Replacing / Repairing your PS2 Laser:
Once you have established that the coils have burnt out on your laser (Refer to previous page on how to measure coil resistance), you are then faced with three options:
1) Buy a new laser for $$$ and hope what is supplied is actually new & working
2) Scavenge a 400C laser from another dead system V5 to V10.
3) Or the cheapest option use / buy a dead 400B laser's coils to fix yours.
If you go with option 1) or 2) then it is simply a matter of removing the Lens from your drive and replacing it with the new / refurbished lens you have just bought. You will most likely have to swap across the black screw, and also the metal arm / motor guide from your dead laser onto the new lens.
WARNING! Do not forget to desolder the static protection strap / pads that are usually bridged for safe transport. They are located in slightly different positions on the various laser types but will look pretty much the same.
Replacing Laser Coils - Option 3)
Just because you coils have burnt out does not mean that your laser is stuffed! Many have often thought, well if only I could replace my coils without having to re-wind new ones...
With that in mind I took a risk using a dead 400B laser, (from a dead V4 I was given for parts) I decided to investigate. What I found was that on 400C lasers as used by the V9&10 playstations, the coil and focusing lens plate has the same foot print as the 400B lasers but with more screws fixing it down.
With nothing to loose and some trusty loctite 401 (super glue) in mind, I set out to resurrect a dead V9 laser...
To Pull Apart a V9/10 laser:
1) Eject the tray and power down the PS2 by the switch at the back.
2) Disassemble your station and remove the drive.
3) Open the drive tray fully to expose the lens
4) Unscrew the two flat screws that hold the rods in place that the lens slides on.
5) Remove the lens and place the rods back in the drive to prevent them getting dirty.
6) Take the plastic outer shell off of the lens - there are some small clips that have to be unhooked.
7) With the shell removed Desolder the flexible orange or green PCB.
8) Remove all screws and the plate should come away from the main metal sled body
9) Make very sure that you do not touch any of the exposed lens in the sled body nor drop lint inside.
Salvaging the Coils from a 400B laser:
1) First ensure that the resistance of the old coils is above 4.5 ohms.
2) Then repeat the process described above for the old laser.
3) The old laser has only 2 screws fixing it down from above.
4) It will however have some keeping it in place from below.
5) remember not to touch the lens or damage the coils - these you want to keep!
Fitting the 400B Plate on the 400C Sled Body:
1) First ensure no dust or lint has fallen into either part.
2) Place the 400B lens and coil plate on the 400C sled body.
3) There are common holes that you need to line up.
4) From memory you can replace only 1 or 2 screws to hold the 400B lens and coil plate in place
5) Using very small amounts of glue, fill the vacant screw holes so that the 400B plate is locked in place
6) Ensure minimal use of glue as any fumes will more than likely destroy the lens.
7) Fit the black plastic outer shell over the new lens assembly.
8) Reinsert the sled onto the rods and place back into the drive - you are now ready to test!!
Replacing the LA6508 with the LA6508 RII
This is another Chicken or the egg type scenario... Which one dies first has still not been proven but the fact of the matter is that if your coils are dead your LA6508 chip probably is to.
Visually there could be no sign of burn out but if you put a new laser on the same chip you are likely to kill its' coils as well. Typically though you will see some heat damage or discolouration around the two sides of the LA6508 - especially radiating out from the two fat ground pads on each side that are designed to aid with heat dissipation.
To Remove the LA6508:
1) You require either a SMD desoldering tool or a Pin and some patients.
2) If no SMD tool is available, use a pin & your iron to heat then lift one leg at a time
3) When all small legs have been lifted use your largest tip on your Iron
4) Add extra solder to the large ground pads on each side
5) Then heat the pads one at a time until the chip comes loose.
6) If you own two soldering irons use one on each time to aid the process.
7) Thoroughly clean the pads of excess solder, once the chip has been removed.
Soldering the LA6508 (RII) in place: (now in stock!)
1) Locate the flexible PCB so that its' copper pads fit exactly over those where the LA6508 was located.
2) Whilst holding it in place so both sides are aligned, carefully solder the large ground pads to secure.
3) Once secured by the ground pads you can then carefully solder all the remaining pads together
4) Refer to the diagram below for correct placement and soldering.
5) Remove the paper from each side & place the supplied thermal pad on top of the LA6508 (RII) chip.
6) Remove the paper backing from the base of the flexible PCB and stick it down to the PS2 mainboard.
7) Reassemble the PS2 and test - you should now have a fully working station.
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