MODIFICATION TO KENWOOD MC-53 MICROPHONE 0 Figure 3 is a drawing I made in order to explain a modification needed to most Kenwood MC-53 microphones commonly used with Kenwood TM-742 transceivers. If any of you proud TM-742 own- ers have found your backlit-microphone PTT going away or be- coming intermittent, the solution is at hand! Simply remove three screws holding the microphone's back cover, then remove the PTT lever. Remove and discard the foam-rubber cylinder from the lever. Now remove the small foam piece within the return spring. Next, 

Figure 3-KC6NXZ's remedy for PTT problems in Kenwood MC-53 microphones. 

install a #2-56x'/4-inch screw where the first foam-rubber piece was glued into the hole in the plastic lever. Adjust for proper action on the PTT switch. Finally, close the microphone and perform a final check attached to the transceiver. This mod should give you a posi- tive feel when the PTT switch transfers. I am told it did wonders for Carl, KE6JQL, who had lost some of his finger strength due to a stroke.-Tom Caudle, KC6NXZ, PO Box 711825, Santee, CA 92072-1825; kc6nxz@tns.net