[Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension

[Gary Smith]

Don,

I'll give that a go when I get back to the K3 tomorrow. The shaft is 
not bent a'la a wobble when rotatedcnor did it undergo any bang or 
bump on this end. It's more like it's offset somehow just a tad but 
looking at it from below, I can see it is askew from true 
perpendicular.

73,
Gary, KA1J
> Try standing the K3 on its 'back end' and drop the knob onto the shaft, 
> then tighten without moving it further.  That will usually produce the 
> correct amount of tension on any knob because the amount of tension 
> seems to be related to the knob weight.
> 
> Of course, if the encoder shaft is slightly bent, that is yet another story.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> Gary Smith wrote:
> > Interesting issue with the VFO A. I can't adjust the tension to the 
> > way I like it. I installed it with the one nut to the inside and the 
> > two nuts to the outside, the lucite cover on and then put the one 
> > felt washer on before tightening it down.
> >
> > The VFO feels loose to me with a small amnt. of pressure applied 
> > during tightening of the allen screw. If I push it all the way down 
> > firmly to increase friction, it feels about right for part of a 
> > revolution but snags during the other part of the revolution. A 
> > closer inspection shows the encoder assembly shaft is not perfectly 
> > perpendicular to the face and it created minor scoring of the clear 
> > plastic trim panel where the outer edge of the knob rubbed against 
> > it. A review inspection showed the encoder is seated fully and 
> > tightened properly.
> >
> > I did have to unscrew (as suggested i the assembly. manual), the one 
> > screw on the 2D fastener to put on the front panel as it snagged on 
> > the board. Other than that, all went together as explained.
> >
> > To try & distance the edge of the dial from the plastic, I added the 
> > extra felt washer to give it some distance and this seems to work but 
> > now rotation is accompanied by a noticeable sound of felt on felt as 
> > I turn VFO A. It still does not feel really smooth with the double 
> > felt.
> >
> > VFO B on the other hand turns essentially silently with the perfect 
> > amount of tension.
> >
> > Anyone else have this issue and found a good solution?
> >
> > Gary
> > KA1J
> >   
> >
>