What's In My Yaesu FT-450, Repair Attempt #1

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Drink beer, Check Work on electronics, Check.. Kicking off the weekend!

[@urpapa-m8d]

why u know it?

[@SamuraiShippo]

Welp, tearing my 450 apart now to clean. I've had it for 10 years and the Ft-450 is a damn viking of a radio.

[@LesterElm1]

"I've had a few beers..." Let's take my radio apart. LOL

[@radioaxe6964]

Enjoyed the video, thank you. Try factory resetting the radio in case it's a microprocessor issue. It's a 1 minute task and you got nothing to lose.

[@km6hvu622]

My suggestion only: To clean, use a small clean paintbrush with vacuum then isopropyl alcohol (MG Chemicals 824-1L 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol Liquid Cleaner), apply with small brush/cotton swab. Have another beer and 4 Hp = 2982.8 Watts; more beer. Then you will have a clean radio that still doesn't work but you feel better because your radio is clean and you will have had a few beers.

[@jptucsonaz8503]

Stop! Read please! The beeping and flashing ant symbol means that no match can be found. The FT-450 wants a reasonable match to begin with, say 3:1 or better, anything worse, no go. Eric, your problem may be a bad antenna/coax, etc. Put a dummy load on the so-239 ant connector first & see if that cures the flashing ant icon issue! If it does, troubleshoot the antenna system. If not grab some schmatics/shop manual for the rig first. Don't go just pulling parts. A lot of new stuff has multi-layer boards that don't hold up well to too much unsoldering. You can easily cause worse issues. Besides, you can check continuities on relays with them in place. Here; I found the shop manual online at: www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.radiomanual.info/schemi/YAESU_HF/FT-450_serv.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwio6PPq-dXfAhWDFXwKHYIQD6kQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw10V0ni6BwNjC9PpD3pwcz7 Hope this helps, 73 - John Added... On pg 12 of USERS manual - "If the operation fails (usually because of excessive SWR), the antenna symbol at the start of the diagram on the display will flash until the tuner is either turned off or run successfully." Finally... ! If basic troubleshooting does not find any simple solutions like a bad antenna; you may want to consider a full factory reset to clear out some confused microprocessor issues (warning: that will clear out your channel & other setup memory too!)

[@HamRadioConcepts]

the issue is in the radio, there is no issue with my coax or antenna. I have read that about the antenna symbol flashing but this is different.

[@JamesGMunn]

Time to get a schematic. Debug Rule #1: Thou shalt check the source voltages! Looks to me like someone spilled cola through the holes on the top onto your SMD circuits by the finals. Did the circuit traces survive? There seems to be lots of corrosion around.

[@W4TRI_Ronny]

Time to buy a new main board or sell on eBay as Parts or repair!

[@jamesgeorge1709]

you probably spilled beer in it idiot.

[@richardchambless12]

You need an RF probe and the schematic for the PA. I would test each section starting with the drivers. That might get you close to where the issue is.

[@jamesgeorge1709]

Looks to me something got spilled into the radio. I"ve had mine for many years one thing I do is hose it out every 2 or 3 years. I suggest you try when in the cw mode.

[@jimcranfield89]

Eric i purchased this same radio Yaesu ft 450 but it as no coloured lights on the display only white the panel is not lit up either buttons ps not in the menu neither g6 ygw uk

[@RandyHouk]

Keying the mic while on SSB will result in zero output power unless you provide some modulation. Try on FM or AM with a reduced power output and watch the output power. On my old FT-450 the PA was proven OK with proper power output on FM. It was strictly a SSB modulation problem on the bottom PCB. Good idea using the MAF cleaner, IMO.

[@HamRadioConcepts]

It is the PA board, burnt traces everywhere

[@RandyHouk]

@@HamRadioConcepts yes, always look for burnt parts and traces first!

[@IamDerick]

In the future consider getting yourself a few plumbing acid brushes then cut the bristles to about 1/8 inches in length. Dip it in alcohol, gently scrub a small part of the area then hit it with canned air (you can use compressor air as long as the output is not an oiled one for air tools) and repeat until clean. Thanks for the cool video's! 73 de K7TIE

[@borayurt66]

You are a great ham with serious knowledge on ham stuff, but clearly you don't have the skills to repair this. There are tons of stuff to check before changing random parts. You must do a methodical approach either starting from the antenna out and coming back from there, (or the other way) to see where there is a signal, where not. All the supply voltages must be checked to make sure every active component gets its power. You need the schematic, a signal tracer, better yet a communications analyser. You'd be better off taking this to a professional repair shop.

