My apologies to the group for the draft that got sent by mistake earlier!
Here is the final version.
Well after 7 years the PTT switch finally went in my 7000. I was on 40, mobile last week, checking into ECARS. Net control turned it back to me and the rig would not go into xmit. Thought I blew the finals again. Not too much I could do at 70 MPH. I was surprised there is no xmit switch on the front panel. Never looked for one before. After a while the brain engaged and I used the canned CQ I had in memory. Yes, I had full output. Eventually I went to VOX and had some QSO's.
Could not do anything with the mike since I was visiting family for Christmas and 500 miles away from the home QTH. Well today I finally got to the mike. Thought the RJ45 cable was the culprit but I had continuity. Took the mike apart. Everything is on a PC board. Not too much to go wrong there. The PTT switch is a tiny critter. Hard to probe but I eventually convinced myself it was not working. Thought I would pull the switch. Reached for the solder wick. What a waste of time. The pins are such a tight fit in the board holes, it was impossible for me to clear all the solder. It looks like the only way to remove the switch was to destroy it and unsolder the pins one at a time. That did not appeal to me. I was embarrassed to figure it had to go back to ICOM for a switch replacement! Either that or buy a used mike.
Out of desperation I put a few drops of deoxit around the switch button and it is now working. Not very sophisticated but it got the job done. Hope someone can benefit from my experience.
73,
Bill, K3PGB
