Soldering Iron Heating Element Replacement?

[SCscoutguy]

I have a older Weller soldering iron that I have used for many years to do small projects and it has always worked great for me. Well I went to use my desoldering pump attachment on it a few weeks ago to replace some bad caps on a tv and it wouldn't get hot. I did some testing with my multimeter and found that the transistor inside it was good and it was getting power to the wand so it had to be the heating element. On the iron itself it says use "heater EC234" so I did some searching and Amazon had the cheapest replacement at $20 so I ordered it and figured everything would be fine. Well I got it in and it fit right into my iron and screwed down but then I found that my barrel nut and desoldering pump would not fix over the new element. When I looked I found that the new EC234 element gets wider half way down the shaft making it impossible to fit my barrel nut or attachments over it. I already ordered a new BA60 barrel nut for it and it fits over the new element just fine so I can at least use the iron to solder with but I would like to be able to use my desoldering pump as well. I emailed Weller/APEX and they basically told me to pound sand and to just buy a new soldering station. Anyone have any ideas on where maybe I could get a old stock EC234 heating element from so I can still use my desoldering pump with my soldering station?

 

[Gary S]

Weller is probably right. Unless you can find old stock that fits your iron somewhere, it is time to junk it and buy a new one that hopefully will have parts available for a few more years.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Weller is probably right. Unless you can find old stock that fits your iron somewhere, it is time to junk it and buy a new one that hopefully will have parts available for a few more years.

I don't want to junk my $200+ soldering station that is less than 15 years old though.

 

[mopho]

I would just buy a new free standing desoldering pump or, rig something up not many options here

 

[SCscoutguy]

I would just buy a new free standing desoldering pump or, rig something up not many options here

I am going to call Weller Monday and actually talk to someone about this and if they can't get it sorted out then that is exactly what I am going to do. Whatever I buy will not be a Weller product that is for damn sure. I will probably buy a Hakko Japanese made station as they are still supporting stuff with new parts that they made in the early 70's.

 

[Kevin C]

I am going to call Weller Monday and actually talk to someone about this and if they can't get it sorted out then that is exactly what I am going to do. Whatever I buy will not be a Weller product that is for damn sure.

I had the same problem, the newer heater would not fit my older barrel. I called Weller and asked nicely about it. Turns out they never documented the change in heater size, so you don't know that the newer replacement parts don't fit the older versions of that station.

They sent me a new barrel for free and were very nice to deal with. I didn't have the de-soldering bulb to worry about. It might be that they dont have a barrel for that accesory?

When I called the person I spoke with was really nice and took care of me. For work I bought another new Weller. Worth a call assuming that they make the part.

Personally I like using a separate solder vac tool .

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/DP-100/K412-ND/243483

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-SOLDER-SUCKER-DESOLDERING-PUMP-DESOLDER-REMOVAL-VACUUM/610637659.html

 

[trainer]

Hate to say it, but a 15 year old electrical appliance is usually considered to be at the end of it's life.

At least you could buy a new heating element and keep your soldering iron going

Even if you buy a new unit from the orient, there is no guarantee that they will never revise the replacement parts over time.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I had the same problem, the newer heater would not fit my older barrel. I called Weller and asked nicely about it. Turns out they never documented the change in heater size, so you don't know that the newer replacement parts don't fit the older versions of that station.

They sent me a new barrel for free and were very nice to deal with. I didn't have the de-soldering bulb to worry about. It might be that they dont have a barrel for that accesory?

When I called the person I spoke with was really nice and took care of me. For work I bought another new Weller. Worth a call assuming that they make the part.

Personally I like using a separate solder vac tool .

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/DP-100/K412-ND/243483

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-SOLDER-SUCKER-DESOLDERING-PUMP-DESOLDER-REMOVAL-VACUUM/610637659.html

That is good to hear that they did that when you called them. Hopefully I will get the same response when I call them monday. I have several of the spring operated solder suckers like that and I have never liked them for some reason. It is way easier to use the desoldering pump as the solder is still being heated while you **** it up so you normally get everything in one shot.

Hate to say it, but a 15 year old electrical appliance is usually considered to be at the end of it's life.

At least you could buy a new heating element and keep your soldering iron going

Even if you buy a new unit from the orient, there is no guarantee that they will never revise the replacement parts over time.

Well that is the thing Hakko the Japanese company stands behind their product and promises to support any product that they have ever made and if they do change then they will send you a brand new replacement or the current model.

 

[Kevin C]

It is way easier to use the desoldering pump as the solder is still being heated while you **** it up so you normally get everything in one shot.

I know what you are saying... I generally have the solder vac just about on top of the iron, pull the iron back and get the tip square to the board to get the solder in the via out. It takes a little extra heat and requires you to move the sucker and press the trigger pretty quickly.

I got pretty good at it since I never had the fancy bulb attachment. It seems like the bulb attachment is better.

Between the sucker and solder wick I have had pretty good results. Good enough that I never bought anything else.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I ended up going to Radio Shack today and picking up one of their 45watt desoldering pumps to use for now until I can see if Weller will provide me with new parts. The Radio Shack unit actually works really well for only costing $12.99.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062731

 

[volaredon]

look on Ebay I saw a ton of Weller tips elements and soldering stations listed just yesterday... I went 4 places before I found a tip for my soldergun so i looked to Ebay man they arent cheap no more.. I found a few empty pegs at the stores where they must have just been "out of" what I needed. but damn Ebay cost me the same as the store wanted... some were wanting MORE.. than store prices, the tips for my gun come a sa 2 pack some sellers wanted more for 1 tip than the stores wanted for 2.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Well here is a little update on my situation. I emailed weller again and this time a lady named Christine Berent who is a Senior Customer Service Rep emailed me back and asked for my mailing address. The next day I received a new barrel BA60 barrel nut via UPS but that still did not fix my problem of not being able to use my desoldering pump. I emailed her back and she said that providing the barrel nut was the most she could do but she would send my request to a man named Larry Smith at weller who is a product specialist. Well I never got any more replies from Apex/Cooper tool until today when I came home for lunch there was a UPS package at my door from Cooper hand tools. Inside there were two old style heating elements like the one I originally had with a small hand written note from Larry Smith said that they searched the warehouse and sent me the last two pre 1998 heating elements that they had. I know I was citical of Weller in the first post but it appears as if I just got a hold of the wrong person in my first correspondence from them because since then they have gone out of their way to help me resolve my problem and have provided me with enough parts to keep my little soldering station going for many years to come all for free. I am extremely pleased with their service and will keep my business with them from now on.

 

[madosta]

Man that is an awesome story. I've been a big fan of Weller, but since I'm probably younger than you, my stuff is newer. (You old fart!) Hehe, jk.

I'm glad this worked out. I will definitely be buying more Weller now that they have humans that actually have brains and represent their brand.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Man that is an awesome story. I've been a big fan of Weller, but since I'm probably younger than you, my stuff is newer. (You old fart!) Hehe, jk.

I'm glad this worked out. I will definitely be buying more Weller now that they have humans that actually have brains and represent their brand.

Yea I was very pleased with the way they handled it. I have been needing some new tips and resin so I will probably order some of their products this week.