Need an electronics opinion (for any master electronic technicians)

[KØWVM]

Certain wet-electrolytic capacitors of yore may be "rejuvenated" by operating the equipment in a lightly loaded fashion for a bit, but it's been my experience that when the paste dries out the only sure-fire fix is to replace the part.

About your FT-8500:

Get a service manual and tell us where the component sits in the circuit.

Is the PCB area where the cap is mounted damaged as a result of the liberated electrolyte? If not severe, the board itself might be repaired - along with the rest of the radio.

FWIW, I've had gear which has remained in a powered-off/stored state for years and never had a failure with electrolytics unless they were on their way out to begin with. Tantalums, on the other hand...

Got a call from my friend... He researched the FT-8500 model and from his understanding those radios were the last batch of radios that had the capacitors made in the late 80's/early 90's that were of poor quality. He was amazed mine lasted this long... Another friend in Iowa might be offering to repair the radio for me since I do not have the equipment or resources to do such a repair at the moment.

As far as the 706... I might have better luck as long as I take an easy on her. LOL!

[N8YX]

Got a call from my friend... He researched the FT-8500 model and from his understanding those radios were the last batch of radios that had the capacitors made in the late 80's/early 90's that were of poor quality.

That's what you get when cost drives the day, not quality.

The whole "bad caps" bit has its roots deep in industrial espionage and outright theft.

Word to any budding component start-ups:

If your chemists are going to steal the formula for electrolyte paste from their previous (established) employer, make sure they steal the whole damned formula without omitting the bit which minimizes hydrogen outgassing. An excess of that in a component does tend to make them go boom.

[KJ3N]

Word to any budding component start-ups:

If your chemists are going to steal the formula for electrolyte paste from their previous (established) employer, make sure they steal the whole damned formula without omitting the bit which minimizes hydrogen outgassing. An excess of that in a component does tend to make them go boom.

[N8YX]

I fired up a powered-off PC with Lilon (bad) caps aboard one time. Wasn't just a big bada boom - sounded like a 44 Mag going off in my lab! :shock:

[W2NAP]

I fired up a powered-off PC with Lilon (bad) caps aboard one time. Wasn't just a big bada boom - sounded like a 44 Mag going off in my lab! :shock:

yep they sure go out with a bang