[Elecraft] K2 12m alignment

[Chuck Stover]

Bob, Don,
I just finished up a K2 as well.  The trimmers I got didn't match the description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I was looking at.
I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff going on to accurately measure min and max.
I talked to Gary in Watsonville.  Here's what we summized.  The larger bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23.  The remaining 4 smaller bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46.
It works.  I get good output on all bands.
Don't know if this helps or not.
Chuck K4QS


      From: Don Wilhelm <donwilh at embarqmail.com>
 To: Robert Kasten <bkasten at octavian.net>; elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
 Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:10 PM
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment
   
Bob,

You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34.

Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace 
C44 and C46.  The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough 
minimum capacitance.  The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were 
red the last time I saw them.

The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect.  They 
should measure about 20pF to 45pF.

If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, 
ask for replacements for C32 and C34.  The part number is E540002 and 
they have yellow bodies.

See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website.
Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 
months or so.  I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 
and C46.  Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's 
specs for capacitance range and were dropped.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote:
> Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was
> just like old times.
>
> All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W
> output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power
> setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47
> and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are
> adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf.
>
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