Batboard

I have a few X9000 heads that are very dim. Has anyone found that the displays themselvs go bad or the ring circuit that provides the 45v drive go bad?

In general, vacuum fluorescent displays get dimmer with age, so I think others will tell you that's just what happens. I have a couple of really pristine heads with nice buttons but displays so dim you can barely see them, yet others with grubby cases and worn down buttons with bright displays (my solution - swap cases and buttons.)

Anyway, I too would be interested in some solution other than replacing the display.

I've had to replace lots of displays in our older cars. Like any other vacuum tube, the VF displays do indeed get dim with age.

There is no 'rejuvenation' solution that I know of. The good news is that the display modules are still available (Motorola still uses them in Astro W9 heads), and they're not that expensive ($30-$40 or so).

Happy tweaking.

How difficult is it to change one out?

and do you need any special soldering equipment?


kt

With the right tools, not at all difficult. It's a through-hole component, which means regular solder/desolder gear can be used (though, for the sake of keeping stress off the board, I would recommend a powered solder-sucker to get the thing out -- Pace makes some nice ones, as does Hakko).

Happy tweaking.