Hardware Need some advice about soldering the CLK point for a hardmod

[Nawor3565]

So I need some advice about how to solder the very tiny clock point on an old 3DS non-XL. I'm an okay solderer, and I was able to get the other 3 points easy, but the CLK point on the underside of the motherboard is literally the size of the head of a pin. I kept trying to get it to stick, but it keeps coming off super easy, and I'm worried that I've soldered to it too much at this point. This is what it looks like right now, although it's kinda hard to see because it's just so small. I would try to solder the CLK point under the cartridge slot, but the solder holding it down just doesn't want to get hot. After re tinning my iron and trying over and over, I got a bit of the solder off of one connector. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it works fine otherwise.

Is there some sort of trick I can use to solder this really small point, or get to the one on the other side? Thanks in advance!

 

[quantumboy]

I too am stuck on this as well. I have been practicing on some old junk boards that have the same size vias and I have about a 66% success rate, but not confident enough to do it on a real o3ds.

How I did it(however not perfect):
I scraped the small ring around the via with a very sharp knife or tip or a flat head screwdriver to remove and plastic etc. Then I tinned the tip of my iron at the very tip and gently held it to the point for a second or two, when a small amount of solder stuck, I then hold the tinned small wire and held it place and applied the tip of the iron to the wire resting on the via, wait a second or two and hope it stuck, do not pull it hard, as they don't stick well, if its even a little on there tape it down like super quick.

Hope it helps, and I could use some advice on how to do this better as well

 

[mchew]

how many solder pads are on the other side? if there's 6 instead of 5 the last pad on the bottom is CLK

 

[quantumboy]

how many solder pads are on the other side? if there's 6 instead of 5 the last pad on the bottom is CLK
View attachment 69983

I actually don't know yet. I have a bout 3 friends with o3ds that want a mod, and with dsi pulled, hardmod seemed the only way and I usually don't have issue with it, but that clk via is a B****, and I can't de-solder a cart(at least not easily). (been practicing on my o3dsxl).

Are there any way to tell if a 3ds original is gonna have 6 pads? And on the 5 pads version is there another alt point anywhere else on the board that is not a via.

 

[mchew]

I dunno, i came across this 3ds one time with an extra pad so I got curious and started probing around with my multimeter and turns out its CLK.

 

[quantumboy]

I dunno, i came across this 3ds one time with an extra pad so I got curious and started probing around with my multimeter and turns out its CLK.

Well maybe I will get lucky

 

[konsolenumbau.expert]

Don't want it to sound rude mate but the thing here is practice. And the right equipment. You use flux ? How "thin" is your solder tip?

You won't get much solder on this tiny spot it's more likely the little hole in the middle were the solder will stick. You need a wire thin enough and just a blob of solder on the tip of it. Then hold the cable on spot and heat it for a second. It will be enough if it is connected but it is still not made for been moved! That's why the tut says use tape to fix the cable. Can say from here how this spot looks now. Needs to be cleaned and a nearer pic. But. Get an old defective one and try it a bit. You will get there. It's just experience in soldering Melt on

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[quantumboy]

I'm practicing like crazy, and I have a very thin solder tip and use rosin flux core solder. I think my plan b is to actually use the point under the cart slot. It will take some time to desolder the card ground pads, but worth it. hopefully I will be lucky enough to get the 6 pad one and never need to flip the board

 

[Eruandou]

One little trick that's worked for me on old 3ds' is scrape the surface of the CLK REALLY SMOOTHLY to get a rounder and smoother surface where my soldering can get a hold of

 

[konsolenumbau.expert]

You could do that as well.. Get yourself a Fiberglas pen that's what you need to scrape the stuff away from the pad.

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[testerfan]

here is how it's done properly: just feed the exposed end of the wire through the hole, then solder over it to secure. Nice, easy and clean

 

[konsolenumbau.expert]

Yep. Looks nice.

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[quantumboy]

here is how it's done properly: just feed the exposed end of the wire through the hole, then solder over it to secure. Nice, easy and clean
View attachment 70287

What kind of wire is thin enough to actually fit in one of those holes

 

[wawnord]

kynarwire

 

[quantumboy]

kynarwire

Thanks