[Elecraft] K3 Headphone jack/front panel gap

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Hi Windy:

I'm working on the assembly procedures, monitoring e-mails and talking with
Gary and the techs in Aptos who are working on returned gear and building
K3s to see where I need to provide more or better information in the
manuals. I'm in Oregon and cannot see for myself the returned gear or the
assembly of the new rigs. 

What I've related about tightening the nuts is what the techs in Aptos said
they have done successfully on the units they've built or fixed. They are
the ones who told me that a common mistake builders make is to leave off the
split lock washers that go between the standoff and the front panel board.
Apparently a number of builders have put them under the screw heads where
one would normally put lock washers, not realizing they are used as spacers
to make the standoffs a bit longer, not lock washers. Note I'm speaking
about the standoffs between the front panel board and the front panel sheet
metal, not the standoffs between the front panel and DSP boards (the correct
spacing there becomes critical if you install the KRX3 subreceiver when they
become available). 

If the spacer-washers are missing, that should not cause the VFO A encoder
shaft to be canted but it will cause the PHONES jack washer to rattle. That
apparently is **not** the only reason the PHONES jack washer is loose on
some K3s, but it is **one** reason for it happening. That's a dangerous
situation because the screws holding the LCD cover can then hit the LCD
front glass itself, breaking it.

Given that those standoffs between the front panel board and the front panel
sheet metal are installed correctly, Aptos has found tightening the PHONES
jack knurled nut a bit more (squeezing the boards and front panel sheet
metal between thumb and fingers while turning the knurled nut) has always
cured the problem. Since I mentioned that, several builders wrote me
personally to report that worked for them too.  

If that doesn't work for you, post a message to k3support at elecraft.com. Gary
will pick it up there and pursue the fix for you and we'll find out what is
happening to cause the problem for others. 

The canted VFO A shaft has, again according to Aptos, always yielded to
adequate tightening of the nut on the encoder. Again, if that doesn't do it,
please send an e-mail to k3support at elecraft.com. Oh the three front panel
assemblies I've worked with, tightening the VFO A encoder using nominal
pressure with a wrench produced a well-aligned encoder shaft. So what's
"nominal" pressure? That's the problem. I have a socket wrench and used it
without a handle, just giving it a very firm twist holding the socket in my
hand. Perhaps more torque is needed for others. 

As Gary, the techs in Aptos (and occasionally myself) come up with a better
understanding of the problem, we share the information and suggested fixes
with Wayne, as the Elecraft Chief of Technology and other sundry activities,
for final approval or course of action.

So be sure you've informed k3support at elecraft.com and include any "fixes"
you've used or tried. 

Ron AC7AC


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

Windy Dankoff KM5Q wrote:
> 
> Ron,
> 
> If I can find some fix for the loose PHONES jack, I'll be happy to
> leave the encoder shaft as it is, unless you suggest I tighten it a  
> bit more (trusting my good judgement) but now that I recall from the  
> photo how slim the lock washers are, I'm more inclined to leave well  
> enough alone.
> 
> Thanks!
> Windy_______________________________________________
>