Another 2517 low receive issue

[Hawkeye351]

Got a different Galaxy DX 2517 on the desk today showing the same symptom as the last 2517.

Symptom:
Low receive (sensitivity and volume) in all modes.

Everything else works as it should. Transmit is around 50w PEP (SSB around 35w).

I've already checked the usual,
Switches
Controls
Wires
Wire connectors
8v regulator
Audio IC (7222ap)
Obvious loose/cracked solder connections
All of that seems fine, no funky stuff going on and everything is firmly in place.

Already did an alignment on it, just low receive volume and sensitivity.

Here are some pics of the solder side and some suspicious things. Yes, I noticed that regulator mod strapped across the Passthrough regulator, I haven't done any work on it yet but that will be yanked out.









I'm going to continue to look it over with hopes of figuring it out, lol...

By the way, the red wire beside JN13 on the switchboard does have constant 8v.

Only thing I noticed was that there is no 8v on the wiper of the RF gain control, RF gain only drops what little bit of receive there is now down once the control is around the 10 o'clock position. From wide open to the 10 o'clock position there is no change in what little receive I currently have. Volume has to be almost wide open (3 o'clock position) to hear stations comfortably.

What's you guys/girls opinions?

 

[Hawkeye351]

By the way, what's the purpose of that blue cap just to the right of the black ground wire in picture 3? I've never seen that before in any other 2517.

 

[Hawkeye351]

I'm getting 8v on Q17 and the 1k resistor next to it, and I'm getting a constant 8v on the red wire next to cn13 on the switchboard.

I plugged my external speaker into the PA jack and still have to crank volume almost wide open. This usually means the audio IC (8) is bad, but all the voltages on IC8 pins show as good. Still no 8v on the wiper of the RF gain.