[Elecraft] K3 Bottom Front Panel Issues

[K6LE]

Brett,

You might consider ordering the Stainless fastener kit  K3SSKT instead of spending the time to inventory the ones you'll need.

You get a complete collection of all the exterior screws and nuts with plenty of extras for later.

Oh yeah,  get some new, quality screw drivers..

Rick
K6LE

On 12/30/2009, at 2:29 , Brett Howard wrote:

> Ok I know I need to buy new screwdrivers.  I'm in the process of buying
> a set of Whia drivers.  I feel that the driver I've been using fits
> fairly well but the Whia set I have at work seem to fit a little
> better.  
> 
> Anyway I'm starting to have issues with my bottom front panel after
> getting into this radio as many times as I have...  After the DVR, the
> audio low pass filter, several additions of filters, the sub RX, and
> every mod on the website (except for the resistor change for the P3)
> I'll be doing it when the P3 arrives...
> 
> Anyway the center most screw position was the one giving me the most
> fits before.  This wasn't near as big of an issue when I didn't have the
> sub receiver.  But now that I have that piece in place being able to put
> a screwdriver on the top side has become much more work intensive. 
> 
> I've also tried using lock-tite to hold the standoffs onto the screws
> from the board side so that Its very easy to remove the screws from the
> bottom and I figured if I ever had to replace the RF board that
> replacing a few standoffs at the same time would be easy...
> 
> Anyway I've cammed out of some of the flat head screws ever so slightly
> here and there and Elecraft graciously provided me with a few
> replacements to get rid of the ones that were starting to look bad.  But
> this other issue is starting to get really quite ugly.
> 
> I've gotten to the point where I no longer want to even try opening it
> because of how far I have too take it apart because of these issues.  I
> got an FM filter for Xmas and because the left front screw and the
> center most screw wouldn't come out of the bottom I ended up having to
> pull the front panel and the sub RX in order to install a filter.
> (granted the Sub RX had to come out partially to get the filter in place
> but had to come out all the way for the other work).  
> 
> Anyway I think I'd like to replace some of these parts with new ones as
> the excessive use and attempts with lock-tite have been less than
> successful.  I'm wondering if I should try to make up a BOM of what I
> need from the Elecraft manual (using elecraft part numbers of course)
> and then place an order or if I should just head to my parts catalog
> house and try there.  
> 
> Finally my last question quite concerns me....  I've noted that from
> several applications on and off that the board has gotten scratched here
> and there around the screw holes.  Being that these are commonly ground
> points I'm quite worried that I'm not getting the grounding that I
> should...  Just after installing the FM filter I noted that when I plug
> my mic into the front panel that I get about a .5S unit drop in noise
> level when the mic is plugged in.  Granted I think this is the first
> time I've even listened to the radio w/ the mic unplugged (even though I
> rarely ever use it)...  But this makes me wonder what may be up here....
> FWIW I have put shorting wires around the L's in the back for the
> "Improving the immunity of the Rear-Panel RS232 and Audio Connectors to
> RF" modification.