[Kenwood] Difference between 440 & 450

[Rick Markey, KN3C]

Hart,

In my opinion, the TS-440 was one of the best all around rigs ever made. 
 Lots of performance in a small package.  The TS-450 is obviously newer 
technology and in my limited experience a better radio.  There must be 
hundreds if not thousands of TS-440's still on the air today.

The biggest problem with the TS-440 is what I call the "spooge" problem. 
 Kenwood used a glue on some of the VCO components.  I suppose it was to 
keep them mechanically stable.  Unfortunately, the glue turned conductive 
with age and caused all kinds of oddball problems with the TS-440.  Kenwood 
never properly acknowledged the defect as far as I'm concerned, and it 
ruined an otherwise great radio.  I friend of mine had what I feel is the 
only sure cure for the "spooge" problem.  He removed all the components 
from the VCO board, cleaned off all the glue, and then reinstalled the 
components.  It took him 8 hours and he charged $200.  A cheap fix when you 
consider how much work was involved.  Kenwood would fix the problem by 
cleaning the glue from an affected VCO and then leaving the rest of the 
glue intact.  Eventually the radio would fail again.

Kenwood wasn't the only one with the glue problem.  There was a series of 
Sony professional Beta SP videotape machines with the exact same problem. 
 In this case the affected component was a filter that was glued to the 
circuit board.  The glue would turn conductive and bypass the filter.  The 
fix was to remove the filter, clean off the glue, and reinstall the filter. 
 If you were lucky you could do it without damaging the filter.

I'd stick with the TS-450 simply because it's a newer rig.  If you do find 
a decent TS-440 at a good price, check the VCO board for the dreaded glue!

de Rick, KN3C