[Yaesu] Yaesu repair and Fed Ex(shippers)-Careful!

[KC3VO at aol.com]

Backing knobs down, against the front panel, may be good on radios such as  
the R390, but is no protection on modern radios with fragile plastic front  
panels, and controls with plastic shafts! (The R390 has a metal front 
panel,  with considerable thickness and strength, and all controls have metal  
shafts.)  Radios such as the modern YAESU and ICOM, etc should be packed in  a 
manner that prevents significant pressure from reaching the knobs and front 
 panel, even when dropped on that side from 4 feet!  Bubble wrap and 
packing  peanuts is NOT sufficient in most cases! As radios become heavier than 
about 15  pounds, and made of fragile materials, skill in packing becomes more 
important,  because heavy packages are more likely to be dropped or 
mishandled.  Yes,  it is advisable to photograph and document condition of 
equipment before  shipment, having someone else along as an eyewitness can be good 
also, in event  of problems.  Radios such as the old FT1000D were often 
damaged in  shipping, partly due to the very heavy weight, which possibly 
increases chances  of physically weak handlers improperly handling the package. I 
have repaired a  FT-1000MP that suffered this type damage, I had to replace 
the circuit board  behind the front panel, and fit a new tuning encoder and 
front panel.-Not a  cheap repair!--Be careful, and good luck!-If any 
receiving agent, be it YAESU  repair or someone else, receives a unit with shipping 
damage, have them send  written documentation with details of the damage, 
including photos if possible,  BEFORE allowing any further shipment or 
transfer, because once it is further  transported, it becomes more difficult to 
prove when/where damage occurred.--73,  KC3VO, Bob Curry