[Elecraft] K3--Trouble with Power Pole connectors

[Robert Tellefsen]

I thought these PP connectors were supposed to be such
great stuff :-)

Mine keep falling out and losing power on the rig.

I assembled mine very meticulously, as I've read a lot of
the comments here about keeping the solder away from
the contact area.

I assembled mine with the blade standing vertical in a
third-hand tool, so the solder never came above the end of
the cylinder that the wire end sticks into.

The blades are pushed all the way into the plastic housings
so the curved end clicks over the little ridge to keep it in
its own housing.

When I insert the plugs into the receptacles on the back
of the K3, they go all the way to the end and bump up
against the end of the receptacle.  No problem about being 
pushed in all the way.

It seems to me that there is very little friction/pressure
between the male and female connectors to hold them
together.  I tried the little cylinder pin that is supposed to
help hold them together, but it quickly got lost when the
male connector fell out for the third time.

Can anyone tell me if the blades in these connectors need
to be bent a bit to maintain a good contact so that will stay
together?

Otherwise, I'll have to replace the PP connectors with something
more reliable.

Thanks and 73
Bob N6WG