All sorts of solvent type products have been suggested to help remove the glue that was put on/around the larger electrolytic capacitors to stop them being shaken out of the PCB’s in transit.
I have only just begun restoring my AU-717 so had not closely examined the “goop” on my PCB’s. I was surprised to find that although some of it was hard like dried varnish the rest was rubbery or toffee-like in consistency. To remove the electrolytic capacitors from the driver boards, after de-soldering, I had to cut through a membrane of stretched rubbery goop between the PCB and the cap with a penknife.
For the cleaning …
Small penknife (blunt). The solvent I used is “Hammerite” Thinners and Brush cleaner. This proved to be very effective in softening the glue – The rest was just patience (lots of it) and careful scraping with that blunt penknife. I am not sure if “Hammerite” (metal paint) is sold in the US (or other than UK) – any alternative should be carefully tested first.
The solvent in question has the following characteristics
· Evaporates cleanly from the PCB.
· Does not smell much, and disperses rapidly.
· Does not remove the silk screening (paint) from the PCB.
· Will also clean flux from the other side of the board after soldering.
Here is a link to a detailed and thorough AU-717 strip down with more on glue cleaning.
http://www.geocities.com/cdkands/AU717-1
I am so glad to have lost that incence // confectionary // cats pee smell from my AU-717.