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I have just picked up a Rather Tatty and quite heavily abused Yaesu FT-980 that has not been cared for at all by the look of it, I will upload photos soon, but was after a little advice. The unit was once owned by one of the top BBC engineers of his time, and I’m sure it’s been heavily played with.

I know that when Yaesu released this radio it was in that period that I call “Yaesu’s Lost Years’”, yes they released some good radios, such as this model and the obvious FT-ONE, but I personally think that they hit a wall with regards to quality, if you look at the gear that went before even taking into account the FT-101 Series, they really did produce some very good kit, and say 5-10 years after the FT-980, they seem to start using quality parts again, but in between this and when the FT-980 and ONE were released switches and plastic bit seemed tacky and cheap, maybe it’s just me, but I was always steered away from restoring these models due to quality of parts.

Anyway, what I’m after here is some advise as to if there is anything that I should check before I apply power to the unit?

Are there any good restoration guides available for the FT-980?

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

Kind Regards

James
飞飞飞.惭诲0尘诲颈.滨’尘

Hi James,

Welcome to the group! Before powering it on, I would first open it up and take a look inside. Members have been putting some hi-res pics in the Files section to help others.

The "Technical Supplement" in the files section (Files->"03 - Yaesu FT-980 All Manuals") has some good black and white pics. If you have any questions you can take pics and put in this group .... we can compare to our rigs and pics.?

While there are some common issues, the most problematic appear to be related to connectors (as you might suspect) and solder joints on the single-sided PCBs. If you don't see anything suspect (weird mods, blackened components, no "burnt" smell), you should be OK to power up. No variac or other precautions required.

The FT-980 architecture derived from the FT-One ... but Yaesu DID lower cost: the PCBs went from doubled-sided FR4 to Single-Sided CEM-3 type. The PCBs aren't card type. But the switches, buttons, encoders and knobs seem to be high quality. My unit was made in 1983 and has never had a front panel issue (I did have broken wire in a transformer once).

--
-Mat Breton, N8TW

Thanks Mat for the pointers, will check to see what it is like under the panels and will post some photos, no rush on this one, but would like to have her running for just the beauty that she is.

James
www.Md0mdi.im

One thing I've noticed is that there are two different CPU Units used in these rigs. They aren't readily interchangeable given the location of one of the connectors on the rear of the unit. The wiring harness in an older version is about 1/2" too short for the mating connector to plug onto its CPU Unit complement.

An FYI for those with a flaky CPU Unit. The newer one uses right-angle headers mounted on the vertical walls of the unit enclosure, while the older version used straight headers and a slightly larger PCB. An older CPU Unit SHOULD work in a newer radio, but double-check the identity of all connectors on the back of the unit

73 - Fred, N8YX

I finally got around to un-earthing the radio, still nit applied power to it yet, just put on the bench to take a look at it.

It’s certainly had a hard life.

Missing the handle and quite a few screws showing tell-tale signs of being removed a lit more than just once.

And even totally wrong looking screws in places.

The rear view is about the best angle.?

So are there any pointers as to the best place besides ebay to find parts, certainly need a handle and im sure that the other side should have feet which are missing, plus may be on the hunt for some cleaner metalwork.

I had not even noticed the ATT knob, if he has the original can you ask him if he would be willing to sell it, I am looking for the top and bottom metalwork as well. also the handle, I think just for completeness I will try and fit the handle, I have noted your thoughts on it, but would like finish the look, going to open her up tomorrow.

I second Wald's observation regarding the handle. I was toting my spare '980 to storage - rather, attempting to - when one of the screws in the handle let go. Fortunately, it was only a few inch drop onto a carpeted floor...

ATT knob: A number of Yaesu rigs of the period used cosmetically similar ones. If Wald's source fails to deliver, the auction site usually has at least one set off something which contains the correct knob.

Screws: Look at M3 computer screws in black finish; 6 or 8MM length. These will be a perfect match for the originals. (Now if I could only find them in Winter Gray, to match those used for the FT-901/902 covers.)

73 - Fred, N8YX

I have finally gor around to playing with the radio a little more, and as expected I have a number of bedges to sort out along the way and a few things that people here may be able to point me in the right direction with...



Please Ignore the 'Green' stuff around the terminals, I will sort this out later, but is this the actual way that Yaesu did this? I would have though a neater solution may have been in the radio, but if this is correct I will try and purchase a neater option when I get around to this.



Certainly looks as though this has been bodged, not investigated much but anyone have any ideas as to why this would have been cut and as to the mess going to the earthing point? I will clean this up later but it does not feel like a Yaesu fitting.



Using a bulb as a resistance...? emmm, again does not have the feel of Yaesu....



The fitment of this capacitor just looks wrong as well...

Not too sure if all of these are bodges, not played around with this era of Yaesu kit before, I know 101's of old and FT-950's and FT-2000 and non of these would be seen in those items, but I do know that things were not as sweet back then, so if anyone can give me any pointers I would be much appreciated.

Items that I really could do with getting hold of if anyone is selling:

• A Complete set of Original Case Screws.
• Carrying Handle (Complete) with all fittings.
• Original ATT Knob.
• Top and Bottom Cases (Clean and Tidy Ones).

I will create a Gallery and upload a load of photos, maybe someone will see other things that I have missed.

Cheers

James
MD0MDI

Hi James,

For the battery, yes, that is how Yaesu did it. I have long since replaced it with something a littler sturdier ... the original was old and not seating the batteries properly.

The bulb may be replacing F01, which is the RX (in) "lamp-fuse". The original is a small "grain of wheat" filament bulb of about 8V, 100mA. This same concept/bulb was used in other Yaesu rigs of the day such as the FT747/FT757. The exact replacement is a?BQ041-22803A. It looks like whoever "fixed" it found something in his box and put it in ... but it is much larger than the original.

--
-Mat Breton, N8TW