Hi All,
Got a 2002 model, still working great. The MEM/VFO CH encoder got flaky a 2-3 years ago, would skip and jump around. Got TWO replacement encoders from Yaesu at that time, put them in a box somewhere. Finally got a moment of time to try this fix.
Top and bottom covers off, knobs off, front panel off, small pile of nuts washers and screws (was easy to put them all back in the right place). Unplug a few cables, pry the sheet metal open, and out popped the front control PCB.
Did NOT try to "clean" the LCD or plastic screen, they were good enough. Did blow out a bit of dust and lint from the chassis.
Un-soldered the encoder, but did NOT put in a new one. Pried up 4 small metal tabs on the old encoder, and pulled it all apart. Q-tips, alcohol and contact cleaner got off some old lubricant that was mostly just a bit sticky. A new tiny dab of Ox-gard on the contact fingers and contact wheel. Bent the tiny tabs back down and soldered the encoder it back in to the PCB.
Put the whole mess back together. Did NOT break a single thing, or have any left over parts!
MEM/VFO CH encoder now works just like new. Doubled up the power switch contacts with a few tiny bits of wire while I was in there.
I bet I could do this 2-4 times before the encoder tabs broke, or a solder pad lifted from the board. Good enough for a 18 year old radio. If I had bothered to use the new encoder, I would save the old one for for repair and replacement the NEXT time.
The new encoder I got from Yeasu has the tactile detents. There was a small spring plate on the encoder that could be removed if you wanted to use the encoder for the free spinning SUB-TUNE position.
Resources:
- talks about the power switch, but good info on dis-assembly.
- some good pictures of the chassis insides.
73,
Eric / ke6mlf
Eric Oberg
Andy Bosworth