[Elecraft] K2 VCO Alignment

[Don Wilhelm]

Jon,
Don't be too hasty to conclude that you have a bad component.  If your
highest voltage is only 4.0 volts, you have plenty of reserve range at the
high end, but you are running short on the low end.

Re-read the VCO alignment section of the manual, and you should find that
you can shift the entire range of voltages.  You did indicte that your
highest reading was 4.0 volts - but you should have adjusted the 4000 kHz
reading to 6 volts, so you apparently set everything on the low side.
Re-adjust L30 so all the readings are higher and you should find everything
within range.

73,
Don W3FPR

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

I've been assembling K2 #3812 for a couple of weeks now as time allows.  I
Just completed RF board assembly part 2 and am doing alignment and test,
part 2.  Everything up to "VCO Alignment is in spec".  However, during "VCO
Alignment" I find one out-of-spec VCO voltage reading.  My "40M Low Freq.
Voltage" is 1.22 V and the recommended minimum is 1.5V.  All other voltages
are within spec. at between 2.0-4.0V.

Now my question.  The manual indicates this may be due to an incorrect VCO
capacitor, varactor diode or inductor.  Assuming I used the right parts,
could I have damaged a component while soldering?  Can anyone point me to
the likely component given the fact that only the 40M low freq. is out of
range?