[ICOM] IC 735 Amplifier Keying circuit ?

[Taylor Jim-CJT001]

Good morning to the group.

I just noticed that the relay that is used to key an external amplifier has become intermittent at least this is my suspicions. I can key the microphone several times and eventually the amplifier will key. At this point I'm not sure if the contacts are pitted, or some other issue is making the relay intermittent. With an ohm meter, sometimes the relay makes a high resistance contact, other times it appears not to close at all, and sometimes it seems to work correctly.

The schematic calls it rly1, but on the board it is labeled as rly2. The relay is a small cylindrical probably reed type relay. The relay is my suspicion, but I guess it could be the transistor that drives the relay as well. Haven't checked that far yet.

Has anyone noted this problem and or replaced the keying relay ? is the relay available from Icom ? is there a substitute out there ?

Regards,

Jim Taylor
WB8HMD