super98lsc
Well-Known Member
I recently purchased a Hakko FR-300 prior to starting my CA-3000 rebuild. Great tool works great. Until the xxxx heating element failed within the 1st month. Hakko opened a case for me and said to send it back they will repair it under warranty but it will take nearly two weeks. I ordered an element and swapped it myself for 65.00 bucks just because I have zero patients. According to Hakko these units do not have a high failure rate but I am now nervous.:sigh: My temp settings were fairly low for the work I was doing on the pass throughs, caps, transistors etc. Anyone else experience reliability issues with thiers? I did ohm out the element and the element failed not the temp probe section. You guys will get a laugh out of this... I was not about to finish my transitor swaps using a soldering wick as I was spoiled by the gun, I snagged my small MAP torch out of my shop and used it to heat the tip of the Hakko up to the temp I needed then desoldered the components. Unless your really skilled with welding/torches I really DO NOT reccomend anyone else do this.