BossAreaForum

Hello, I bought an original Japan DM2 and it has a burnt smell. It seems to work and sound fine but wondering if there is a damaged component. I checked the D3 and R31 with a meter and they read normal so I'm guessing if someone powered it with a 9V adapter or something else it hasn't caused any damage there. Any suggestions on what to check? It's hard to tell which component (maybe a capacitor) it is coming from. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum!

Does it only have that smell when you power it, or all the time?

Can you post pics of the circuit board?

Pepe wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:59 pm

Welcome to the forum!

Does it only have that smell when you power it, or all the time?

It's all the time

laurie wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:00 pm

Can you post pics of the circuit board?

will do, once I'm not busy with work, thanks

Jem7wh wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:02 pm

Pepe wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:59 pm

Welcome to the forum!

Does it only have that smell when you power it, or all the time?

It's all the time

Well, maybe you just don't like the smell of old early '80s BOSS pedals! I have such a problem with the Japanese BF-2. It has such a strange metallic smell that reminds me of welding. I have had four BF-2 models from the Japanese era and all of them had that smell, whereas the one Taiwanese BF-2 that I had didn't smell like that at all.

A few months ago I wrapped my BF-2 in newsprint, put it in a box with lots of natron (baking soda), sealed it completely with packing tape and stored it away for a few weeks. The smeel hasn't completely vanished, but it is definitely less intensive now. The pedal had to be cleaned very well, because although the pedal was wrapped in newsprint, there was a coat of natron everywhere, even inside the pedal.

could be that someone powered it with a center positive supply then repaired it. But it should be fine with a center neg standard Boss psu which won't do any damage other than not lighting the led etc.

If the board looks OK you are probably fine.

laurie wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:00 pm

Can you post pics of the circuit board?

here are the circuit board pics

There is nothing obvious visually. Actually, it is one of the cleanest looking DM-2 boards I've ever seen.

I wonder if it was previously in the home of heavy smoker?

Or it confirms my suspicion that he does also not like the smell of early '80s BOSS Pedals, just like the problem I have with MIJ BF-2 pedals.