Kenwood MC-50 Making Noise

[K0SPN]

I've a MC-50 that makes noise when pushing the PTT button.
Since the mic mount isn't isolated, that noise is picked up by the mic and transmitted.

I've found the bad guy and it's a little plastic coating piece on the contact side of the PTT switch. It makes a nice little creak sound, sort of like a frog.
I got the mic from a smoker and the plastic piece is yellowed, which could be from the smoke but could also be from age.
I've tried cleaning it a bit and also tried putting some lubricant on the parts but no real change in operation.

My only other thought so far is to remove the plastic piece, but I'm not sure if that would make a difference, and it would make the metal tab rub on the plastic PTT switch and probably cause a lot of wear; also, I couldn't remove the plastic piece without destroying it, thus making it an irreversible mod.

Anyone have any experience with this or some ideas to try?
Cheers.

[NL7W]

I really like my MC-50... still a really good mic for a variety of radios.

Try some silicone grease... shouldn't hurt the plastic pieces, IMHO. A little dab will do'er.

[KE3WD]

Try removing the now-hardened plastic piece and replacing it with a piece of rubber, o-ring material or something else that is soft like that, but still resilient. A dot of SuperGlue will hold it in place.


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