Trying install Rapid Fire Pro...having trouble

[aceofspades]

I am working on installing the Rapid Fire Pro and I have a V1 controller board. No matter how much I scrap off the kynar insulation with my precision knife I can't get the solder to stick onto it. I haven't been able to get any of the wires attaches because the solder just refuses to stick...am I doing something wrong? I tried using flux and scraping more but it still doesn't help.

[TeamXCM]

Heat the point you are trying to solder to and the solder will flow twords the heat.

[aceofspades]

Originally Posted by TeamXCM

Heat the point you are trying to solder to and the solder will flow twords the heat.

I tried that and I left the iron there for a good 2 minutes...no dice...I have no problem soldering to the other stuff but soldering onto those little circle points is jus not working. After a couple of tries I was able to solder the yellow PCB down but I lost the soldering pad for RTO and now I can't figure out how to solder it...

How do I solder a point if the soldering pad is gone.

Edit: Maybe I'll try it on my station...whats the highest amount of heat I can use without frying the PCB.

[TeamXCM]

You only scrape the insulation off to the copper underneath. I never had any issues as long as you scraped enough to expose a decent area of the copper trace. As for the pad thats toast, you'll need to check to see if you can make that connection from the trace to the point you need. You'll want to make sure you have a good magnifying glass.

[aceofspades]

Originally Posted by TeamXCM

You only scrape the insulation off to the copper underneath. I never had any issues as long as you scraped enough to expose a decent area of the copper trace. As for the pad thats toast, you'll need to check to see if you can make that connection from the trace to the point you need. You'll want to make sure you have a good magnifying glass.

do I need to use the pinhole trace on the yellow wafer? damn i am having bad luck with this. I have modded every console but nothing was hard as this.

[TeamXCM]

No there should be a pad for it on the yellow wafer. Just follow the trace.

[aceofspades]

Point LBK on the wafer goes to a IC leg...I don't think I'll be able to solder onto the IC leg with 30 AWG wire...let alone 26. I screwed up the pad and I can't solder onto it now because I accidently took off all of the solder.

BTW I tried using my station and cranked it up to 700F and I heated up the pinhole and left the soldering wire far enough not to stick to the iron and nothing...the wire just wouldn't get hot.

It worked fine on the ICs and LEDs but the pinholes were no go. I am using leaded wire (although I usually use lead-free but I gave up and pulled out the leaded one thinking it would work but still no dice)

[TeamXCM]

700 is way too hot. What kind of solder are you using?

[Arbosia]

is there such thing as scraping to little but it still looking like the circle is exposed? can i get a picture of perfect exposure?

[raybaer]

I found out something interesting while I was doing this instal - Radio Shack solder will not stick very well. I had the same problems, went to sears, bought some craftsman solder and miraculously everthing was sticking just fine.

If you are using Radio Shack solder - try something else.