[Elecraft] KXPD2 paddle not working

[Dave New]

Gary,

There was an issue with early KXPD2 paddles where one or the other  
screws in the back of the assembly were slightly proud, and would  
short that side out against the KX2 chassis if the thumbscrews were  
completely tightened.

On my KX2, I now have a small chip of paint missing on the left side,  
where that screw head had scraped the paint a bit, shorting out that  
side of the paddle.  It turns out that when turning the KX2 on, if it  
senses a paddle line shorted, I think it ignores it, so depending on  
your specific situation, you may find that one side or the other of  
the paddle may not work, depending on which side was shorted when you  
turned on the radio.  If you leave the thumbscrews loose when turning  
it on, you may find it works, then if you tighten the thumbscrew, you  
will suddenly get repeating dots or dashes (depending on the shorted  
side).

I 'fixed' mine by filing down the screw head, and putting a bit of  
scotch tape over the paint chip.  Unless you are looking closely, it's  
not noticeable.

Elecraft did make alternate screws available for the KXPD2, but I  
never bothered.  It works fine for me, now.

73,

-- Dave, N8SBE

Quoting Gary Slagel via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>:

> Thanks Chris and Mike,
> I initially tried a continuity check and had little luck confirming  
> bad or good continuity.   I spent some time this morning putting it  
> in, taking it out, adjusting spacing, etc.  Everything was pretty  
> inconsistent.  For a while I had the left side of the paddle working  
> and the right not working, for a while everything was fine and now,  
> believe it or not the left paddle is working and the right paddle is  
> working as long as I don't completely tighten the left thumbscrew  
> that holds it on to the kx2 hihi!  I'd guess it needs a cleaning.   
> I've misplaced the smaller allen wrench for the pivot screws so may  
> try to round one up and see if I can get it apart and cleaned and  
> back together.  Or... maybe leave that left thumbscrew a little  
> loose :)!    
> Thanks for both of your comeback!
>
>
> Gary Slagel2226 Doran RdHot Springs, SD 57747(605) 890-2310KT0A
>  
>
>     On Tuesday, March 8, 2022, 10:53:15 AM MST, Chris  
> <ve3uvt at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  Hi Gary,
> You can disconnect the paddle and do a continuity check with your  
> multimeter.  It seems that the problem is on the paddle.  You can  
> easily disassemble it to see where the problem is.  I did clean  
> mine, and it is fairly easy.
> Best 73,
> Chris KM1B
>
> On Tue, Mar 8, 2022 at 11:57 AM Gary Slagel via Elecraft  
> <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
> The left side of my KXPD2 paddle is not working, the right side is  
> fine.    I've reversed the CW KEY 2 setting and it continues to be  
> the left side that doesn't work.
> Is there a simple test I could do to determine if it is a paddle  
> problem or a KX2 problem?  I don't have anyone local who owns a kx2  
> so I've no way to test with another radio.
> GaryKT0A
>  
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