Re: Broken DIAL control shaft
Contact Yaesu repair and parts to ask these questions. Very reasonable prices. ?Www.Yaesu.com.? Jardy Dawson WA7JRD
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On May 11, 2021, at 03:38, Chuck Reti via groups.io <wv8a@...> wrote:
?A while back I bought a used FT-60R (for a very low price). I'd been looking for one, as its features, especially the AM Air Band, were selling points. Under previous ownership, the radio apparently had been dropped, falling on its upper right corner. The result was that there was a small bend in the shaft of?the DIAL knob, so rotating it around its off-axis also dragged the SQUELCH outer ring along with it. A careful attempt to straighten this very small diameter shaft worked, for a while. However, the weakened shaft finally decided to break off, just below the surface level of the radio. I know that for some functions I can use the up/down arrow keys to emulate the DIAL's 20 positions, but not all. I still have the knob and the detached part of the shaft.
Question- is it worth any effort or even possible to consider a repair to make the control shaft usable? Is the switch itself replaceable whether by factory, third-party or DIY? Or, should I just keep the radio as a spare and just look for another FT-60R?
Chuck
WV8A
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Re: Broken DIAL control shaft
Chuck
I suspect if you send it to Yaesu the bill will be more than a
new radio. I do not know about independent repair shops.
You might scout around for a discard that the owner decided
to toss because the cost to repair was to much. I am seeing
more of those units (parts cars) recently. It is very frustrating
to see a noble rig from 20 years ago tossed because the
microcontroller is no longer available and labor cost makes
it a throw away item.
If you are good working with your hands and have low wattage
irons and jeweler's sized tools you can likely replace the control.
Make sure you also have a magnifying glass or zoom camera
that can be used to visualize the printed circuit boards.
I would first see if the replacement part is available and what
kind of price tag might be on it.? Sometimes Yaesu has surprized
me with the low cost of a part. Other time I required defibrillation.
Regards
Chuck WD4HXG
On May 11, 2021 at 6:38 AM, "Chuck Reti via groups.io" <wv8a@...> wrote: A while back I bought a used FT-60R (for a very low price). I'd been looking for one, as its features, especially the AM Air Band, were selling points. Under previous ownership, the radio apparently had been dropped, falling on its upper right corner. The result was that there was a small bend in the shaft of?the DIAL knob, so rotating it around its off-axis also dragged the SQUELCH outer ring along with it. A careful attempt to straighten this very small diameter shaft worked, for a while. However, the weakened shaft finally decided to break off, just below the surface level of the radio. I know that for some functions I can use the up/down arrow keys to emulate the DIAL's 20 positions, but not all. I still have the knob and the detached part of the shaft.
Question- is it worth any effort or even possible to consider a repair to make the control shaft usable? Is the switch itself replaceable whether by factory, third-party or DIY? Or, should I just keep the radio as a spare and just look for another FT-60R?
Chuck
WV8A
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Broken DIAL control shaft
A while back I bought a used FT-60R (for a very low price). I'd been looking for one, as its features, especially the AM Air Band, were selling points. Under previous ownership, the radio apparently had been dropped, falling on its upper right corner. The result was that there was a small bend in the shaft of?the DIAL knob, so rotating it around its off-axis also dragged the SQUELCH outer ring along with it. A careful attempt to straighten this very small diameter shaft worked, for a while. However, the weakened shaft finally decided to break off, just below the surface level of the radio. I know that for some functions I can use the up/down arrow keys to emulate the DIAL's 20 positions, but not all. I still have the knob and the detached part of the shaft.
Question- is it worth any effort or even possible to consider a repair to make the control shaft usable? Is the switch itself replaceable whether by factory, third-party or DIY? Or, should I just keep the radio as a spare and just look for another FT-60R?
Chuck
WV8A
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
Before anything else,
"I use 2500mAH Maha NiMH AA cells in the Yaesu FBA-25 tray."
-Clint Bradford K6LCS
If you look through the link posted, there is information on the parts needed, including a wiring diagram.?
I used??to have the parts printed. I usually have 2 sets printed just in case. That case was really well designed. ColdWarPatriot did a great job and he also has a charger. You might want to order/print that at the same time.
The BMS is a common 2s1p (2 series 1 parallel for 7.4v) for lithium ion cells. There is a??on Thingiverse, but these things are common and you can get them on Amazon sooner/quicker. I used something like?. I ordered a couple extra just in case.
I ordered the battery contacts mentioned on Thingiverse off?. Hopefully there are sellers selling smaller packs of 4 or so.
