Hopefully you will never have to fix any of the Asics or surface mount components of any device or pinball for that matter.  But I came across a great tutorial vid that shows some great techniques that can be applied to most soldering scenarios.

http://www.curiousinventor.com/guides/How_To_Solder
http://www.curiousinventor.com/guides/Surface_Mount_Soldering/101

Enjoy

Excellent, excellent videos. Thanks for posting these links.

Verry good,Thanks

Good video thanks.   If anyone is trying to download a copy you can use Firefox Downloadhelper:
http://www.downloadhelper.net

These videos are absolutely worth checking out even if you`re a seasoned veteran of soldering.I changed careers and stopped working on electronic cct boards professionally before sms chips came out.I have been reluctant in the past to try working on them because I thought a large investment in equipment was required but after watching his video on this stuff it makes me think I can at least do minor repairs without spending huge money.I also learned some cool tricks on the old hole thru stuff too.It always amazes me how much info is availble on line now a days.Great thread thanks.

There is always something to learn and perfect about soldering.

At one point Mr Hide screamed at me while I was soldering at his place as I was putting some solder straight on the iron.  I don't do this often, but honestly, even after 30 CAP kits on monitors for example, I have never had one act up with a bad/cracked solder joint.  But I have perfected that now.  I guess it really depends on the components and what kind of voltage is passing on the joint in the end.

Ok, the only thing that I never do is cut the leads off before soldering.  So a question to you soldering experts only: Is that really necessary?  I mean, if I do CAP kits and just solder the leads and then cut off the legs afterwards (with super sharp and precise small cutters), can that really cause that many cracked solder joints?  Is all soldering in the industry on CAPs for example done by cutting off the legs first?

Quoted from 80s.fan

There is always something to learn and perfect about soldering.

At one point Mr Hide screamed at me while I was soldering at his place as I was putting some solder straight on the iron.  I don't do this often, but honestly, even after 30 CAP kits on monitors for example, I have never had one act up with a bad/cracked solder joint.  But I have perfected that now.  I guess it really depends on the components and what kind of voltage is passing on the joint in the end.

Ok, the only thing that I never do is cut the leads off before soldering.  So a question to you soldering experts only: Is that really necessary?  I mean, if I do CAP kits and just solder the leads and then cut off the legs afterwards (with super sharp and precise small cutters), can that really cause that many cracked solder joints?  Is all soldering in the industry on CAPs for example done by cutting off the legs first?

I do the same thing when doing cap kits...that way everything is accounted for and they are all double checked for correct polarity and values before soldering begins.I also have a nice pair of cutters that I believe creates almost no stress and I dont ever remember having cracked solder joints....

I am pretty sure that in a factory settings the component leads were cut AFTER they were soldered (or at least it looks that way from numerous boards I've worked on).  Maybe that accounts for so many cracked solder joints?  

I think he's stating best practice (sounds fresh out of electronics school), but best practice isn't always either practical or practiced.....

Quoted from 80s.fan

Is all soldering in the industry on CAPs for example done by cutting off the legs first?

Seeing as I work in the electronics mfg industry (and have done so for the last 20 years) I can confirm with 100% certainty that 99% of all leaded components are trimmed AFTER they have been soldered.

D.