Batboard

Do all Spectras have the time bomb caps or is it just certain years of manufacture?

They all have the time bomb caps!

It doesn't matter whether the radio is well used, or still sitting in the box new. The poison leaks from the caps & destroys traces on the pcb. I just had mine replaced even though the radio was still working fine. Take care of it before serious damage occurs. GARY N4KVE

FYI this applies to Astro Spectras as well!

Can anyone recommend a person or company who can recap it ?

Contact Will has done 3-4 for me and usually come back better than factory in terms of receive and TX!

will is the way to go

OCSD117 wrote:Contact Will has done 3-4 for me and usually come back better than factory in terms of receive and TX!

Will did 2 for me & the above quote is very true. GARY N4KVE

Hello PBR:
I see your a new member - Welcome aboard.
You may not know who Will is but he is a member here on the bd.
Do a search for Will on the postings and email him from there or PM him.
He is definately the man on spectras.
Will may even see this posting and add contact info .
Satelite

Either Will, or Bruce, KC7GR here on the board (who I have personally dealt with and highly recommend) can help you out.

Huh? I was of the impression they were immune.

OCSD117 wrote:FYI this applies to Astro Spectras as well!

mancow wrote:Huh? I was of the impression they were immune.

OCSD117 wrote:FYI this applies to Astro Spectras as well!

Recapped my Astro Spectras (had the same leaky caps as the Spectras)

Here's an excellent article that explains the troblems and how to repair.

http://www.repeater-builder.com/motorol ... -caps.html

Enjoy,
Larry

Here's a post I made a while back with pics of cap replacement.

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=67735

If you're going to use electrolytics with leads look for 7mm size caps, those will stand straight up on the board with enough clearance when you put the shields back on, taller caps may need to be laid down on the board.

I have a fleet of 50+ Astro Spectras (mid power trunk mounts) in service since 1994 when they first came out. Haven't had a bad cap yet. The Spectras on the other hand, I'm starting to get bad ones with leaky caps about one every 3 or 4 months lately.

firetech792 wrote:I have a fleet of 50+ Astro Spectras (mid power trunk mounts) in service since 1994 when they first came out. Haven't had a bad cap yet. The Spectras on the other hand, I'm starting to get bad ones with leaky caps about one every 3 or 4 months lately.

The Spectras, being older are showing the symptoms first. While your Astro Spectras aren't having problems yet, I'm sure some of the caps are leaking. The symptoms will start soon. I have 2 Spectras built in 1991. In my case the caps failed in the control head, not the radio. I had a few extra control heads. The oldest control head from the mid 80's was toast & couldn't be fixed. The newer ones were saved. I had all the caps in both units replaced. Give those Astro Spectras a few years. LOL. GARY N4KVE

Well, I jinxed myself. Just had an Astro Spectra come in today with the classic in and out audio and rumbling noise. Swaped it with another chassis to get the car back on the road. Haven't opened it yet but I'm sure thats what it is. I wonder if the depot is still fixing these.

I don't know about the Depot, but Will did a great job on both of mine. GARY N4KVE