AW: [Elecraft] K2 Main dial problem

Tue Aug 27 15:30:00 2002

Hi all,
my K2 SN 000009 is one of the oldest in the field, it has been
transported in a backpack several times, it was with me at some dozen
hamfests, I had to order spare srews 3 times up to now, because it was
unscrewed at almost any hamfest.

Yes, it happened 3 or four times that I had to fasten the main tuning
knob again because it got loose, but I never ever had a problem with the
shaft encoder itself.

The only difference to standard K2:I use a homemade knob, made from a
piece of metal. It is very heavy and it runs around and around after I
touched it by his own because it is so heavy.

73 de Peter,=A0 DL2FI
**********************************************************************
DV Berlin DARC e.V.
German QRP Group DL-QRP-AG http://www.dl-qrp-ag.de
QRPproject QRP and homebrew international http://www.qrpproject.de

> -----Urspr=FCngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: [email protected] [mailto:elecraft-
> [email protected]] Im Auftrag von df5rf
> Gesendet: Montag, 26. August 2002 23:19
> An: 'Elecraft'
> Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Main dial problem
>=20
> JFYI: Main dial in working condition again.
> The axis of the encoder has been moved out of line, about 0.3 mm only.
> The inner diameter of the axis is not as thick as the outer (visible)
> part of it.
> The encoder appears to be quite powerful, but because of the thinner
inner
> axis any, even slight, mechanical shock coming sideways will bend the
> axis. It happend to mine. I figured it out be first carefully
listening
> while
> turning the dial. I could here it scratching faintly. To visually
prove
> the damage, I held
> it against a neon light bulb. Once I recognized the angle of the bend,
> it was
> easy to put it back using a nose plier.
> Now that I know of the fragile construction of the encoder I'm looking
> for a replacement, because I'm using my K2 portable and that was one
of
> the top reasons to buy the kit. If anybody knows of an alternative
> please let me know.
> I've already colleced some ideas:
> - replace with up/down buttons
> - use a step motor which probably has a more rugged design
>   ( there is an article in German FUNKAMATEUR issue Sept. 2002
> explaining how to
>     use a step motor as a replacement for an optical encoder..)
> - find another optical encoder with thicker axis
>=20
> Any more ideas?
> 73
> Gernot
> DF5RF
>=20
>=20
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