You could connect it to the via. It looks intact.
How hardy are Triforces?
- Thread starter mathewbeall
- Start date
mathewbeall
Champion
Yes, very intact - I wasn't sure if that was what was connected to the pad.
winteriscoming
Champion
A multimeter can help verify.
Basically if the negative side is going to ground, you can tie into any other ground point.
Basically if the negative side is going to ground, you can tie into any other ground point.
mathewbeall
Champion
I think I have a tiny bit of the pad left - I will try to solder to that, we will see how it goes. That is the only one that messed up.
mathewbeall
Champion
recapped it - put it all back together again - no dice... exact same behaviour...
Oh well - it was a long shot - I will keep looking for a Triforce Type 3 system.
Matt
Oh well - it was a long shot - I will keep looking for a Triforce Type 3 system.
Matt
mathewbeall
Champion
winteriscoming
Champion
Did you double check polarity on all of the caps?
I'm not sure about the inductor.
I'm not sure about the inductor.
mathewbeall
Champion
Aye - double and triple.... and obviously none of them burnt up either - which I think electrolytes do if put in backwards.
Matt
Matt
winteriscoming
Champion
At this point, I think that previous repair with the green wire is suspect.
You might be able to source another baseboard, but I guess we have no means of isolating that as the issue. You'd need another working Triforce to swap between.
It might be worth reaching out to ken@irepairsega.com to see if he has any baseboards.
You might be able to source another baseboard, but I guess we have no means of isolating that as the issue. You'd need another working Triforce to swap between.
It might be worth reaching out to ken@irepairsega.com to see if he has any baseboards.
mathewbeall
Champion
Awesome - I will.... I was looking all over the usual places for the mainboard, and wasn't able to find anything.
winteriscoming
Champion
I want you to get a working Triforce Type3 so you're motivated to package up netbooting, card reader script, and Mario Kart camera into one RPi! 
mathewbeall
Champion
already there.... 
I saw the camera code and have the Rpi working with the card reader, etc. for my Chihiro - shouldn't be tough to get the camera added into the pacakge!
Ken got back to me - looks like he doesn't sell the boards, but will do a swap - so working with him on the details. Thanks!
Matt
I saw the camera code and have the Rpi working with the card reader, etc. for my Chihiro - shouldn't be tough to get the camera added into the pacakge! Ken got back to me - looks like he doesn't sell the boards, but will do a swap - so working with him on the details. Thanks!
Matt
mathewbeall
Champion
So Ken took a look at the board... it looks like either the whole system got overheated to the point where smd components all slid over a bit or someone used a hotplate to try and do some work and jacked everything up.
He is going to work on assembling some parts for me to get a working triforce3 - but basically I got a case and a fan and a filterboard I can use.... :/
I knew it was gamble - but didn't expect it to be that bad!
He is going to work on assembling some parts for me to get a working triforce3 - but basically I got a case and a fan and a filterboard I can use.... :/
I knew it was gamble - but didn't expect it to be that bad!
winteriscoming
Champion
That's rough, and probably not indicative of the norm I would think.
If you're ever looking to pick up another, keep an eye on Yahoo Auctions Japan. I've gotten 2 from there for about $200 shipped each and got an as-is broken one for less than $200 shipped from US eBay, and out of the 3 one worked and the other 2 were revived with recapping. I think I got pretty good deals in retrospect, but I'm assuming deals can still be had.
My experience leads me to believe it's potentially worth the gamble on an as-is unknown condition one, though you've unfortunately proven the downside, and there are un-salvageable junk units out there, I guess.
If you're ever looking to pick up another, keep an eye on Yahoo Auctions Japan. I've gotten 2 from there for about $200 shipped each and got an as-is broken one for less than $200 shipped from US eBay, and out of the 3 one worked and the other 2 were revived with recapping. I think I got pretty good deals in retrospect, but I'm assuming deals can still be had.
My experience leads me to believe it's potentially worth the gamble on an as-is unknown condition one, though you've unfortunately proven the downside, and there are un-salvageable junk units out there, I guess.
mathewbeall
Champion
Yup - mine was just one data point.... i have gotten plenty of equipment that looked beat but worked fine, so this is just karma
Coyo5050
Professional
I have a Triforce 3 that doesnt work. No idea why or even if anything about it works but your welcome to any parts. Im guessing the board the cpu is on is bad. The network board was good since i took it for my working triforce so it couldnt have been completely shot.
Ace`
Enthusiast
iirc these use a standard japanese gamecube motherboard, might be worth picking up a cheap gamecube and try swapping the motherboards.
winteriscoming
Champion
It's not that simple, and the failed boards are not necessarily the GameCube motherboard.
I believe there is some inboard firmware and perhaps hardware differences that keep a stock GC motherboard from be swapped in.
I believe there is some inboard firmware and perhaps hardware differences that keep a stock GC motherboard from be swapped in.
Ace`
Enthusiast
oh that's right, I remember now I swapped one a few years back and had to swap the bios chips over.