[@624radicalham]

There are no professional repair shops. Not really. It's all gossip and word of mouth recommendationa these days. And every tech is too backlogged and can't offer a decent turn-around time.

[@tommytomted44]

*_Hey KJ4YZI, I enjoy the videos including your two visits to the Gigiparts store. Your interview with the guy who owns a FT-DX101D was outstanding. I have a problem with a 450D I bought off Ebay. The transmit icon is blinking and the radio will not transmit. I have tried everything but I can not get the icon to stop blinking or get the radio to transmit into a dummy load. The reason I am writing you is my problem may be similar to the problem you are having with your FT-450. I will watch your second video on your 450 repair with great interest. I would sure like to figure this out without having to send the radio to the shop. A couple of $75 an hour bench charges and I'll be at the price of a new radio with what I paid for this very clean like new but not working 450D. Keep those videos coming. You do very nice work. 73. tommytomted_*

[@HamRadioConcepts]

That is the exact problem I am having. It haas to do with the SWR protection circuit. It thinks it is infinite SWR and shuts down the PA. I hope to talk to Tim Factor of Yaesu about it because I forgot to ask at GigaParts when i saw him there

[@billsbullets]

That there is tin whiskers from the lead free solder. Do research on tin whiskers. Over time whiskers short out components. Think about that next time your flying tin whiskers. RoHS on boxes is reduction of hazardous waste substance like lead free solder which has tin whiskers. Maybe I’m wrong but look closer at the driver side. Not trying to be a know it all just trying to help. Thanks for you channel. Subbed for life

[@jeromewhite2347]

I always wanted to see inside my FT 450-A thnx KI6TLK.

[@aurtisanminer2827]

Do you know if there is a tube in the back of that radio? I can see an orange glow coming from the rear of my FT450 while it’s on. I’ve been curious to know if it’s from a tube.

[@HighFidelityFox]

just an LED

[@w9x7cv3vg6]

you could do a small test on the output that is being fed to the r/t relay in the back there,by just putting a small wire onto the preamp and or output transisters,and with a radio on in the background,see if you get rf comin out via the wire...you can also,going by the schematic place a small coax onto one spot somewhere that can feed the full rf right to the wattmeter instead of being stopped at that relay....i had the same problem in a icom 735 , i dug out a relay from a kenwood ts 60 and i wired it in,its still workin a yr later but all apart,it kicks ass while all apart hihi,i plan to try to get that relay closer in so the case can be put back together or even buy the relay from china...geeee how on earth did your rig get so gummed up,was it mobile..this dont happen to many otger guys ! good luck..do that test first...or even a continuity check across the relay terminals...we fiollow..

[@rolftammen4482]

Which Licence do you have ?....

[@samiam9059]

Looks like some moister got in there or high humidity over some time?

[@firedude4080]

I wonder if its the same issue that I have with my old mans TS-930SAT...won't tune or TX...

[@eduardosomoanocrematy7802]

