FT290 not tuning - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

CHEESE62 · 15th Feb 2023, 11:30 pm

Good evening all,

I have a couple of FT290's that to look at. Ther first appears to be working when you turn it on(YAY). Short lived excitement when you try to tune. Absolutely nothing. It sits, resolutely, where it was powered up. No change of mode works. It happily sits there.

I tried tranasmitting from handheld on said frequency and there is nothing being received.

Anyone had a similar problem in the past?

Many thanks for reading this post.

Neil - G1TZC

Colinaps · 19th Feb 2023, 5:57 pm

The only issue I've ever fixed on a 290 was the wee chip (and I think 2 electrolytic caps adjacent) that produces a negative rail. Can't remember the symptoms except that the VCO wouldn't lock - it was a long time ago...

Q05 in the reg unit. You should have ~-6.8V on pin5.

73

Colin mm1aps

Radio Wrangler · 19th Feb 2023, 6:42 pm

A source of weird combinations of faults is if anyone left batteries in the thing or overcooked NiCads in it. They spew clear conductive liquid onto the solder side of the main board creating all sorts of damage. Sometimes with tiny blue sparks!

Check carefully, This has been known to take out CPU system.

David

Colinaps · 22nd Feb 2023, 12:26 am

They also have the mystery latex gunk that puts circuits out of tune as it decomposes if I remember correctly - Harry Leeming used to go on at length about the stuff.

Cheers,

Colin.

15th Feb 2023, 11:30 pm	#1
CHEESE62 New Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1	FT290 not tuning Good evening all, I have a couple of FT290's that to look at. Ther first appears to be working when you turn it on(YAY). Short lived excitement when you try to tune. Absolutely nothing. It sits, resolutely, where it was powered up. No change of mode works. It happily sits there. I tried tranasmitting from handheld on said frequency and there is nothing being received. Anyone had a similar problem in the past? Many thanks for reading this post. Neil - G1TZC

19th Feb 2023, 5:57 pm	#2
Colinaps Pentode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Roxburghshire, UK. Posts: 196	Re: FT290 not tuning The only issue I've ever fixed on a 290 was the wee chip (and I think 2 electrolytic caps adjacent) that produces a negative rail. Can't remember the symptoms except that the VCO wouldn't lock - it was a long time ago... Q05 in the reg unit. You should have ~-6.8V on pin5. 73 Colin mm1aps

19th Feb 2023, 6:42 pm	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,866	Re: FT290 not tuning A source of weird combinations of faults is if anyone left batteries in the thing or overcooked NiCads in it. They spew clear conductive liquid onto the solder side of the main board creating all sorts of damage. Sometimes with tiny blue sparks! Check carefully, This has been known to take out CPU system. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

22nd Feb 2023, 12:26 am	#4
Colinaps Pentode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Roxburghshire, UK. Posts: 196	Re: FT290 not tuning They also have the mystery latex gunk that puts circuits out of tune as it decomposes if I remember correctly - Harry Leeming used to go on at length about the stuff. Cheers, Colin.