[ICOM] IC-745 Freq Drift

[Reid Bishop]

Hi,

I have a IC-745 that has developed a horrendous frequency drift as it warms
up during transmit.  After a minute or so of TX, the frequency starts to
drift as much as 350Hz - this is especially maddning when operating digital.
It seems that once it gets good and warmed up (digital modes, long tx, fan
coming on frequently), it remains stable.  During SSB, it rarely remains
totally stable, always floating 100Hz up and down.  This radio was just
purchased a couple months ago from a HAM who bought it new in 1984 and only
used it for one year.  It had been in a closet since (and it looks brand new
too...)

I have read in old lists that some folks have replaced the trimmer caps in
the VFO.  Has anybody on this list actually _done_ this procedure?  I took a
look in the service manual and checked ICOM's 745 FAQ, but can't seem to
correlate the two documents together very well.  I called ICOM today, and
they said the crystal oscillator was probably the problem, and I needed a
high stability oscillator.  They said 300Hz is not out of line for this
radio.  Somehow, I find that hard to believe.

Thanks!

Reid - KC0TAR