Editing Amstrad CPC 464 Capacitor Replacement Guide (section)

== Removal and Replacement ==

# Mark the polarity of the cap on the PCB with a paint pen or photograph.
# Apply fresh solder + flux to both leads from the underside of the PCB to wet them and ease desoldering.
# Heat one pad and lever the cap up on that side with tweezers. Heat the other pad and lift the cap clear.
# Clean both holes with solder wick.
# Insert the new cap, matching polarity: the '''+ marking on the cap''' must match the '''+ marking on the silkscreen''' (or, equivalently, the negative stripe on the cap must match the position marked 'GND' or 'unmarked' on the silkscreen).
# Solder both leads. Inspect for a clean fillet.
# Trim leads flush.

The CPC 464 PCB is single-sided with a green solder mask; the pads are not very tolerant of repeated heating. Use a temperature-controlled iron at no more than 350 °C, and limit each desolder cycle to 5&ndash;7 seconds. Lifted pads are a known restoration risk and are usually repaired with a fine wire-wrap jumper to the next vias on the trace.