Here I explain what happens with my Yaesu FT-450. A few days ago I made the mistake of trying a radio from a friend of mine when my FT-450 was on receiving, they had two different antennas but the separation between the antennas on the roof are 3 meters. When I was testing the radio in transmission I felt a burning smell from my friend and I realized that it was coming from my radio, at the moment I turned it off and when I turned it back on it had changed many things like: - TRANSMIT BUT DOES NOT GIVE ANY OUT POWER IN (AM) MODE ON ANY BAND. - THE SYSTEM (ALC) DOESN'T WORK, NEVER MARK ANYTHING ON THE DISPLAY, BEFORE IT WORKED VERY GOOD. - ESPECIALLY IN 6M (50MHZ) BEFORE HAD 100 WATT, NOW ONLY HAS 10WATT AND WHEN CW OR SSB TRANSFER FEELS MY VOICE OR NOISE IN THE RADIO HORN. - THE INTERNAL RADIO TUNER ANTENNA DOES NOT ADJUST IN SOME BANDS AND HIGH SWR WITH GHOST ANTENNA DUMMY 50OHM ADJUST 1: 1 ALMOST ALL BANDS, I REMOVED THE RADIO TUNER ANTENNA AND CONTINUES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE INT-TUNER OF THE FT-450. - BEFORE ALMOST ALL BANDS DRAWN 100 WATT CW AND ALMOST 90 WATT SSB. NOW HIM RESULT WITH LOAD DUMMY 50OHM PER BAND IS: 160m ... fm .... 100 watt cw .... 100 watt am .... no carrier no power fonia and digital .. 100 watt ----------------------------- 80m ... fm .... 100 watt cw .... 100 watt am .... no carrier no power fonia and dgital .. 100 watt ----------------------- 40m .... fm .... 70 watt cw .... 70 watt am .... no carrier no power fonia and digital ..40 watt ----------------------- 30m ....... fm .... 70 watt cw .... 70 watt am .... no carrier no power ----------------------- 20m ....... fm .... 70 watt cw .... 70 watt am .... no carrier no power fonia and digital .. 40 watt ----------------------- 17m ....... fm .... 50 watt cw .... 50 watt am .... no carrier no power fonia and digital .. 30 watt ------------------------ 15 m ........ fm .... 80 watt cw .... 80 watt am .... no carrier no power fonia and digital .. 80 watt ------------------------- 12m ......... fm .... 80 watt cw .... 80 watt am .... no carrier no power fonia and digital .. 50 watt When I transmit on the phone you can hear it on the radio horn ------------------------- 10m ......... fm .... 50 watt cw .... 50 watt am .... 10watt fonia and digital .. 50 watt --------------------------- 6m ......... fm .... 20 watt cw .... 20 watt am .... 20 watt fonia and digital .. 20 watt, When I transmit in fonia it is heard in the radio horn. He also seems to be crazy, he makes noise and he seems to have serious problems. I RESET HOME OF THE RADIO AND CONTINUE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THE PARAMETERS THE HIDDEN MENU IS CORRECT, THE RECEPTION IS CONSIDERED GOOD IN ALL THE BANDS AND MODES. I CHECK THE BOARDS OR BOARDS AND ALL ARE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION, NONE COMPONENT SEEMS TO BE BURNED. BEFORE MAKING THE ERROR MY RADIO WAS WORKING NO PROBLEM WITH 100 WATT IN ALL THE BANDS AND THE AUT INT ALSO WORKED NO PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT WITH THESE DATA YOU CAN GIVE ME AN IDEA OR OPINION OF WHAT PROBLEM THE TEAM HAS THOUSAND THANKS IN ADVANCE. note :Now I have realized that when I press the ATT or IPO key that is only for reception it falls even more the power in all the bands, in addition I tested it in reception 6m 50mhz and it has problems also at the reception . BEST 73.- EDUARDO CO8LY

[@colfax13]

Sounds like the diodes are burnt out (D2001 and D2002).... they’re SMT LEDs that protect the RF-IF board.

[@eduardosomoanocrematy7802]

@@colfax13 Dear friend, I understand what you are saying but we have already measured the diodes and other components and everything is ok. and here we have created a group of engineers In Telecommunications we have worked on the measurement and checking of several for meters of the equipment and the result with the oscilloscope was discovered at point J2002 that It is the point that gives you the signal at the end, the filters and the tuner antenna are the same problem, that is, we discard it on the rf power board. The problem has to be in the RF-IN-UNIT or CNTL-UNIT board but the FT-450 is Built with SDR system and not a conventional radio system like FT-747 u other Yaesu models. Here there is nobody with knowledge about radios with that SDR characteristics, that's why I would ask you to check the diagram of the Ft-450 and tell me what to measure or check and what is your opinion on that problem. The reception is fine in all bands and I have reset the radio several times and everything continue the same, any questions you have ask me. Thank you in advance and you are the only person who can give me an idea than what can be. I await your answer 73. CO8LY

[@ogbigfoot9196]

No warranty?

[@kb6dxn]

Couple more beers and I bet you could have it fixed or at least have a good smoke test.. :)

[@w8lvradio]

Did you try holding the "Band Up" and "Band Down" buttons and then pressing the On/Off Switch to clean the relays? 73 DE W8LV BILL

[@HighFidelityFox]

My FT-450D was turning off randomly, did this and haven’t had the problem ever again, thx om!!!

