[Elecraft] Question about K2 tilt stand

[Paul Williamson]

At 11:30 PM 7/6/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>The K2 has gone together very well so far, with no real problems.

Same here.

>However, when trying to install the tilt stand, it appears to be about 1/2 
>inch too long.  The tilt stand in the drawing is straight across, and the 
>one supplied with my kit is M shaped.  The directions say that the bail 
>should be firmly compressed between the two feet, but getting this one to 
>fit I am afraid may cause me to bend the chassis.  Has anyone had this 
>experience?

Coincidentally, I got to that step today, too. At first it seemed 
impossible. I found a procedure that worked:

* install the first foot very loosely, but with the nuts completely engaged 
on the machine screws

* position one machine screw in the other foot, and hold that assembly in 
one hand

* grasp the free end of the tilt stand in the other hand, and stand the 
chassis bottom plate on the table so you can pull on the tilt stand to 
compress it

* while pulling firmly on the tilt stand, bending it a bit, bring the 
second foot into place and squeeze the preloaded screw through the 
appropriate hole in the bottom panel

* while maintaining enough pressure on the second foot to keep the screw 
poking out, quick grab a lockwasher and nut and start them on the screw

* keep some tension on the tilt stand while you grab the last machine screw

* insert it into the last hole, applying force as necessary, flexing the 
tilt stand a bit to allow you to get that last screw to poke out

* quickly place a lockwasher and nut on the last screw

Now you have all the hardware in place, but the feet are canted out at a 
funny angle and everything is a bit precarious-looking. Never fear.

* tighten up the nuts. The feet will pull into place, putting even more 
tension on the tilt stand. Done!

The result is actually quite good. The tilt stand IS under tension all the 
time. That's what keeps it in place. It's rather stiff, to start with, when 
you go to raise or lower it, but I'm sure that's by design. If it got 
loose, you wouldn't like it.

The chassis plate never seemed in any danger of bending with this procedure.

73  -Paul
kb5mu@amsat.org