[Elecraft] K3 - inventory was short...but not really

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Glad to hear the assembly went smoothly, Doug. I'm curious about the
"extras" though. The illustrated parts list in the manuals should be
accurate. They are based on counting the number of each fastener called for
in the procedures. But, as the assembly manuals say, there should also be
extras beyond those called for in the parts lists to ensure you don't come
up short a screw after one got dropped! 

I'd appreciate a note if you recall any specifics. A note off the reflector
is fine. 

KPA3 Option should only call for the additional hardware needed. In that
case, the screws used to attach the shield to the RF board replace the
shorter screws provided with the basic K3 kit, so you'll have the short
screws left over when you're done. 

We'll add a note to the manual not to panic if one hears those ferrite beads
rattling around! 

Ron AC7AC


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

Hi:

Well, it's been a full week now since I finished the assembly (I can't bring
myself to call it a build).

When I did the initial inventory, I short 3 or 4 pieces of hardware, at
least according to the parts list.  The only thing I really "needed" was a
black pan head screw...I had the rest around anyway, but since I wanted that
black pan head, I asked for the other couple of missing hardware parts as
well.

When I finished the assembly, boy did I have lots of hardware left
over...and that's BEFORE I got the replacement hardware from K3Support.  I
feel really bad that Elecraft spent time and money to send me a few odds 'n'
ends that I actually didn't need.  In my case, the inventory list clearly
included more than necessary, but it was not flagged as "this is extra."

To be fair, I did order the KPA3 with the K3, so there may have been some
hardware in surplus due to that (but there wasn't supposed to be and
certainly not as much as was left).

I had LOTS of surplus locks (both types) and LOTS of surplus nuts and I even
ended up one black pan head screw OVER, even after the inventory said I was
short one.  So....when YOU do an inventory and find that you are a couple
screws, locks, or nuts short, don't sweat it.

OH yeah...one more thing.  When I went to put the KPA3 in, I was very
concerned about the SOUND of something very loose on that assembly. Every
time I tipped the unit one way and the other, something was "rattling."
After 10 minutes of searching for "stuck hardware" that I knew was there
somewhere, most likely stuck between the bottom of the board the heat sink,
I found that it was the ferrites around two leads sliding back and forth.
Oh for goodness sakes!

de Doug KR2Q