[Elecraft] KX3 tuning knob friction

[Don Wilhelm]

Joe,

The shipping estimates for orders placed *today* is 90 to 120 days, so 
if you ordered earlier than yesterday, your KX3 should arrive between 
Aug 09, 2012 and Sept 09, 2012.  I suspect your order date is before 
yesterday, so your shipment should be prior to that time range.  It will 
not be cold here in North Carolina on those dates!

/I know there is a lot of frustration about shipping dates, but if one 
looks at the serial numbers shipped and the order dates (hours), it is 
apparent that there were a *lot* of orders placed in the first 24 
hours.  I recall Madelyn commenting that there was "paper, paper 
everywhere", so the office staff was struggling to keep up with the 
orders.  I have no inside information about the actual number of orders 
in the first 24 hours, but there have been over 300 KX3s shipped and 
they have not yet fulfilled the first 48 hours of KX3 orders - that says 
something about the number of initial orders that were placed.

When the "initial order assault" tapers off to the end of the first week 
(or beginning of the 2nd week) of ordering, I think you will see some 
return to normalcy, but the first few days of KX3 ordering was "wild", 
so wait a bit more for things to settle down and soon (OK in 120 days or 
more), they will be shipping KX3s "off the shelf" /

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/9/2012 10:38 PM, Joseph Trombino, Jr wrote:
> Many thanks for the info Don...makes my mind rest easy (grin)...I do like the free spinning tuning on my K2 and K3.
>
> I should know from past experience that Elecraft wouldn't field a rig that wasn't just superb.
>
> I don't have a KX3 yet...ordered a kit on 18 Feb and still waiting (sigh).
>
> And so the wait goes on...can't believe they are still shipping based on orders received circa 28 Dec.....hope the backlog diminishes rapidly...I'd like to be able to take my KX3 to the park before the weather turns cold (grin).
>
> 				73, Joe W2KJ
> 				I QRP, therefore I am
>
>> Joe,
>>
>> There is no "grinding" involved, just use the allen wrench supplied to loosen the VFO knob setscrews and adjust for more or less drag between the knob and the felt washer.  The optical encoder is quite "free-spinning", and if there is not enough friction, unexpected frequency changes can occur while with too much friction, tuning becomes cumbersome.  The balance point in the middle is an individual decision, but I believe a totally free-wheeling encoder shaft will give you problem with unexpected frequency changes.
>>
>> In other words, put a bit of drag on it, but just how much is an individual decision - now that you know the pros and cons, accept the consequences of your decision point.
>>
>> This is *not* a problem to be fixed, it is an individual decision about how much drag should be on the VFO knob - as I have said, that is an individual decision.  Use your best judgement.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 6/9/2012 8:56 PM, Joseph Trombino, Jr wrote:
>>> My take on this is that there will be probably more home/portable users of the KX3 than those using it mobile in a car...in any event why not make the degree of friction adjustable by the user?
>>>
>>> I hate to have to grind away trying to turn a main tuning knob when operating...my K2 knob is adjustable along with the K3...is this friction a function of the optical encoder used???
>>>
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