Kenwood KA-701 Broken Power Switch

[Kenwood Buff]

I have a KA-701 with a broken power switch. The switch works fine but the tip that the paddle attaches to is missing. I tried ordering a replacement from kenwoodparts.com and partstore.com but it has been discontinued.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to repair the switch? Can the switch be disassembled and a new lever fashioned?

Maybe someone has a non-working KA-501, KA-601, KA-701 or KA-801 that they would like to sell for parts.

 

[lha1992]

I have a KA-701 with a broken power switch. The switch works fine but the tip that the paddle attaches to is missing. I tried ordering a replacement from kenwoodparts.com and partstore.com but it has been discontinued.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to repair the switch? Can the switch be disassembled and a new lever fashioned?

Maybe someone has a non-working KA-501, KA-601, KA-701 or KA-801 that they would like to sell for parts.

Well first off parts for the KA-701 have been discontinued for the past 22 years. There was no need to call kenwood, they'll just laugh.

The only thing you can do is just wait for a paddle to come up.

 

[redcoates7]

unfortunately this is a VERY common problem with this series of Kenwood gear. The switches are pretty much unobtainum.

Outside of fabricating a new lever from scratch I don't have any suggestions. Good luck

 

[jhoyt]

The switch itself is pretty common. It's the large "paddle" switch that breaks the end of the switch off. If you can find a replacement switch, you can put another end on it, or try to find a donor unit for the correct switch.

 

[Kenwood Buff]

I have the paddle. It's the switch I need. I took one of the paddles off one of another switch so you can see the portion which broke off.

 

[ryuuoh]

Looks like a regular kenwood switch with a fancy sleeve over the blade. What's it look like from the inside?

 

[EchoWars]

You're correct...it's just a plastic cover.

 

[Kenwood Buff]

Here's the switch from inside and one of the other switches which shows the end that is missing.

 

[westend]

I guess what is broken or missing in the switch is the operating lever, correcto?

 

[ryuuoh]

Your switch looks a lot like one I have from a 9150, but your blade is different. The length of my blade is 25mm (one inch)

 

[redcoates7]

sorry all, I was trying to say that the switch cover (I called it a lever, sorry) was unobtainium. I don't doubt that a switch could very easily be replaced, but finding a cosmetic match for a missing switch cover is tough

 

[Kenwood Buff]

Here's an update on the broken power switch.

I was able to use a switch from a KA-9150. The mounting threads were in the exact location as the KA-701. All I had to do was file down the blade a bit to fit the paddle and put some wedges in the plastic switch cover so it fit snug.

Here are some pics of the completed job. A special thanks to ryuuoh who donated the switch. :thmbsp:

 

[avionic]

Looks great!!

 

[gary7]

Hope to find one, too.

I have a KA-601 with exactly the same problem. Picked it up at a thrift store, so the paddle is long gone. I'll keep an eye on ebay and hope one pops up. I sometimes imagine the workers at thrifts are like the ape in the old Samsonite luggage comercial. :sigh:

 

[loudgroovy]

Hi i too broke the piano style key for the power on / off ...... i kept the key safe in the hope of finding a good fix ....... 5 or 6 years later i repaired it ! i used a product called ' sugru ' a putty like substance that hardens to a hard rubber like material .....i just placed on the broken stub a small doughnut shaped piece of ' sugru ' placed the key into and supported it in place overnight ...... this fix was about a year ago its still held ! and i still switch it off with my foot !