#30 Kenwood TS-50 Part 3 troubleshoot transmitter and repair - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 03:20:27 pm
content: #30 Kenwood TS-50 Part 3 troubleshoot transmitter and repairThird and final episode.In this video we are back on the old Kenwood TS-50. We do a bit of troubleshooting and find yet more interesting faults.Some blown parts, broken parts, and parts not plugged in. Bare with me as we try and bring this rig back to life.

author: RobertoLG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 02:21:06 am
content: I'm not a HAM, but I like your videos

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 10:28:24 am
content: Quote from: RobertoLG on February 15, 2016, 02:21:06 amWell thank you very much RobertoLG.It's comments like yours that make doing this satisfying.So even though you are not a ham it still is basic electronics. With a little RF involved.I have been wanting to do a tutorial. For basic RF electronics. Show folks that instead of jumping on an expensive HR radio to start out small. Something like a cb radio. For one it is cheap, they work on the same principal, and if you blow it up you are not out of a lot.But don't think I am that good with tutorials.Thanks again for you wonderful comment.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 04:49:04 pm
content: I watched the video other evening on you tube that was serious fault finding very enjoyable, I build test equipment which is where my interest is, that said I have a dead TS 50 which I know I'm going to have to tackle.Paul

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 05:58:33 pm
content: Quote from: Negative-Bias on February 15, 2016, 04:49:04 pmThank you Paul. Sometimes these can be a real bugger to find the problems. A lot of time spent. Glad you liked it.Sounds interesting on the test equipment builds.You say the TS-50 is dead? Not powering on? I am willing to help if needed.On another note I twoon this video....

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 06:06:47 pm
content: Well done Buddy on finally getting to the last faultAfter seeing all the hard work you had to do plus the efforts that Peter over on TRX Bench had to go through there is no way I would buy a TS-50.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 06:48:50 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on February 15, 2016, 06:06:47 pmThanks for the kind words. This radio was a hair puller for sure. A big thanks to Grant that sent me spare boards, although they were defective too but at least had the traces intact. A lot of hours was spent on this one. So at time you just put it down, go to something else for a while. Come back with a better attitude and most likely find the problem. Peter did have an interesting fault with his also. Who would had thought lol. But he nailed it down very quickly. Peter is a good techI agree, stay away from the TS-50 unless you love radio repair.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 08:47:53 pm
content: Thanks Buddy I may need some advice later down the road, mine turns off after about 10 minutes, I had this one time on my ts820,which turned out to be Electrolytic's so that's where I'm going to start, I'm certainly not going to rush, watching both TRX Peter and yourself, it seems there is much this radio can teach me.73 Paul M0BSW

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 09:21:33 pm
content: Cool deal Paul. Yes these radios are prone to capacitor failure. There is one on the front panel board that causes a lot of issues. I did a repair n a prior video.When you get to it let me know what you find.

author: RobertoLG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2016, 10:00:12 pm
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on February 15, 2016, 10:28:24 amhehe, no worries man, and yeah using the senses is fundamental, just take a good look at the stuff and lots of things may reveal themselves, taking components the correct way from the board may save you a lot of trouble, simple things like that are a must know

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 12:12:44 am
content: Good Job.EDIT:I am also having IFR issues.But it has to wait....I have two projects ahead of it...

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 01:01:55 am
content: Quote from: RobertoLG on February 15, 2016, 10:00:12 pmI know you can do it mate.You will get it up and running in no time.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 01:12:34 am
content: Quote from: AF6LJ on February 16, 2016, 12:12:44 amThanks Sue.You know, not only am I a noob at YouTube, I am still a noob at ham radio repair myself. Only about 10 year into it. But it is folks like you and a few others on the internet that have helped me along the way. Yes I have read a lot of post around certain places. So for one I want to Thank You.I have been in my IFR 4 times already. And not a lot of information has been posted on these. I think I am the only one on YouTube that even has a repair video posted.So looks like I will be grabbing the 3 inch think service manual and digging into it soon. I really hate working on that unit.I really want to pick up a stand alone spectrum. Something with markers and display graphics on the screen. Maybe one day. I know what you mean about projects. Plenty of them here and now more to do.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 04:40:48 am
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on February 16, 2016, 01:12:34 amFairly advanced stuff...Back in the day I fixed IFR 1200S and 1000S for the company I worked for.YOU may already know the unit is known for intermittent issues regarding connectors and PCB edge connectors. In damp climets it can be worse than out here in California..The Scope switches get cranky with age.Your problem is simple, shouldn't take too long to find.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 10:15:45 am
content: Quote from: AF6LJ on February 16, 2016, 04:40:48 amI have cleaned those connecters twice in the past 5 years. Very humid here on the east coast.I think it is either the HV caps or the switches you mentioned. I lean more towards the switches though since the problem comes and goes. I really should try and source some new ones.QuoteI hope you are right...about not taking too long.

