[Elecraft] Scratchy Pot Syndrome

[k6se@juno.com]

Frank, W4FMS wrote:

"1)  It's been a couple years since assembling my K2 and I don't recall
if it  will be necessary to remove the wires connecting the optical
encoder when I  separate the PC board from the front panel?  In other
words, can the pc board be separated by only removing the knobs and
encoder hardware without removing these wires?"
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When I did the scratchy pot mod to my K2, I didn't have to unsolder the
encoder.  When you remove the front panel from the front panel PC board,
leave the encoder attached to the PC board.
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"2)  Unlike many on the list, my K2 has really exceptional audio gain. 
If I just crack the pot open it pretty much blasts me out of the room. 
Even running it at 9 o'clock is too loud for me.  Obviously gain has
never been a problem.  I'm wondering after the mod, will I end up running
the audio at 12 o'clock?  I realize that the mod eliminates the problem
of leaky audio coming through when the pot is at its minimum but I'm
wondering if the overall gain is going to be negatively impacted?  Any
input appreciated."
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You don't lose any total audio gain by doing the mod, however if you're
accustomed to running the AF gain pot at 8:00 o'clock, you'll have to run
it at about 9:00 o'clock to get the same output after the mod.  This is
because the pot acts "smoother" at its low gain settings.  Fully CW will
yield that same output as it did before the mod.

73, de Earl, K6SE