[sdiy] MCU Xtals

[Steve Lenham]

>> If it's PLCC put thin screwdrivers in the slots in diagonal corners 
>> and just lever it out. It really feels like the chip would break in 
>> half any moment when you do it, but eventually it goes out.
>
> If you pry with screwdrivers too much, these sockets can crack, 
> especially if they're "vintage".

+1 to that, although for "can" read "almost certainly will".

>
> Best to get a proper PLCC IC extractor. They're not expensive.
>
I have had no joy with those at all. There seems to be only one design 
available - tiny hooks which are drawn upwards as you squeeze inwards on 
the diamond-shaped handle. I find that what happens is: 
nothing...squeeze harder...nothing...squeeze harder...hooks rip a chunk 
out of the bottom of the PLCC, leap out and score a nice deep scratch 
across the top of the IC for good measure.

I've got a faulty Lexicon PCM80 here where I would really like to try 
changing the main CPU, but it is a 68-pin socketed PLCC and I can't get 
it out. I've tried, and the results were as described above! As far as I 
can see, you just need to treat socketed PLCCs as if they are soldered 
in, and desolder the socket with the IC still in it.

I bloody hate PLCCs...