author: voltz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 11:21:53 am
content: Good video Buddy. I like your practical 'using all your senses' approach. You found a few faults in that one. Nice job.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 11:35:46 am
content: Quote from: voltz on February 16, 2016, 11:21:53 amThanks for the kind words voltz,Amazing what you can learn through the years not having proper test gear , which I do have now. And as you said I still rely on my senses for troubleshooting.I remember years ago sitting at my moms kitchen table armed with a Radio Shack analog volt meter and soldering iron and a old ECG cross reference book. Man those were the day.

author: voltz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2016, 11:48:51 am
content: Yep. Amazing what can achieve with enough time and experience. I agree, you dont always need fancy gear!. Saying that, good luck with your SA. Hope that gets fixedvery handy bit of kit. Looks like a Y amp issue, gone south!

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2016, 01:00:57 am
content: Quote from: voltz on February 16, 2016, 11:48:51 amWell while at work today I went ahead and printed off the schematics and board layout for the scope unit. I do have it on CD and a reprint manual. But these are now on 11x17.You could be correct about it being the Y amp. But, what ever it is it is intermitted. The other day when it quit all of a sudden it started back working. Then out again. A few minutes later it was back to full working.Bad solder?Loose connector?Bad switch?Or thermal issue? ( Really do not think it is that since I can power up from cold start and it want come on)Will tear down this week end and have a look. May start a new thread on the teardown repair.Don't tell no one but I bet Sue already knows what is wrong...

author: RobertoLG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2016, 07:49:35 am
content: I hope that you post some pics when you get that oldies back in shape, like that national you got at your doorstep and the others too, you got a nice "playground" there too hehehe

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2016, 01:17:23 pm
content: Quote from: RobertoLG on February 17, 2016, 07:49:35 amI surely will. In fact I have a bunch of pics of that National already. I am going to do a "Restoration Tip" video on how to handle comedic and appearance video on old rigs like it. When I restore a piece of equipment I do not want it to look brand new. I like it to have that used look but work like new.Thanks for your comment

author: RobertoLG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2016, 02:08:33 am
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on February 17, 2016, 01:17:23 pmCool, I'm waiting to see the pics and the video, give the oldies some love

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2016, 02:31:04 am
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on February 17, 2016, 01:17:23 pmAh, keep the patina in tact.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2016, 11:36:53 am
content: Quote from: retrolefty on February 18, 2016, 02:31:04 amAgreed.I do not care for Museum restored equipment. I like them to look used but work like new.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 07:56:26 pm
content: Quote from: AF6LJ on February 16, 2016, 04:40:48 amSue,I want you to know you were spot onIt was the switches all along. I took it apart and removed those switches. Took them apart and cleaned all the contacts and traces. Working like a charm now.Video to come. Thank you very much.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 09:33:07 pm
content: See video 777 that Dave did some time ago where the problem with a multimeter was the contacts on the front panel switches. It therefore appears that the rules for fault finding are:a) Check your voltagesb) Clean the switchesc) Send it to Buddy

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 10:11:43 pm
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on February 24, 2016, 07:56:26 pmAlways glad to help out been there on that one

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 10:15:36 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on February 24, 2016, 09:33:07 pmThat was a good video, had forgotten about that one. Contamination can really cause problems on contacts.Quote

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 10:18:34 pm
content: Quote from: AF6LJ on February 24, 2016, 10:11:43 pmThank you Sue, You saved me a lot of troubleshooting

author: Alan McLean
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 28, 2020, 06:31:44 pm
content: Hi Buddy,My name is Alan. I am in Sault Ste. Marie Canada. I enjoyed your videos very much. I am a retired Spectrum Management Officer and EX Military Radar Systems Tech. My callsign is VE3RET. Since my retirement I have been building up my experience with electronic repair. I am working on a TS50 that insists on going into tx whenever there is no key in the cw jack, and the radio is switched to cw mode. I have been wracking my brain for a solution. The cct is very confusing.(shorting out all connections on cw jack when not plugged in, then keying by grounding the key?)A signal is being sent from the digital unit triggering the tx, but cant figure out where it might be generated from. Any thoughts. THANKS Alan