Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hello Guy, I think that you have found the good explanation! May be some of these knobs don't get a correct or sufficient pre-aging (?) procedure before leaving the factory; at my QRL pro, we get this kind of problem with molded plastic enclosure breaking some time after they were bee assembled. In French, we are speaking of retrait but i don't find the correct translation! My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI On 23.06.2011 19:31, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Having managed to break a few myself (have to remind myself I'm not rebuilding an auto engine), I think what is going on is that the knobs are (or were) still curing, causing them to shrink a tiny bit after being tightened on the shaft. I think the curing accelerates after being put on the radio because they have free air around them, instead of being in a bin or box. I found the screws TIGHTER a week after I put the knobs on. I simply loosened and retightened them to pinky torque and no problems since. Pinky torque is to use your pinky ONLY as pressure on the allen wrench when tightening. One probably does not even need that much. 73, Guy. On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 1:46 AM, hb9arihb9...@bluewin.ch wrote: Hi Brian, Thank you for the reply. As i bought an assembled K3, i don't tighten the screws. As Tim explained in his message, this problem was present sometimes in a particular batch. I will send an email to the parts department. My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI On 23.06.2011 00:50, Brian Maynard wrote: I had the same problem at the time I built K3 #4974. Elecraft sent replacements right away (the usual excellent service), and coached me not to over tighten the set screws (two per knob). The knobs are pretty soft and deform easily if over tightened. - Brian, op K1NW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6506455.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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
This happened more than 30 years ago so I can tell the story. I worked at a kibbutz factory in Israel where we made plastic faucets by injection molding. The correct adjustment of the temperature profile of the molding cycle was critical to many characteristics of the finished parts. Our engineer was going to Germany to demonstrate some products, so we carefully tested his samples so that he would not be embarrassed in front of the quality-conscious Germans. At the demonstration, he turned the knob on the hot-water side of the faucet: snap. Then he tried the cold-water side: snap. Both stems broke off neatly inside the faucet! The German engineers were not amused. Ultimately we learned how to adjust the molding machines properly! On 6/24/2011 7:12 AM, hb9ari wrote: Hello Guy, I think that you have found the good explanation! May be some of these knobs don't get a correct or sufficient pre-aging (?) procedure before leaving the factory; at my QRL pro, we get this kind of problem with molded plastic enclosure breaking some time after they were bee assembled. In French, we are speaking of retrait but i don't find the correct translation! My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI -- Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hi Terry, Thank you for the translation ! Correct, opposite of expand. My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI On 24.06.2011 16:25, Terry Posey wrote: Retrait = contract or shrink (the opposite of expand) 73, Terry K4RX -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of hb9ari Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 10:13 AM To: Elecraft-forum Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs?? Hello Guy, I think that you have found the good explanation! May be some of these knobs don't get a correct or sufficient pre-aging (?) procedure before leaving the factory; at my QRL pro, we get this kind of problem with molded plastic enclosure breaking some time after they were bee assembled. In French, we are speaking of retrait but i don't find the correct translation! My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hi Vic, Thank you for this demonstration. In my case, for little enclosures used with optical encoders, for delivery delay reasons, the factory don't execute the post molding process, (some heating with a well defined temp=f(time) profile. The contract or shrink (tnx to Terry, K4RX) was not done before assembly. Between 1 or 2 months after, ~75% of the enclosure were broken... My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI On 24.06.2011 18:02, Vic K2VCO wrote: This happened more than 30 years ago so I can tell the story. I worked at a kibbutz factory in Israel where we made plastic faucets by injection molding. The correct adjustment of the temperature profile of the molding cycle was critical to many characteristics of the finished parts. Our engineer was going to Germany to demonstrate some products, so we carefully tested his samples so that he would not be embarrassed in front of the quality-conscious Germans. At the demonstration, he turned the knob on the hot-water side of the faucet: snap. Then he tried the cold-water side: snap. Both stems broke off neatly inside the faucet! The German engineers were not amused. Ultimately we learned how to adjust the molding machines properly! On 6/24/2011 7:12 AM, hb9ari wrote: Hello Guy, I think that you have found the good explanation! May be some of these knobs don't get a correct or sufficient