it may be reversed.

After a coule decades, condenser elements tend to go bad
When they do, they tend to only produce high fequencies and at a low level.
You can get the EXACT replacement element from Icom likely for less money than the Shack.

Many times Icom has sent me screws and small components for old radios for free

Don't use LMR for duplexer jumpers.

Replace them with either RG-400, RG-142, or 1/4 inch
superflex jumpers.

If your duplexer was properly tuned on a tracking generator, these jumpers may be compromising your isolation.

Interference can come from ANY electronic device
now adays.
Remember, anything that RECEIVES radio signals can also GENERATE rdio signals.

I've used police scanners and electronic tuner boom boxes as signal generators in a pinch.

I even had to unplug my window air conditioner when I wasn't using it because of the massive signal it emmited on 2 meters!

I would compare to someone's KNOWN accurate swr bridge.

But you can also put a dummy load on the antenna side
and see if the meter indicates near 1.1 to 1.

Do you not have a tuner?

MCM ELECTRONICS

The Hustler SF2 is a 5/8 wave 2 meter 3/8X24 antenna.
It can be had for less than $15

If you must use a 3/8 X24 antenna, try thr Hustler
SF2 5/8 wave 2 meter.
Only $14.95 at Universal Radio

I had my VX-3 for less than 3 DAYS before it went dead.
I just returned it for a VX-6 and never had any problem with it.

Call Yaesu and ask them if they can help

I would put it on a watt meter and see if it is putting out RF on those freqs.

It may be that the radio's vco will not lock that far off it's intended frequency and it also may suffer
great degradation in both receive sensitivity and transmit power.

RG-6 is very good at what it was designed for:
Transporting television signals with low loss vs cost.

The difference between 50ohm and 75 ohm cable only amounts to a 1.5 to 1 swr.

However, trying to install a GOOD connection for transmitting is VERY hard.

Adapters are NEVER a good idea if you value your pa module.

RG-6 is designed for CRIMP connectors and most use alumuinum braid which makes soldering impossible.

In short, no.

I've always found that the tar left behind on the radios acts as a preservative.

I have purchased smoker radios and after removing the tar, found them to be as well preserved as any fossil from the La Brea tar pits

Users need to be able to view the date of the ORIGINAL post and search by THAT date.

When I log on. I would MUCH rather see RECENT posts
rather than recent REPLIES to OLD posts.

Generally, anything loaded is less efficient than anything without loading.
More length and less coil.

If you can locate some bamboo, it will be MUCH stronger
and will last many years outside.

Even unlicensed access points are limited to 1 watt max.

The ONLY license holders in the 902-928mhz, 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz bands are hams.