[ludoo]

I opened up an '80s Sony integrated amp I had lying around to fix a solder joint, and discovered the PS caps had leaked badly (the caps have been removed in the pic).

So I ordered replacements and they got here today, but now I have no idea how to remove the crud. Are there any tricks, or should I resign myself to scraping it away bit by bit?

 

[Punnisher]

You could scrape a bit, but be careful to not damage any traces that might be nearby.

By the way, what amp is this exactly?

 

[Nemo de Monet]

Are you sure that's electrolyte? From the pic, it looks more like glue used to hold components in place during assembly.

Electrolyte-crud should always be at least semi-soluble in water, or most reasonably mild cleaners - i.e. scrubbing with cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol should remove most if not all of it, without damaging anything else. If it's glue, there's no real harm to leaving it there, unless it physically interferes with the fit of the new caps.

 

[ludoo]

Uh, glue...You know what? It might be. The caps have the stuff only on their edges, and alcohol does not soften it any. Strange that they put glue there though.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Try Goof-Off. Mineral spirits will work, too, and possibly nail polish remover.

 

[elliot42]

Looks like glue to me, I've seen that stuff before; used to hold components together in a crossover and other places. Leaky caps would normally burst at the top and leak there.