RE: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension
I got fed up with the felt hiss, so I made a couple of new washers from a finer grade of felt. This was obtained from the wife's sewing stock at little (YOU cook the meal tonight) cost.. 73 Stewart G3RXQ On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:50:14 -0800 (PST), VK5ABQ wrote: I was annoyed by the felt on felt hiss generated by rotation of VFO A and took about six attempts to find a compromise between hiss and rotation damping. Ideally I would prefer it to rotate less easily though. - Shane K3/10: S/N 2127, KBPF3, KFL3B-FM, KFL3A-6K, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-400, KTCXO3-1 KXV3. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension AND Felt Hiss - Resolved
A follow-up Got back to the radio after mulling the comments this weekend regarding this asymmetric knob issue and... the felt hiss issue. Lost some sleep over it as that's the time I seem to best come up with creative things. So.. I made a plastic feeler gauge of the pointy bevelled end of a Plackers flosser stick as that won't scratch the paint. I marked where the gauge stopped under the narrow end of the A knob and then compared it to the other side 180 degrees away. A marked (no pun intended) difference. I then put that A knob on the B Vfo and did the same procedure with a new flosser stick. and indeed there was a slight difference here as well but in the opposite direction. As the knob did not wobble on either VFO but tracked poorly, I surmised the shaft does not innately follow the straight path when tightened. So I loosened both nuts and this time applied a small amount. of pressure on the nut driver away from the low side. That resolved the problem. I then did the same with VFO B's shaft though it wasn't presenting an issue. I do try to keep symmetry in all things... Issue Resolved. Now as to the hiss. Some really interesting ideas, especially getting SWMBO to give up her softer felt in exchange for a nice dinner cooked by HWMS. But that doesn't apply here so the idea of the Fender washer was a worthy possibility I was prepared to get two Nylon washers to see if some combination f the 2 felt washers 2 nylon ones would work well but then I thought about it while tossin' turning last night it dawned on me: Wrap the felt washer with teflon piping tape like it was a toroid transformer. So I ran the tape through the felt washer and did so all the way around till the washer had no felt showing but the hole was still there. I put that in place and the give was still there because of the felt doing its job and it was silent because of the teflon . Wala... Success on all counts! Now to get to the post office to send out a TenTec VFO I just sold to apply the $ for more K3 goodies get a present for Mom who turns 99 on Christmas Eve. Thanks for the idears, they got me to the solutions! I'll have more questions as I still have to learn how to operate the K3 I have yet the sub Rx on its way the transverter interface. 73, Gary KA1J Hi Patrick, Indeed there was a third felt washer with mine too. Presently I do have it installed with the 2nd one in place. My knob wasn't loose though, it was quite firmly attached once tightened. When I first felt the knob rotate properly for say, 200 degrees of rotation then bind a little for the remaining 160 degrees (making up numbers here but fairly accurate), I removed the knob and saw a little circular scratch on the clear plastic cover where the edge of the knob had scored it. I then put the knob back in place put the K3 on end looked from underneath along the front plane saw the knob was resting with a slight tilt. Again though, this knob wasn't loose, it was firmly attached. I removed the knob put the 2nd felt washer on top of the first to get it off the plastic and add some tension and then tried it again but when rotating the knob, I could hear a felt on felt sound like scuffing two chalkboard erasers face to face. Not the end of the world or anything but VFO B makes only the faintest of hi from the felt and B acts perfect. The Best tension I can get for the A knob isn't as good as the VFO B which feels darned good to rotate. I did rotate each of the shafts before assembly to be sure they were OK they both rotate with zip friction. I could forego any friction at all it would be fine easy to rotate but it would be a constant annoyance when I bump the VFO then be moved away from a frequency I'd narrowed in on. Since I will forever be using VFO A, I do need it to feel natural. Gary KA1J Well, I'll jump in here. I had the same problem a few months ago when I assembled S/N 1889. The VFO A knob was way too loose no matter what I did. I had followed the instructions and installed one (1) felt washer under both the VFO A and B knobs. The B knob was fine. The A knob couldn't be adjusted to my liking. Then I noticed I had an extra felt washer (i.e., a total of three were included in the package). I added the second washer and life is good. I have it setup so I can spin it and get a nice smooth run (maybe 6 or 8 turns) as it freewheels but yet for my taste it's not too loose. Like everything else of course it's all a matter of taste. Two washers worked for me. If it was an accident (they included too many) then it was fortuitous in my case. If by chance you have a third washer install it and life will be good. 73/Patrick W7TMT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change,
