Having read several sets of emails regarding substitutes for the "B" knob over the past year, I thought I could contribute by making a suggestion. Since this is the first posting I've done to the forum (or any forum), I have no idea whether this will reach its intended audience, but here goes:
Several years ago, I added a crank to an FT-817 main dial. I was unaware of any substitutes, so I just made my own. You can do the same with the K3 "B" dial. All you need is a very small screw, about 2 x 10 mm, and a ferrule to fit around the end of the screw to create a rotatable "knob." I have downloaded (I hope) 2 images of the 817 dial I modified (See "http://n2.nabble.com/RadioPhotagsWBG-f2438356.html"; and "http://n2.nabble.com/embed/f2438356";). For the 817 knob, I used a very small flathead screw, 0.8 x 8 mm, and a plastic ferrule from my 50-yr. old junk box. I drilled into the mostly plastic 817 dial using a pin vise and drill bit slightly narrower than the screw, then carefully turned the screw into the hole to force threads into the plastic. Assuming all K3 "B" dials are the same, you could drill about 6 mm into the plastic before hitting the metal core. (my K3 dial is so heavy, I wonder if the Elecraft crew used depleted uranium.) I don't mean to imply there is anything wrong with the K8FF modifications, but If you need crank right away, this could do it. The 817 was so easy, I'm thinking of putting these cranks on my K3 "Shift", "Width" etc., knobs. Hi, Hi! I hope this helps. I received several replies to my question about an alternate knob for VFO B on the K3. It appears that quite a few people have switched out that knob ... some with a K2 knob, others with one of the larger Yaesu knobs, a few with varying military or commercial surplus knobs they were able to find. The general feedback was that the FT-817 knob was probably NOT the way to go. I also got a very nice reply from K8FF, the fellow who makes the finger dimples and the FT-817 Kranker knob. With his permission I'm quoting the relevant portions of his message below. 73, Dave AB7E Bill, WD8MNG -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Alternate-Knob-for-K3-VFO-B---update-tp2431356p2438678.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
