The leads are short because I cut them to remove the component then heat the leads to extract them from the board for the replacement.... that one you mention with the lead you could not solder to.... I looked at that real close to me it almost looks like it snapped or broke off meaning the transistor may have been ok but if a lead broke off then I would think it would cause problems. The amp seems to running ok now but I have not pushed it yet it is in the house on the bench still connected to a pair of Bose 301's.... in about a month when it warms up I will be moving the amp out to my big system in the shop and then will be able to put it through it's paces... if all is well then the DCP will not cut out when I crank it up, that is what the initial problem was