Icom: Foul smell from new IC-2730A

[GamecockSJ]

I’m a new ham, after a lot of research just bought my first radio: a Icom IC-2730A from HRO, brand new in the box.

I have not installed it yet because it smells BAD. REALLY BAD. To me it smells like a dead animal. The radio, control head, and mic all smell this way. It was bad enough that I thought it was the box itself as soon as it was delivered until I got it open and started smelling the parts.
I put it outside in a storage room hoping it will air out and I can install it this weekend.

I don’t know what it is, maybe formaldehyde? Anyone else here experienced this? If the smell doesn’t go away it will have to go back to HRO and I’m sure they’re going to think I’m crazy when I call about this. No way I can install it in my car as it is.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Just call HRO. This isn't right.

 

[GamecockSJ]

I sent an email a bit ago to the HRO branch it was shipped from. The smell hasn't dissipated any even after being unpacked.

 

[GlobalNorth]

One assumes that the radio itself smells away from the packaging or vice versa. Formalin smells, but not like a decomposing animal. It smells rather like a pickle.

HRO will make it right.

 

[fxdscon]

it smells BAD. REALLY BAD. To me it smells like a dead animal.

-
Did you check the "Best When Used By...." date on the box?

 

[trentbob]

The first thing that comes to mind that it really is the smell of a dead rodent. Haven't researched this but is there a chance that this radio sat on a cargo ship for months over end. Never mind that it was with baby food and dog food and food stuffs but it literally could be a dead rodent or many dead rodents were within proximity of these radios on a cargo ship.

 

[GamecockSJ]

The first thing that comes to mind that it really is the smell of a dead rodent. Haven't researched this but is there a chance at this radio sat on a cargo ship for months over end. Never mind that it was with baby food and dog food and food stuffs but it literally could be a dead rodent or many dead rodents we're within and proximity of these radios on a cargo ship.

This is also what I'm thinking and it makes me hesistant to do an outright exchange... I would assume the rest of the lot would have the same issue.

 

[trentbob]

This is also what I'm thinking and it makes me hesistant to do an outright exchange... I would assume the rest of the lot would have the same issue.

That's what's great about serial numbers.

 

[jazzboypro]

It seams to me that the people at HRO should have smell it too if it's that bad, they should have done something from the start.

 

[trentbob]

The good thing with HRO is if it is in stock at multiple stores then one store can talk to another and possibly get a different batch no.

 

[jazzboypro]

There is probably a fb group for that radio maybe you can check there if others have that issue

 

[GROL]

Some plastics smell really bad! Has anyone else ever used the Xcelite service tool kits? The plastic handles on the tools in those kits stink! And the smell gets trapped in the closed case. When you open the toolkit, don't have your nose near it. I can't really explain that smell, but it could be mistaken as something dead. To me it almost smells like the toolkit lost it's cookies.

It's not just me. Apparently the reason is the plastic they are made with.

Why Are My Tools Stinky? - On the House

Xcelite tools go back to the early 1970's, and when they get old they can smell pretty funky. However, new ones can smell a bit as well.

www.onthehouse.com

.

 

[GROL]

I suppose it could have picked up the smell of something dead. Why would HRO ship something that smells so bad? I can't imagine they could not smell it too. I get stuff from Amazon that makes no sense. It's as those the warehouse monkeys really don't care. Twice recently I received a camera lens and a scanner that was not put in a shipping box. Just a shipping label on it. Everything else I get from them that is practically worthless gets a box with padding or a padded envelope. I contacted customer service about the camera lens as the box was all messed up. I asked them to be sure to send it in a box. They said they told the warehouse to do so. It came in a padded envelope. Fortunately it wasn't crushed.

 

[trentbob]

Some plastics smell really bad! Has anyone else ever used the Xcelite service tool kits? The plastic handles on the tools in those kits stink! And the smell gets trapped in the closed case. When you open the toolkit, don't have your nose near it. I can't really explain that smell, but it could be mistaken as something dead. To me it almost smells like the toolkit lost it's cookies.

Yeah but not an icom radio

 

[DS506]

@GROL ... Is there a delete button?

I figured out this workaround. Delete the text, then click Preview

 

[trentbob]

@GROL ... Is there a delete button?

I figured out this workaround. Delete the text, then click Preview

Actually if you press edit, you have 30 minutes from the original post to change your post. If you want to eliminate it all together and just write error or delete and then just save. You can even just put a .

 

[iMONITOR]

I had an old set of Xcelite tools (nut drivers) where the plastic developed a very fowl odor over time. Smelled as if a dog pissed on them! I tried to clean them, didn't help, had to throw them out, it was that bad! I read that chemicals used in making some plastics will do that sometimes.

HRO will make it right.

 

[jazzboypro]

Some plastics smell really bad! Has anyone else ever used the Xcelite service tool kits? The plastic handles on the tools in those kits stink! And the smell gets trapped in the closed case. When you open the toolkit, don't have your nose near it. I can't really explain that smell, but it could be mistaken as something dead. To me it almost smells like the toolkit lost it's cookies.

It's not just me. Apparently the reason is the plastic they are made with.

Why Are My Tools Stinky? - On the House

Xcelite tools go back to the early 1970's, and when they get old they can smell pretty funky. However, new ones can smell a bit as well.

www.onthehouse.com

.

I sure hope that Icom does not build a 400$+ radio with that kind of plastic

 

[GROL]

I sure hope that Icom does not build a 400$+ radio with that kind of plastic

Me either, but have you ever priced those old Xcelite tool kits? Back when they were still in business, a basic technician toolkit started at around $400.

 

[GROL]

@GROL ... Is there a delete button?

I figured out this workaround. Delete the text, then click Preview

Thanks, I will try all the suggestions next time I do that.