[Elecraft] KX3 Kit Builder Alert #1: Battery holder attachment screws

[Don Wilhelm]

Rick,

The plastic of the battery holders is normally soft enough that you 
should be able to drive the heads of the proper length screws into the 
plastic. Since you will have to apply a bit of extra torque, make 
certain you have a #1 Phillips screwdriver with a good tip to prevent 
the screwdriver from camming out of the screwhead. Countersinking the 
holes with the tip of the Phillips driver is certanly an alternative.

If there is any doubt about the screw length, I would suggest you obtain 
4 of the proper length screws from Elecraft.
Elecraft has tightened up on the length tolerance for those screws with 
the vendor, so the new screws may be the best answer.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/19/2013 6:36 PM, Rick Dettinger wrote:
> I experienced a "hot" cell when I loaded Lithium cells into my new KX3 kit.  I thought that it might have been caused by the cell shorting at the spring.  I removed the cells and used my station supply until I could get some rechargeable cells.
> I saw the subject "Alert" and checked my hold down screws and found that they did "stand proud" and protrude above the base.  I thought that the screws were too long, but when I removed them, I noticed that the holes in the battery holder were not countersunk for the flat head screws, and this was what was keeping the screw heads from being flush with the holder.  The heads is quite sharp, and may have been cutting into the cells.  I also noticed that I had difficulty getting the two halves of the radio to come together completely .  I thought that the cells were over size, but now I think that they weren't lying against the base of the holder.  I am thinking that I should countersink the holes, but wanted to check what others had experienced.
>
>