[Elecraft] busted optical shaft encoders

[Don Wilhelm]

Gang,
One easy method to reduce impact on the optical encoder and other knobs is
to orient the K2 'sideways' in the carrying case.  If the knobs are arranged
to the side, there is minimal force on them if the carrying case is dropped
or otherwise subjected to abusive forces.
Think about it - a case with a handle will not suffer from impacts to the
sides nearly as much as impacts to the other surfaces.

The other thing that will help is to use really high density foam - the
stuff that you cannot squeeze - and form it to fit snug around sides of the
K2.  I do not have a current source for the really high density foam, so you
will have to look around.  ( I do have my own small personal supply left
over from a project I had packing $15,000 plazma display screens about 5
years ago - so I do know the stuff really works!!!)

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message -----

> I carry my K2 in a hardshell case with  foam blocks inside, that you
> pluck out to make room for the rig.
>
> After reading the thread about broken shaft encoders,  I now  remove
> the tuning knob from my shaft encoder before I pack the rig in the
> carrying case, and I pack the Allen wrench so I can put it back on
> for operating.
>