Getting goop off PCBs?

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

So I'm attempting to troubleshoot a pedal for a friend. It's a fuzz made by BSM and it has started gating the sound with a really horible decay. I figure it just needs re-biasing or something to that effect. Anyway, I have just spent the better part of the last hour trying to open up the black box inside the enclosure to get to the PCB, only to find that the PCB is covered in goop. Is there any way to get the goop off the board? What's a trouble-free way to get this stuff dissolved or just gone... somehow!? 

[Mark Hammer]

1) If you don't know what yu're doing, removing the goop might damage the pedal further.

2) BSM charge enough for their pedals.  I would think they would rather have you ship the board to them and supply you with another than have you attempt to ungoop the device, wreck it, and create false impression of their product in potential customers.  Give them a shout, describe the problem and ask if you can do a board swap.

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

The guy I am doing this for has already replaced the pedal with another from BSM. Considering the damage I have done to the black plastic box that encases the PCB, I doubt that BSM would be all that willing to help out.

[Mick Bailey]

It depends on what the goop is - epoxy, silicone, polyester, acrylic etc.

Someone I know worked for a company that could remove some types of goop using solvent gels and scraping away layers of softened material. Must have been component-friendly, though - not paint stripper or acetone. Should think that a while spent searching may turn something up that's commercially available.

Depends on the time and cost to do the job.
 

[killerkev]

I came across this:

http://www.crosslinktech.com/FAQ/Removing%20cured%20products.htm

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

Hmmm... so it's a prick of a job. I have been in contact with BSM and explained the situation. They have asked me for the serial number and I'm guessing that's so they can check if it's still covered by warranty (3 years on electronics). I told them about damaging the box too... I guess we'll see what happens

[R.G.]

Do the search. I've typed this in here a couple of times.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Can't be anything TOO special in there , or they wouldn't have bothered to goop it!