Then you need some 18650 cells. That's really a personal preference. I had some laying around for other projects. Search Google or Reddit for a source of quality 18650 cells. Having a backup pair and a way to charge them out of the pack is handy.
Some things I assume you have because this is ham radio related: solder, soldering iron, electrical tape, random small screws (pair), random lengths of thiner-gauge wire (24/26), ingenuity, desire to tinker and learn.
If your taking on this project and have built similar packs it should be no problem; microscopic compared to some DIY packs being built. If this is your first battery pack build, order a few extra parts just in case. If the first time around doesn't work out, try again. If you nail it first time, build a second one.
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
UNLESS you are already deep into another hobby!??
On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 06:39:28 AM PDT, Christian Sweningsen KD2LIN <csweningsen@...> wrote:
Will you share the following?
"source parts, wire up the BMS, figure out a charging solution"
-------- Original message -------- From: "Luis Vasquez via groups.io" <looiz@...> Date: 4/21/21 7:39 AM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [Yaesu-FT-60] Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
I put together one of these for my FT-60r.
If you already use 18650 cells for other applications then it’s nice to have the option for your ft-60. By the time you 3D print, source parts, wire up the BMS, figure out a charging solution, and procure a couple 18650 cells, you’re deep into another hobby.
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
Will you share the following?
"source parts, wire up the BMS, figure out a charging solution"
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-------- Original message -------- From: "Luis Vasquez via groups.io" <looiz@...> Date: 4/21/21 7:39 AM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [Yaesu-FT-60] Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
I put together one of these for my FT-60r.
If you already use 18650 cells for other applications then it’s nice to have the option for your ft-60. By the time you 3D print, source parts, wire up the BMS, figure out a charging solution, and procure a couple 18650 cells, you’re deep into another hobby.
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
I put together one of these for my FT-60r.
If you already use 18650 cells for other applications then it’s nice to have the option for your ft-60. By the time you 3D print, source parts, wire up the BMS, figure out a charging solution, and procure a couple 18650 cells, you’re deep into another hobby.
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 03:54 PM, Prasad wrote:
... Istill want to go the Lithium way because it is new tech with a few advantages over NiMH.?
?NiMH good for 2-3 times the total number of discharge-charge cycles of Lithium. Yes, Lithium holds its charge longer. But I don’t charge up a pack and leave it un-used for a year.
Lithium perform better in freezing environments. I live in Southern California - if it gets below 60, we start dying ...
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
AA cell measures 49.2–50.5 mm (1.94–1.99 in) in length, including the button terminal—and 13.5–14.5 mm (0.53–0.57 in) in diameter.
The 18650 part number provides it nominal dimensions. The first two digits of the part number indicate the cell is 18 mm in diameter. The last three digits provide the length of 65 mm.
On April 20, 2021 at 7:52 PM, "Tom via groups.io" <tjgerard@...> wrote: Aren’t the batteries your talking about a good bit larger than AA?
Tom
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
Aren’t the batteries your talking about a good bit larger than AA?
Tom
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
Clint
Thanks. All points taken. They are great ideas. I still want to go the Lithium way because it is new tech with a few advantages over NiMH. I love them for a couple of reasons - like, they hold charge much longer and their charge density is far superior to NiMH. You can leave them alone and pick them up after a year and you will still see them at the same level of charge. NiMH cells do not behave that way. Moreover, NiMH cells die too soon compared to Lithium-Ion. I have built a couple of batteries for other applications using Lithium 18650 cells with good experience.?
Prasad
AB3EH
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Re: Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
I use 2500mAH Maha NiMH AA cells in the Yaesu FBA-25 tray.
Double the longevity.
THEN I improve my antenna and turn TX power down to 2W - doubling AGAIN my?
battery life. (If you are not making it at 2W line-of-sight 2M/440, you won't make it at 5W.)
So that quadruples battery life.
And to make 'em last even longer: Use an audio accessory - speaker-mic or earpiiece.
What is the first thing you do with the VOLume control when using an earpiece? You
turn the VOLume DOWN ... what eats up batteries? Keying the mic to TX, and LOUD audio ...
Clint K6LCS
www.work-sat.com
?
PS Worked an astronaut at 2W when he was about 450 miles downrange ...?
https://www.work-sat.com/iss-062814.html
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
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Making 3D printed battery case for FT-60R
T he original OEM battery for FT-60 is NiMH chemistry, rated 7.2V nom, and involves 6 x 1.2V cells. Today we get Lithium cells type 18650, rated 3.6V nominal and it should be possible to power the FT-60R with two Lithium cells to get the same voltage level as the original OEM battery. I know this change is not just replacing the cells as it requires extras like a BMS board and possibly a new/different charger to suit. The original wall-wart may not work.?
