There's a distinct crease where the breaks occur, no problem > finding that. I coated the finished repair with radio-TV service cement > but could be Duco or shellac or nothing at all, It's not going anywhere. > > If this lacks clarity, let me know, it's hard to tell where someone's > skill level lies. > > Les