[Elecraft] K1 FP washers...and another K1 FP PCB Flexing Issue (Rattle Sounds)

[Mike Morrow]

David/AC4BN wrote:

> I only had one washer on the standoff, and furthermore I had it on
> the wrong side of the PC board!

I'm glad you found the root cause of your mysterious problem.  Probably
that construction "fox paws" would be a lot more common, save for the 
manual's illustration that shows the desired configuration.

There's another K1 FP PCB flexing issue that sometimes draws comment.
Often the four corners of the front panel PCB do not rest solidly and
firmly against the front side of the associated four aluminum 2-D
fasteners that are stationary on the body of the K1.

This causes a slightly mushy feel when depressing many of the front
panel buttons, as the button will recede slightly behind the front panel
as the PCB flexes.  Then when the PCB corner comes to solid rest on the
corner fasteners, continuing to push results in the desired final crisp
snap as the button makes up.

Another consequence of loose corner fit is that at higher AF volumes of
the K1's internal speaker, the FP PCB corners may audibly rattle and
vibrate against the metal fasteners.

All that can be very easily corrected by putting a small square of foam
tape on the front of the 2-D fasteners that are supposed to contact the
corners of the FP PCB.  I use double-sided foam tape, with the protective
layer left in place on the side that will be in contact with the corner
of the FP PCB.  (This seems like something that should be included with
each K1.  But it was suggested 12 years ago, and it doesn't seem likely
now.)

The result is no button mushy feel, and no vibration at higher AF volumes
when using the internal speaker.

Mike / KK5F