?
I wonder if anyone has tried making a case that can hold two 18650 cells using a 3D printer. Any thoughts or leads??
?
Thanks?
Prasad
AB3EH
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Re: SBH-13 Desktop Charger - Unplug When Not Charging?
In contrast, I have the CD-29 Rapid Desktop Charger.? It sits on my desk with one of my FT-60s inserted.? It is plugged-in all the time.? The radio sits in it - sometimes in scan, sometimes in other modes - all day long.? The radio stays charged ready to go all the time.? The radio and charger has been in such a state for more than 10 years without any ill effect,? The CD-29 is a little pricy, but the convenience and worry-free battery state has paid for itself in peace of mind.
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Re: I can't get my FT-60 to Scan
For those familiar with Yaesu's FT-8800 and some of the other mobiles, the scan concept for the FT-60 is very similar.? Other Yaesu HTs like the FT-xD Fusion series and the old (but great) VX-8 use a different method.
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Re: SBH-13 Desktop Charger - Unplug When Not Charging?
It's a good idea to follow the manual's instructions. Having said that, mine has been plugged in for many months without issue. I have 3 batteries that cycle through it and the radio once or twice a week. I'm often scanning local repeaters with it which drains a battery in about a day. It will keep scanning until the voltage is below an indicated 6 V. But once it gets down to about 7.3 it won't transmit very long.
Mike KA2JAI?
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Re: SBH-13 Desktop Charger - Unplug When Not Charging?
Hi Michael -
I leave the charger unplugged.? The manual says to run the battery down to where the low battery indicator appears, and then recharge it. I ordered a second battery to use while the first one is recharging, and also an FBA-25 battery pack which runs the FT-60 on 6 AA batteries.? Both are available on Ham Radio Outlet.? Its my only radio with an Ni-MH battery so I just do what the manual says.
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Re: SBH-13 Desktop Charger - Unplug When Not Charging?
That instruction probably falls under the umbrella of good practice. Good practice because not only does it save electricity(albeit a very very small amount), but it reduces the risk of failure and consequential damage such as fire. Advisory, not compulsory. Owen On 2021-03-10 04:19, Michael WA7SKG wrote: I just got my FT-60R and accessories.
The instructions for the SBH-13 Desktop Charger say to unplug it when
not actively charging the radio. I have never seen this before on a
charger, to unplug it when not in use. As I use the radio extensively,
I am charging it a couple times per week. I also bought a second
SBH-13 and have it mounted in my truck and fed by the 12V vehicle
system.
Does everybody always unplug the charger when not actively charging
the radio? That seems a bit of a nuisance to me.
--
73,
Michael WA7SKG
Owen
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Re: SBH-13 Desktop Charger - Unplug When Not Charging?
Some electronic equipment has a circuit that disconnects. Some don't. I've fried a lot of phone batteries in my smoky past. So I've learned to disconnect when it in use. I've had my FT-60 about seven years and the original battery is okay.
On Tue, Mar 9, 2021 at 3:15 PM, Michael WA7SKG <wa7skg@...> wrote: I just got my FT-60R and accessories.
The instructions for the SBH-13 Desktop Charger say to unplug it when
not actively charging the radio. I have never seen this before on a
charger, to unplug it when not in use. As I use the radio extensively, I
am charging it a couple times per week. I also bought a second SBH-13
and have it mounted in my truck and fed by the 12V vehicle system.
Does everybody always unplug the charger when not actively charging the
radio? That seems a bit of a nuisance to me.
--
73,
Michael WA7SKG
"Any day you do not learn one new thing is a wasted day."
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SBH-13 Desktop Charger - Unplug When Not Charging?
I just got my FT-60R and accessories.
The instructions for the SBH-13 Desktop Charger say to unplug it when not actively charging the radio. I have never seen this before on a charger, to unplug it when not in use. As I use the radio extensively, I am charging it a couple times per week. I also bought a second SBH-13 and have it mounted in my truck and fed by the 12V vehicle system.
Does everybody always unplug the charger when not actively charging the radio? That seems a bit of a nuisance to me.
--
73,
Michael WA7SKG
"Any day you do not learn one new thing is a wasted day."
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Clint Bradford
David Audley - WY7DA
Michael WA7SKG