[Elecraft] K3: Right paddle key not working?

[James Sarte]

Hi Ron,

Yes, replacement of the whole RF board would be very time and labor
intensive; certainly something that I'd like to avoid at all possible
costs.  I would rather send the K3 back to Aptos, and use my Icom in the
interim, then take the K3 apart to that level.

Just last night, I removed the side panel with handle, the rear panel and
everything attached to it.  I also removed the KIO3 and transverter board so
I could see what was on the other side of the RF board under the choke.
Putting it back together, I had to spend some time looking at the manual -
not because I couldn't remember how it was assembled, but because I
couldn't recall the different screw sizes and types and which holes they
thread in to.  I can only imagine how much longer it would take me if I had
to swap the whole RF board out!

Anyway, I've asked Dale to send me two of the RFC4 chokes in case I damage
one while performing the swap.  If I can't get it right, then I'll send the
K3 back to Aptos.

73 de James K2QI


On Sun, Nov 14, 2010 at 4:35 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire <ron at cobi.biz> wrote:

> You handled it just like I would, James, and I've repaired communications
> equipment, LF through microwave, professionally as well as built countless
> kits and scratch-built Ham rigs, many of my own design.
>
> I don't know if the fellow behind "The Smiths" built his K3 from a kit, but
> you and I both know that replacing the RF board is a big job involving
> completely disassembling the K3 back to a "kit" except for the front panel
> assembly. I've done it. Time is required, just as with the original
> assembly. Rushing, while assuming one remembers exactly what to do, will
> certainly lead to time-consuming mistakes.
>
> RF chokes on leads leading outside the rig are for RF suppression - to keep
> RF in or, in this case, certainly to keep RF that might trigger the circuit
> out.
>
> You'd know instantly if there was a problem.  Your rig would key when you
> operated something else, or stick in transmit if it's own RF trigger the
> key
> line.
>
> In your situation I'd replace the choke too, but if it were too difficult
> to
> get to, I'd add a similar value choke to points I could reach physically as
> close to the existing choke as possible.
>
> 73,
>
> Ron AC7AC
>
>
>
>