[Elecraft] FW: HEAVY KNOBS??

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

As Eric reported, my assumption was wrong; the Elecraft encoders have ball
bearings in spite of their small size. IMX quality ball bearings make a big
difference in their ability to handle weight without excessive wear in
designs with significant side-loading (such as a heavy knob rotating a
nominally horizontal encoder shaft). 

Fred makes an excellent point about removing the heavy knob if the rig is
shipped. Inertia is an amazing weight-multiplier. 

73, Ron AC7AC



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil LaMarche
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 6:45 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] FW: HEAVY KNOBS??

I questioned the problems possible caused by heavy knobs. N8BX's
response.... 

Philip LaMarche

 

K3 # 1605
KPA500 # 029
P3 #1480

W9DVM
 


-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Freeman [mailto:n8bx at redbird.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 8:41 PM
To: Phil LaMarche
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] HEAVY KNOBS??


Hi Phil, with regard to premature wear caused to the K3 encoders by weighted
knobs, I do not feel there is anything to be concerned about.  Elecraft uses
the best encoders I have experienced in over 20 years in ham radio.  They
are on par with encoders I have seen in industrial applications where they
receive much more use and abuse than anything likely to be seen in an
amateur radio application.  I have had a weighted knob on my K3 for 3 years
and it gets used frequently.  It is also my demo radio at shows and it gets
a lot of use there.  To date, I can not tell it from a brand new radio.  The
reason it stays nice is partly due to the quality of the encoder and partly
because of the nature in which bearing material works.  Obviously a ball
bearing is preferred but it is an expensive luxury for hams.  We a lucky to
have a USA manufacture (Elecraft) that chooses to use premium components.
Many Japanese made radios now use a quality made encoder with a full metal
shell and a bronze bushing for the bearing.  Icom uses the same exact
encoders the Icom 746 thru the 7800 radios, and Yaesu does the same on the
FT-950 thru FTdx9000, etc.  There were radios made in the 80's and 90's that
had plastic encoder housings and less robust bearing materials, yet these
encoders continue to hold up over time.  Once in a while you will find an
old Icom 735, Kenwood 440, or a Yaesu 757GX with a worn, loose and sloppy
feeling encoder.  Often these radios have equal wear on the face, buttons
and the rest of the enclosure.  They literally got the heck ran out of them
for 20 years and all without any maintenance (lubrication, etc).  There are
a great many radios on the used market from the 80's-90's that have nice
smooth and wear free encoders and the best feeling are often from radios
with heavier knobs (Icom 781, 765, 751A, Kenwood 930, 940, 950, Yaesu
FT-990, FT-1000D, FT-1000MP, etc).  As an experienced tool maker, I will not
design a product that I feel will compromise the life of a customers radio.

One measure that I do recommend is removing the weighted knob from your
radio if ever you ship it.  Shipping companies today are known for dropping
boxes from great heights.  When I bought my Icom 7700 and 7800 radios, they
both came with the Icom weighted knob not installed on the radio.  You have
to put the knob on after you remove it from the box.  So it is a worthwhile
consideration to remove the knob if shipping your radio via UPS, Fed-Ex or
US Mail.

If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to email me.
Thanks & 73, N8BX
Fred