Kenwood TH-D74A Front Panel Replacement

ID: 136670

Description: This Kenwood Handheld VHF/UHF Triband...

Steps:

1. This is the stock USA model of Kenwood TH-D74A

2. The faceplate has locks to the rear plastic panel on the topmost margin. The bottom part is secured by two philips-head screws. There is an obvious white ribbon connector that must be carefully removed from both ends. The connection is held by a hinge clip. You pick the hinge to raise it up and release the cable end.

3. The plastic tool (seen on R side) is able to pry up the hinge lock that holds the ribbon end to the connector block. Use your fingernail to aid the plastic tool in releasing the hinge lock from pressing on the cable.

4. Desolder the speaker wires in preparation for removing the keypad assembly

5. Remove the soft foam padding and the microphone foam tube from the old faceplate. It is glued but can be lifted off with care. Use tiny amounts of cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) to reattach them to the new faceplate

6. There is a metal spring that is located on top of the rubber seal that appears to function as an antenna component (maybe a counterpoise) or just a spring lock. Need to transfer this too by prying it out carefully. It is 1.5 inches long

7. Start prying out the keypad sheet using the wide metal pick. The glue is a thin line in the periphery of the keypad

8. Continue prying carefully and it will reveal the multi-switch board underneath (with copper terminals)

9. Black front keypad removed completely

10. Be carful with this switch or keypad electronic board. Use the plastic picks to aid in lifting the board with progressive lifting from all sides.

11. The copper lined switchboard is glued on to the plastic front panel and but be dissected thru using the plastic black tool. Keep inserting the blue picks to maintain distributed pressure to lifting off the board. DO NOT use a metal tool here

12. Switchboard removed completely. DO NOT bend or press on any button while the board is off the plastic panel. This is a thin and sensitive board.

13. This is the underside of the switchboard. Notice the contacts for the speaker and the ribbon connector block

14. Reconnect the speaker terminals. Wire with black stripe goes to the negative terminal (right side on the photo). Use a small paper tape to keep the wires tidy. NOT IN PHOTO, reconnect the ribbon connector cable. Test the sound, and keypad before locking the faceplate back to chassis

15. Program the frequencies, PL tones, test at low power to reach the repeater; or use 146.52 simplex to test with another radio. Good luck!