Kenwood TS-440 Repairs ! Part 8. Hunt for RF Output !!

Thank you for taking the time to do all of these videos, many people will find it very useful, especially the documentation! 73

Hi Mike, your TS440S videos have been so useful during my TS440S repair, even just for comparison of boards, connections, wire runs, screw type and sizes, locations of things, etc. - many thanks! I am nearing the end of what has basically turned out to be restoration as I had to reflow every one of the main boards in my TS440S. The soldering was so borderline, I had no choice. I was checking part 8 of your video series to see if you encountered a mystery part I found in the Final Unit (MOSFET power amplifier board that sits under the Filter Unit shelf). It's an L-shaped piece of copper that looks like it is used to wedge between something and the chassis ground. The problem is this piece was just lying in the corner of the Final Unit once I lifted the Filter Unit with its metal shelf out. The piece must have fallen out of where it is supposed to be placed before the Filter Unit shelf is put back into the radio. Did you come across this piece and, if so, do you know where it goes? I thought that it might need to sit on top of the big ferrite oval ring and then the Filter Unit is screwed down to keep it in place while, presumably, adding additional grounding?

I'd have given up on the TS-440 and got me a TS-430S. I think the 430S is a better solid state radio and doesn't suffer from the dots syndrome. When I upgraded from Technician to General Ham license I got a working Kenwood TS-430S with a dedicated power supply PS-430 and glad I did. The price was right and I just have picked up an off center fed long wire antenna to work with the unit. I'll have to find an antenna tuner to borrow to get my antenna trimmed properly. 73 from K9POW in eastern Tennessee.

Just watched #6, #7 and #8 I had no idea of the patience you have, Mike! A rare breed, my friend... Good luck with it, you sure deserve to have this running 100% at the end of it all. That 220v solder sucker I featured a while back...you'd like that thing, I think... Denis

Would you have a tear down on the 13.8v DC Power jack area on back of radio, you come close to it on this video, my radio some one put the wire's we think straight to the board with out the socket, I have a PS-430 to hook up the correct way but the 440s is missing the DC Jack Socket.

can u say me the capacity and the voltage of the two capacitors?

Hey Mike your videos are Awesome and I have learn a lot from them. Thank you so much. Believe me you are not boring in any way. I want to try and fix my TS-440 because it stopped transmitting and these video are priceless. Do you repair these radio's still? If I could I would be interested in having you repair mine for me? I just fear casing more problem if I try and fix it. Unfortunately I sent my Radio to someone else and paid over $300.00 to have it aligned and checked out. Then last night it just quit transmitting. I had "No" output and I was not able to tune it to my antenna with my MFJ 949E tuner and my Dossy Power and Watt meter. Earlier this week it worked fine and was talking to other ham on it. So let me know what it would cost to go thur it and make well again?

Maybe if you are going to remove those electrolytics, you might as well replace them. Just sayin'. Also, maybe if you want to clean the "blue" off of those pins on the power board, you could carefully use a small piece of fine steel wool and rub them up a bit. But it might not make any difference. Also, Be careful: steel wool and electronics never mix well (loose stray strands!).

Cool soldiering tip, what setup iron that?