[Elecraft] KX3 Rec'd today

[Andrew Moore]

Tex - if you're referring to the scratchy mechanical noise that occurs when
you rotate the encoder even when the KX3 is powered off, it seems that can
be solved by carefully removing the main tuning knob (remove rubber sleeve
to access the hex screw opening), carefully removing the circlip and washer
from the shaft, and polishing/greasing them. There is no need to remove the
nut that secures the encoder.

Here's a post on the subject by Mike / W5EEA. I went through this process
myself and it cured the scratchy. I did not polish the circlip or attempt
to flatten the washer - I only applied some "fine polishing creme for all
metals" to each side of the washer and polished that with a Dremel tool,
then applied some white lithium grease to both sides and put it all back
together. Scratchy is about 95 percent gone.

Please be careful.. and obviously this is not an Elecraft-endorsed mod.

Mike's post follows.

73,
--Andrew, NV1B
..

---

From: mikew5eea at hotmail.com
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: KX3 encoder noise fix....for some
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 08:39:52 -0600

PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS FIX..unless you read this and think 'I have no
problem doing this'. There is every chance you will loose parts or make
things worse than they were (or may end up buying a new encoder).
 I found the scrapping/scratching stopped if you invert the radio and
turned the knob.
If you remove the knob you can see a "C" clip on the shaft over a washer
resting on the body of the encoder. On mine the noise was coming from the
surface finish between the washer and the clip. The washer rotates a little
each turn and that is why the noise does not happen at the same spot in the
rotation of the knob. Remove the washer and clip, make them flat and polish
them, put them back on with a good silicone grease and it feels like a K3
VFO. If you think SM parts are small you will never see what needs to be
done to the washer and clip.
 PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not stick a screwdriver in your had or ding up
your very nice new KX3 that works *just fine* without this fix if this is
not something that sounds easy for you to do. (I work at Lockheed where we
make some REALLY NICE little gizmos - that's where I got the 'practice' for
this kind work)

---


On Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 6:55 PM, pkhjr <ka5y at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Received my KX3 ordered 2/17 serial # 1040.  Love the radio....  The only
> problem so far is the noise generated I guess generated by the encoder.  I
> tried removing the felt pad between the knob and the chassis and the noise
> is still there...?
>
> 73 Tex
> ka5y
>
>
>
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