[Elecraft] K2 Problem Aligning IF Amplifier

[Michael Haygood]

Greetings!

First time K2 builder(S/N 5462)!

I'm having a slight problem aligning the I.F. amplifier.

The instructions indicate that the 7000 kHz signal will yield best signal 
strength and lowest noise at about 1 to 1.5 turns below the top of the can.  
However, the best 7000 khz signal strength and lowest noise occur when I 
tune the slug of L34 at the top of the can.  It also appears as if greater 
signal strength could be obtained if I could tune the slug furhter out, but 
I cannot do this because the slug is already tuned at the top of the can.  
This implies to me that there may be something wrong in the IF circuit since 
I do not find the peak of the signal about 1 to 1.5 turns from the top of 
the can.

I examined the circuit diagram in Appendix B and found L34.  Capacitor C182 
(180 pf) is connected to L34.  I verified that the correct capacitor is 
being used for C182.

I also did the 40 meter bandpass filter alignment by adjusting L1 and L2.  
All the other alignments in Part II of the Alignment and Test section have 
been successfully completed, including the VCO alignment, BFO Alignment and 
VFO Linearization.

When connected to an antenna, the 40 meter receiver seems to work pretty 
well.  I can successfully receive CW and SSB.

I'm stumped about the I.F. alignment problem and believe that I should be 
able to find the peak of the signal about one turn or more into L34 instead 
of at the very top of the can.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do or check in order to 
correct this problem?

73 de KI5E  Michael