[Elecraft] Mods/Addition suggestions for order of installplease

[Matt Zilmer]

I'm with Ron on this, although I did a set of 8 mods all at one
sitting.  K3 #24 started life as a K3/10 kit and over time I've
nickel-and-dime loaded it up almost to maxed out configuration.  It's
been apart almost as much time as it's been sitting in the shack
running.  But probably no one beats Ron's 100-cycle record...

The hardware (ELX) is very robust and overdesigned;  same with the ME
hardware - panels, screws, etc.  You won't gork anything up by
disassembling the K3 if you do it corectly - no matter how many times
you open 'er up.  Disassembly and reassembly actually gets easier over
time.  This is true both subjectively and objectively.

Just be sure you have the proper tools and follow the take-apart and
put-together instructions.

The idea someone had about doing only one mod at a time is a good one
because it lets you check the results before moving on to the next
mod.  However, I'm not that patient... :)

73,
matt W6NIA
K3 #24
K2 #2810

On Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:41:42 -0700, you wrote:

>...how many times do you want to strip down the rig with  
>the risk that implies to fastener failure, static damage, scratches etc?
>73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
>
>------------------------------------------------
>
>However, the K3 was designed to be worked on easily! My K3 has been apart
>many, many times, sometimes all the way down to the RF board. The number
>assembly/disassembly cycles is easily approaching 100 times over the past
>two years. I've had no fastener failures, no connector problems, no ESD
>failures, no scratched panels, no issues of any sort.*
>
>Wayne specifically ordered the build sequence to provide for one-at-a-time
>option installations for exactly the reason Fred mentions. The kit assembly
>manual does include preparing the K3 for adding several options to minimize
>the work needed later. For example, if you're building it with the 100 watt
>KPA3 option, you put in the rear (KPA3) shield during initial assembly. If
>you're building it and installing the subreceiver (KRX3) option, you install
>the auxiliary DSP board in the front panel assembly during initial assembly.
>
>
>There are other examples of such preparatory work, all covered in the kit
>assembly manual, as specifically ordered by Wayne to avoid complicating
>troubleshooting should there be a problem at some point while still
>minimizing the amount of work needed to add each option. 
>
>Ron AC7AC  
>
>* Monitoring this and the K3 support reflector, the only issue I've seen
>brought up by builders is when some over tighten screws or use the wrong
>size/type screwdriver, causing their drivers to "cam out", sometimes putting
>small scratches on the screw head. That's avoided by tightening the screws
>as described in the assembly manual and being sure you use a screwdriver
>that fits the screw snugly.  
>
>
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