pre-aging (?) procedure before leaving the factory; at my QRL pro, we get this kind of problem with molded plastic enclosure breaking some time after they were bee assembled. In French, we are speaking of retrait but i don't find the correct translation! My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Having managed to break a few myself (have to remind myself I'm not rebuilding an auto engine), I think what is going on is that the knobs are (or were) still curing, causing them to shrink a tiny bit after being tightened on the shaft. I think the curing accelerates after being put on the radio because they have free air around them, instead of being in a bin or box. I found the screws TIGHTER a week after I put the knobs on. I simply loosened and retightened them to pinky torque and no problems since. Pinky torque is to use your pinky ONLY as pressure on the allen wrench when tightening. One probably does not even need that much. 73, Guy. On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 1:46 AM, hb9ari hb9...@bluewin.ch wrote: Hi Brian, Thank you for the reply. As i bought an assembled K3, i don't tighten the screws. As Tim explained in his message, this problem was present sometimes in a particular batch. I will send an email to the parts department. My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI On 23.06.2011 00:50, Brian Maynard wrote: I had the same problem at the time I built K3 #4974. Elecraft sent replacements right away (the usual excellent service), and coached me not to over tighten the set screws (two per knob). The knobs are pretty soft and deform easily if over tightened. - Brian, op K1NW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6506455.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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hello, I also have a problem with concentric knobs.(K3 #1212) An external one was broken since the beginning. The 1st time i move it, he was slipping over the shaft; as it's related to the sub-receiver, i don't ask for a new one. The only annoying problem i get since some time is an unstable contact at the rear line-out min-jack (3.5mm) connector. (i suspect the audio input too) As the #1212 is out of warranty, i've planned to find a more reliable solution, excluding these 2 mini-jacks. One of my task during next vacations ( in 3 weeks) Otherwise, always 100% fan of my K3 ! 73 QRO, Rudi, HB9ARI On 22.06.2011 05:06, tomb18 wrote: Ok, I have found my first glitch with the K3. The concentric knob holes are so out of round that I cannot get the knobs to work unless the smaller one is way above the other. Is this a problem with my knobs or are they all like that? When all is said and done, I paid over 5k for this radio and the knobs are really poor whereas everything else is top notch. If they are all like that, are there alternatives that look the same? Thanks -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6502754.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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Rudi, Why are you suffering with that broken knob problem? Elecraft recognized that the early knobs were breaking and had them re-constructed with stronger material. Replacement knobs have been available at no cost. Send an email to pa...@elecraft.com and ask for the new knobs. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/22/2011 2:16 AM, hb9ari wrote: Hello, I also have a problem with concentric knobs.(K3 #1212) An external one was broken since the beginning. The 1st time i move it, he was slipping over the shaft; as it's related to the sub-receiver, i don't ask for a new one. The only annoying problem i get since some time is an unstable contact at the rear line-out min-jack (3.5mm) connector. (i suspect the audio input too) As the #1212 is out of warranty, i've planned to find a more reliable solution, excluding these 2 mini-jacks. One of my task during next vacations ( in 3 weeks) Otherwise, always 100% fan of my K3 ! 73 QRO, Rudi, HB9ARI On 22.06.2011 05:06, tomb18 wrote: Ok, I have found my first glitch with the K3. The concentric knob holes are so out of round that I cannot get the knobs to work unless the smaller one is way above the other. Is this a problem with my knobs or are they all like that? When all is said and done, I paid over 5k for this radio and the knobs are really poor whereas everything else is top notch. If they are all like that, are there alternatives that look the same? Thanks -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6502754.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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
wayne burdick wrote: This should *never* happen. If you email k3support you'll get replacements immediately. ...just to define immediately. Ordered a set of knobs on Monday morning and they were in my mailbox today (Wednesday morning). Kudos to Elecraft and the US Postal Service's First Class Mail. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6504988.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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hi Buck, Thank you for this information ! As these knobs are hard to find in EU (may be impossible...?), i will send a note to Elecraft. I will wait to add an order to this request... 73 QRO, Rudi, HB9ARI PS I had this same problem on an oscilloscope many years ago.. Seems to be the thinplastic wall for locking screw ? On 22.06.2011 17:13, Buck - k4ia wrote: They had trouble with some of the early knobs. Elecraft will send you replacements at no charge. Just send them a note. Buck k4ia On 6/22/2011 2:16 AM, hb9ari wrote: Hello, I also have a problem with concentric knobs.