[Elecraft] K2 bowed bottom panel

[Helmut Usbeck]

Greetings,

Awhile back someone posted  questions about after fastening the 
bottom panel of a newly built  K2 the panel bowed and took a=
 set.
The conclusion seemed to be that the bracket tension was causing=
 
this.  I also had the same problem and came to that conclusion=
 also. 
I figured I'd check it out when I got a "roudtuit".  After=
 finishing 
off some mods on my K2 this weekend I discovered that the bracket=
 had 
nothing to do with it.  My panel had taken a set, but I=
 straightened 
it out by forming it back in line by holding it in my hands and=
 using 
my thumbs to get the set out.  Fastening the panel back on bowed=
 it 
out again.  It was being bent by the L33 BFO toroid sitting high=
 on 
the RF board bottom.  After much fooling around which included 
trimming soldering pads and the rubber stem bumper I remover the=
 
toroid, discarded the bumper and then remounted the toroid over a=
 
thin teflon 1/2" square pad.  So far so good.  Panel fits well=
 now.  
No BFO problems encountered.

Regards,
Helm.  WB2ADT