Leaking capacitors or glue?

[Accused]

I was wondering if someone can help me to identify if this is the glue or leaking capacitors inside my receiver. Thank you!

 

[Hyperion]

Glue, although interestingly there is a halo of discolouration beyond the glue blobs, which just might be capacitor electrolyte, hard to say.

All the electrolytic capacitors in that picture are well past their 'use by' date.

Anyone else?

 

[mars_volta]

Looks like glue to me.

 

[woodj]

Looks like glue, but the halo = ???

 

[ferninando]

glu and leak.

edit: my error. no leakage. only glue.

 

[Goldie99]

Looks like glue, and a 'halo' probably from glue degradation - I've replaced similar in a Sony ES amp previously. Despite having similar (and growing over time) 'halos', I could not find evidence of leakage once the caps were removed - so I assume it was from the glue as well.

 

[Hyperion]

On further thought I think the halo marks must be degrading glue, as Goldie99 says, as the halos are centered on the glue blobs and are very even, too even.

 

[ConradH]

Agreed, and that's some pretty ugly glue. IMO, time for a recap with a thorough cleaning of the glue.

 

[hifix]

Looks like glue to me.

 

[Blue Shadow]

It is always glue. Not many questions like this turn out to be leaking caps. I don't think I have seen this question answered as a leaking cap. Whichever that glue could be as bad as a leaking cap as some glue is corrosive, too.

 

[petehall347]

its glue for sure ..too neat for leakages

 

[markn2wae]

I think SONY had lighter colored glue that would do TWO "nasty" things, 1) eat through copper PCB traces and 2) cause electrical leakage between circuits as it aged, please feel free to elaborate on this.

Mark T.

 

[roger2]

My guess is that it is both glue and electrolyte leakage.

The wider halo discoloration does seem to be centered around the glue. I also notice that the glue does not encircle the caps. I am wondering if the globs of glue along just one part of the base of the caps might have somehow contributed to causing leaks in the area where it is in contact with the caps (dissimilar expansion/contraction with thermal cycling possibly?). It doesn't seem likely, to me, that glue could have somehow emitted what appears to have been a liquid, whereas the caps could have done so.

 

[Soundphile]

Overall, the boards look good. Whether it's glue or cap leakage is academic now - critical issue is that the caps are WAY past their shelf life. If they vent when the amp is in use I hate to think what damage it will cause. Replace those fast !!!

 

[Binkman]

I might as well chime in as the planet has...

IT'S GLUE. notice how the caps were leaned over as not soldered face flush. maybe epoxy?

back to vacuuming..

 

[Accused]

Thank you so much for all replies. Looks like it needs a recap due to age. Here is another photo of the same model year (1969) receiver, about 10000k higher in serial number and no glue or leakage.

 

[S Phillips]

Old thread, but my question is, did they solder and glue the cap to the board?

 

[Jimbo40]

Yes always soldered. They glue larger caps that may be subject to vibration.
The glue in many cases can look very sloppy. SANSUI
It just needs to connect the body of the cap to the board.

 

[S Phillips]

Yes always soldered. They glue larger caps that may be subject to vibration.
The glue in many cases can look very sloppy. SANSUI
It just needs to connect the body of the cap to the board.

Thx Jimbo, I picked up a Fisher receiver that after removing the cover, noticed dark brown stuff around the base of some of the larger caps. Was thinking, they must be leaking. Glad I found this thread. Thx again. Steve