(K3 #1212) An external one was broken since the beginning. The 1st time i move it, he was slipping over the shaft; as it's related to the sub-receiver, i don't ask for a new one. The only annoying problem i get since some time is an unstable contact at the rear line-out min-jack (3.5mm) connector. (i suspect the audio input too) As the #1212 is out of warranty, i've planned to find a more reliable solution, excluding these 2 mini-jacks. One of my task during next vacations ( in 3 weeks) Otherwise, always 100% fan of my K3 ! 73 QRO, Rudi, HB9ARI On 22.06.2011 05:06, tomb18 wrote: Ok, I have found my first glitch with the K3. The concentric knob holes are so out of round that I cannot get the knobs to work unless the smaller one is way above the other. Is this a problem with my knobs or are they all like that? When all is said and done, I paid over 5k for this radio and the knobs are really poor whereas everything else is top notch. If they are all like that, are there alternatives that look the same? Thanks -- View this message in context:http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6502754.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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
hb9ari wrote: As these knobs are hard to find in EU (may be impossible...?), i will send a note to Elecraft. I will wait to add an order to this request... Grüße Ari, Elecraft will send these knobs at their expense...not yours! It's nice that you offer to combine orders but it's not necessary. CU on Topband next season! 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6505789.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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
I had the same problem at the time I built K3 #4974. Elecraft sent replacements right away (the usual excellent service), and coached me not to over tighten the set screws (two per knob). The knobs are pretty soft and deform easily if over tightened. - Brian, op K1NW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6506455.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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hello Tim, Thank you for your message and parts email address. As my number is #1212, it's certainly the same batch ! Have a nice day. 73 QRO, Rudi, HB9ARI On 23.06.2011 00:50, Tim Heasman wrote: Hi Rudi, Just send an e-mail to pa...@elecraft.com with the serial number of your K3, and they will send you a new set of knobs for af and rf controls. There was a lot of trouble with broken knobs with the first batch of K3s. Mine is s/n 1245 and I have had to replace mine. 73 Tim GM4LMH __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hi Bill, rr , i will ask to Elecraft for new external knob(s). Just looking for something to order for my K3... My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI On 22.06.2011 18:29, Bill W4ZV wrote: wayne burdick wrote: This should *never* happen. If you email k3support you'll get replacements immediately. ...just to define immediately. Ordered a set of knobs on Monday morning and they were in my mailbox today (Wednesday morning). Kudos to Elecraft and the US Postal Service's First Class Mail. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6504988.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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Hi Brian, Thank you for the reply. As i bought an assembled K3, i don't tighten the screws. As Tim explained in his message, this problem was present sometimes in a particular batch. I will send an email to the parts department. My best 73, Rudi, HB9ARI On 23.06.2011 00:50, Brian Maynard wrote: I had the same problem at the time I built K3 #4974. Elecraft sent replacements right away (the usual excellent service), and coached me not to over tighten the set screws (two per knob). The knobs are pretty soft and deform easily if over tightened. - Brian, op K1NW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6506455.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 __ 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
[Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
Ok, I have found my first glitch with the K3. The concentric knob holes are so out of round that I cannot get the knobs to work unless the smaller one is way above the other. Is this a problem with my knobs or are they all like that? When all is said and done, I paid over 5k for this radio and the knobs are really poor whereas everything else is top notch. If they are all like that, are there alternatives that look the same? Thanks -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Concentric-knobs-tp6502754p6502754.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
Re: [Elecraft] Concentric knobs??
This should *never* happen. If you email k3support you'll get replacements immediately. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 21, 2011, at 8:06 PM, tomb18 wrote: Ok, I have found my first glitch with the K3. The concentric knob holes are so out of round that I cannot get the knobs to work unless the smaller one is way above the other. Is this a problem with my knobs or are they all like that? When all is said and done, I paid over 5k for this radio and the knobs are really poor whereas everything else is top notch. If they are all like that, are there alternatives that look the same? Thanks __ 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
