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Hakko FR-301 desoldering gun misery

tnsilver

tnsilver

Stereo Puppy
I know this tool comes highly recommended and it seems to do wonders for all those youtube techs online - but mine is giving me hell!

It clogs a lot (more often than not), I have to replace expensive ceramic filters very often, it is very difficult to unclog and I have the feeling it does not heat the nozzle properly. I am using it dialed in to level 4 (highest temperature) with a N61-04 (0.8mm hole, 1.8mm diameter) nozzle and this gun barely melts the solder or sucks it in.

I have replaced the rubber seals on both ends of the solder disposal tube more than once, and even replaced the whole tube. I had spent about half of what it cost on parts and accessories. It is very frustrating! Adding insult to injury, it fell off the holder and snapped the black tube holder (the springy part with two ears you pull to take out the tube) and I had to replace it with an obnoxiously expensive original part. This is getting absurd!

What is wrong with it? Am I using the wrong nozzle? Is it faulty?
 
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Yeah, I know that one. I could have made it myself, including details about replacing the inner pump diaphragm. I do know that tool intimately. I did notice, however, the guy in the video uses the lowest settings for temperature, level 1, and that works for him on some PCB's. It never worked for me. I use level 4 and even that's barely enough. I think I need to replace the heating element. Thanks!
 
I've used mine for several hours on temp level 2. The solder that gets sucked into the chamber tends to land on that 'pan' that shields the filter and the filter stays clean other than some discoloration. Occasionally I have had solder clog the metal tube before, but that was pretty easy to handle. IIRC the bakelite (or whatever) tool that comes with it lets you remove the metal tube while it's hot so you don't have to wait for cool down, then you can use the metal rod that comes with the kit to eject solder blobs.

I realize I may have only used the tool for a fraction of the amount of time you have, but I've never had any of the problems you're having. Can you get that nozzle clearing tool through the nozzle without encountering resistance?
 
Nope. I can't. That clearing rod can't make it through the nozzle. I have actually purchased a set of clearing rods thinner than the one provided and some of them pass the nozzle w/o issue. I am using the same type of nozzle the tool came with from the factory, I keep buying the same one. I think that's a mistake too.
 
I have had mine for several years, have not replaced anything on it. Have to clean out the solder between jobs, thats about it. Heats up beyond what I need, will even solder a can capacitor lug on a metal chassis. Yours must be defective, a China clone, or your power source at the wall has low voltage, or something else wrong here.
 
FB night said:
I have had mine for several years, have not replaced anything on it. Have to clean out the solder between jobs, thats about it. Heats up beyond what I need, will even solder a can capacitor lug on a metal chassis. Yours must be defective, a China clone, or your power source at the wall has low voltage.
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Yup. It's genuine but I believe it's defective. Voltage is fine.
 
I have good luck with the N61-10 1.6mm nozzle. The original nozzle became too clogged and I can't melt it so that's sitting around waiting for me to figure out how to melt the un-meltable whatever is clogging it.

Mine for sure takes constant cleaning and jams pretty frequently, but so far *knock on wood* has always been pretty easy to get things back on track.

I've owned my FR-301 since 2019 for what it's worth.
 
It's not like I'm neglecting mine. It's been pampered like a baby since day one (3 years now).

I'll give that 1.6mm nozzle a shot.

Maybe that's my issue. My 0.8mm nozzle is also clogged like yours and the previous one had developed the same issue eventually.

Thanks!
 
They have a drill bit tool and another that looks like a screwdriver. The bit is good for screwing into hard clogs and removing them. They driver is good for the metal tube with the element and cleaning out dust from flux, I suppose, and other stuff. Push it in and out while twisting. I will admit it does get clogged for me particularly at the rubber hole entrance to the resorvoir. The filters can sometime get extra life by peeling away that first layer.
 
My tip is that you should always keep the vacuum on as you draw the nozzle away from the joint you are trying to clear. This lets lots of air in and sucks the solder out of the nozzle and way back into the tube, if you don't do this it can sit in the nozzle.

It's a good tool but I still use a soldapullt spring sucker (don't buy the wimpy little things, the soldapullt is the only one big enough to generate proper suction), and wick, and of course plenty of liquid flux. Different tools for different jobs. Sometimes adding solder before trying to remove the old stuff can help too - you just don't know what compound the old solder is and helping it to melt at the temperature you are used to by mixing in the solder you usually use will assist.
 
My gun is the Hakko 808 and I use the Hakko A1005 desoldering nozzle (1.0 mm ID) I have my gun set at 2. It was set at 1 but I had some clogging issues. Haven’t had any issues since. I’ll admit I didn’t regularly clean the nozzle or change the filter either but I do a much better job of it now.
 
I can take some clogging. I suppose it's natural. But mine clogs more often than not to the level it makes working with the tool a waste of time. I use wick. Yards of it! I can't stand the manual spring based solder sucker pumps, I had a million - including original Hakko. All junk!

dr*audio said:
Are you working on boards soldered with lead free solder?
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Yes. I don't get to choose. I work on vintage gear as well as modern home theater stuff, screens, TV's, microwave ovens, the whole shebang. I'm aware of the 60-40 flooding trick. I do that a lot. It works and sometimes it's the only way. Thanks!
ohm470k said:
will admit it does get clogged for me particularly at the rubber hole entrance to the resorvoir.
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Yup! for me too. Big chunks of flaky solder right at that spot. I'm glad you mentioned it. I was beginning to think mine was the only screw up. Some times when the gun is barrel down in the Hakko holder - it would drip molten solder out of the nozzle. Then I clean it up - otherwise it clogs real hard.
dr*audio said:
Also if you don't clean the filter and empty the cartridge it won't get good suction.
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True! but I know that. My trouble is not on account of miss-handling or neglecting to clean up. I feed that beast with whatever 'spensive accessories it screams for (rubber gaskets, ceramic filters, etc..) and I pamper it like a baby with all the cleaning and handling gear that came in the original case with the gun. My trouble appears to be an inherent issue with the tool or one of its accessories.

I'm gonna order a 1.6 or 1.8mm nozzle. I'll see how it goes. If it won't work I'll replace the heating element.
 
UPDATE

I've ordered the N61-09 nozzle (1.3mm hole, 3mm O/D) and that seems to resolve the clogging issue.

The factory supplied cleaning rod goes in clear w/o issue and it looks like the nozzle added surface area conveys more heat to the de-soldered pad and makes the job easier. I still get a flaky chunk of dull looking solder blob stuck at the mouth of the solder collector entry gasket every once in a while - but not that often. I can live with that.

Lead free de-soldering takes a while longer and requires some pressing and jiggling of the nozzle on the leads of whatever is coming out, but it works too.

I actually have a N61-10 nozzle (1.6mm hole, 3mm O/D) on the way, just to make sure there's a plan B too.

Thank you all!
 
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I have the 808 and have used it for a decade. I can't imagine not having it. What I do to preserve the ceramic filters is, I pull off some chore boy metal scrubbing pad and put just enough inside the cup that it catches the solder instead of the filter. Keep flux away from the thing because that makes mess. you can also strip a layer off the filter for a time or two before its gunked up enough to need replacement. Dont stuff it with chore boy just enough to catch the solder and not disturb to suction.

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