[@Perspectologist]

I enjoy radio repair videos. Unfortunately I can’t offer any experience based advice. I wonder if you can clean and test the relays without having to replace them. If the plastic covers can be removed without desoldering the relays that would let you clean and inspect them. UnfortunatelyI have no idea if that can be done.

[@624radicalham]

That is quite a perspective. I'm sure it was very helpful

[@MoTown44240]

I can positively say I am as clueless as you about this rig. I think your plan is sound. You might ask Don for his input.

[@n8nkqrp595]

fun video. thanks! it'll be fine.. you'll get it figured out. life shats uponst everyone from time to time.. beer is recommended as per other comments. i'd certainly agree. 73

[@robertoellison348]

LOVE THAT PRICE IS RITE SOUND EFFECT.

[@dannyboydkj7bpn]

I did see they use lead free solder PCB, good job Yaesu..

[@bruehlt]

Get a can of PCB cleaner - that board is a huge mess....looks like something got into the vents, maybe rust from the top case? I'm sure living near the ocean doesn't help things either, lol. There's a lot of rust inside of that radio.

[@skippyi6969]

id be checking the pre driver and driver stages with an RF probe first thing . but who knows

[@megadwood18]

salt air problem ?

[@everydaypatriot1083]

Good luck with that bad boy.

[@thuff3207]

I would DEOXIT for electronics. It the new tuner cleaner and it works.

[@enigmarbs2886]

Hi Eric, If you really try to fix the Problem by yourself, There is an youtube Video from SV1HAG replacing the finals... But you have to find somebody, who Speaks Greek fluently. Good Luck and a happy New Year 73's Steve

[@slidetbone]

I would hold off the probing and send the rig to a good HAM repair tech. He will tweak and tune it as the same time.

[@clems6989]

Gather the schematic and the service manual. All are available online. If you cant find them I can email them to you... Take your time and learn each step as you go, You'll fix this thing....

[@robertoellison348]

DUDE ,, HOW OLD IS THAT RADIO??

[@L.o.u.i.s..]

Check Mr Carlson Lab videos... He has a few videos of him repairing Yaesu's..

[@blakebrewer3279]

“I’ve had a few beers” 😂😂

[@icorezx14r]

Cool Vid, have another beer for the attempt..........

[@eleanorhathaway927]

Nah it's not the relays. Going by the rust in the finals I would say that is your problem. That wants cleaning properly with some stiff bristle brushes and alcohol or contact cleaner. then test the finals and work back until you get to the issue. I would say it's probably easier and cheaper to just replace the whole board seeing as its rusty.

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Tonight I cleaned the whole board, removed the finals, tested OK, reinstalled and worked thr block diagram, seems the diode for FWD/REV power SWR protection circuit is bad. It's like a speck of glitter, and i cant get in there to replace it. Not only that, when I take out the screws to ground the finals to the chasis I get 4 watts output, but when i ground and secure it all, 0 watts. I am guessing there are several shorts on the board.. It was fun learning about the different stages in the PA section.

[@brianmoss5483]

You could send it to yaesu

[@demizer1968]

vacuum instead of compressed air ;-)

[@troydavidson5661]

that board is fried ! I'm guessing its the final section,

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

It seems that the radio has been it a very poor environment. The radios fan should not be sucking that stuff in. Hello Don! :-)

[@super-8]

Drop this radio into a bowl of Alcohol ^^

[@w.rustylane5650]

That a dirty, nasty radio. I'd used compressed air first with a brush, then some alcohol.

[@williamchildress5869]

Do you have a cat?

[@williamjordan811]

The firmware switch that indicates that you need to buy a new radio has set itself off, so you need to throw this one away and by a new radio. ..............hehehe

[@johnd1616]

Nice video🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@exploringearth3223]

Also if you want someone to clean your radio I'm a tech

[@wonderingworld119]

Logic think PLL ( re bottom )

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Why not just replace the bad board with a known good board.

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Well, that is the plan at $376 from Yaesu. For a $500 radio :(

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

You are not protecting the rig from ESD. You need to work on ANTISTATIC MAT that is grounded and use a personal wrist strap that is also grounded.