[Elecraft] [K3} Help, hex key for split knob

[Jack Brabham]

Tim,

I had a similar experience assembling #4169 a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately
my stack of assorted allen wrenches didn't include any that small.

My work around was to grind off the "stripped" portion of the cheesy allen
wrench each time it stripped.  

It only took about two hours and several wrench grindings to mount the two
split knobs, which was really the only PITA encountered during the assembly.
The allen wrench was much smaller when I finished.

I suspect that a plain old slotted head screw would be more practical in
this application due to being able to apply torque over the screw's full
diameter.

73 Jack KZ5A

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of N3XX
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 8:45 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3} Help, hex key for split knob

Hi to all,

I just completed assembly of K3 #4175 a couple of weeks ago.  When 
installing the knobs I had a problem with both sizes of allen wrench 
provided in the kit.  For both size knobs, they would slip inside of the 
allen screw as it started to get tight.  I don't know what the actual size 
should be, but ended up going into the box of allen wrenches I have saved 
over the years and using sizes that fit better, allowing me to tighten the 
screws.  Sorry, I don't have the actual sizes needed, since I just found 
what fit better and put them back into the box after I was finished.  I 
don't think there was actually any marking I could see anyway.

73,
Tim - N3XX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Dunn" <vk3dbd at gmail.com>
To: "elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 4:47 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3} Help, hex key for split knob


>I cannot imagine it would be hard to buy imperial measure Allen keys in USA
> !
> Even in VK land where "standards" of measure are very dubious. (officially
> all metric)  Our signposts in Kilometres, goods sold by the Kilogram,
> Timber by the metre,  - but they still talk about 4 x 2's and 6 x 8 ft
> sheets of chipboard.....
> Now, go in the ironmongers for nuts and bolts and the odds are you will 
> find
> them with BSW threads,    a size now very difficult to get in England 
> where
> they originated!
> I wonder why Elecraft used  "inch" measure Allen screws??  when all the
> other threads in the K3 are metric.- Perhaps they had similar problems!
>
> 73 to all from David VK3DBD
>
> On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 10:35 PM, Mike <nf4l at nf4l.com> wrote:
>
>> If you can't find it at the hardware boutique, if there's a hobby shop
>> close, try that. I'd take the knob with me.
>>
>> 73,
>> Mike NF4L
>> ab2tc wrote:
>> > Hi all,
>> >
>> > I guess I"ll be heading out to the hardware store for a 0.050" or 
>> > 1.27mm
>> > allen wrench tomorrow. My radio was a kit originally, but I bought it 
>> > 2nd
>> > hand from the builder and may not have recieved the allen key.
>> >
>> > AB2TC - Knut
>> >
>> >
>> > N1JM wrote:
>> >
>> >> If yours was a kit, you should of got one with it. However, I suspect
>> you
>> >> could get one from Elecraft. The small knobs use a .050" and the large
>> >> knobs take 5/64" allen wrench.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
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