RE: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension
Well, I'll jump in here. I had the same problem a few months ago when I assembled S/N 1889. The VFO A knob was way too loose no matter what I did. I had followed the instructions and installed one (1) felt washer under both the VFO A and B knobs. The B knob was fine. The A knob couldn't be adjusted to my liking. Then I noticed I had an extra felt washer (i.e., a total of three were included in the package). I added the second washer and life is good. I too used the extra washer that came with the kit for VFO A. But, if more friction was needed, your local craft supplier (such as Hobby Lobby and the like) would have a selection of felt that can easily be cut with scissors; the point being that the felt circle could be cut a little larger to provide even more friction for the knob. 73, Charlie, N0TT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension AND Felt Hiss - Resolved
Hi Mike, As the knob did not wobble on either VFO but tracked poorly, I surmised the shaft does not innately follow the straight path when tightened. So I loosened both nuts and this time applied a small amount. of pressure on the nut driver away from the low side. That resolved the problem. I then did the same with VFO B's shaft though it wasn't presenting an issue. I do try to keep symmetry in all things... By looseing both nuts, do you mean set screws, and allen wrench rather than nut driver? No, I meant the 1/2 nuts that screw on to the encoder shaft which firm it up against the face plate (with the clear beveled plastic panel around them. I loosened both nuts with the nut driver and left one loose on the shaft and then I applied pressure which in my case needed to be down to the right when visualized as the radio normally rests. With the slight pressure on the shaft I twisted the nut driver which tensioned that first nut and then I placed the 2nd nut on tightened it down as instructed (on Page 32 of the October 28, 08 assembly manual) Now as to the hiss. Some really interesting ideas, especially getting SWMBO to give up her softer felt in exchange for a nice dinner cooked by HWMS. But that doesn't apply here so the idea of the Fender washer was a worthy possibility I was prepared to get two Nylon washers to see if some combination f the 2 felt washers 2 nylon ones would work well but then I thought about it while tossin' turning last night it dawned on me: Wrap the felt washer with teflon piping tape like it was a toroid transformer. So I ran the tape through the felt washer and did so all the way around till the washer had no felt showing but the hole was still there. I put that in place and the give was still there because of the felt doing its job and it was silent because of the teflon . Ah, very clever. I have some teflon sheet and a washer cutter that should accomplish the same thing. Good idea! You should see my A knob with its red DOT reflective tape cover that really looks sharpin contrast to flat black. Also, I have flourescent orange pin stripping tape going around the outside top and sides of frontpanel that really details the K3. So I may have a custom one of akind detailed K3. 73, Mike, AC5p How fun! It'simportant to add our own personality to these marvelous radios. If software hardware option-wise we can customize the inside then it's fun to work the same personalization on the outside too. 73, Gary KA1J ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension
Well, I'll jump in here. I had the same problem a few months ago when I assembled S/N 1889. The VFO A knob was way too loose no matter what I did. I had followed the instructions and installed one (1) felt washer under both the VFO A and B knobs. The B knob was fine. The A knob couldn't be adjusted to my liking. Then I noticed I had an extra felt washer (i.e., a total of three were included in the package). I added the second washer and life is good. I have it setup so I can spin it and get a nice smooth run (maybe 6 or 8 turns) as it freewheels but yet for my taste it's not too loose. Like everything else of course it's all a matter of taste. Two washers worked for me. If it was an accident (they included too many) then it was fortuitous in my case. If by chance you have a third washer install it and life will be good. 73/Patrick W7TMT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension
Hi Patrick, Indeed there was a third felt washer with mine too. Presently I do have it installed with the 2nd one in place. My knob wasn't loose though, it was quite firmly attached once tightened. When I first felt the knob rotate properly for say, 200 degrees of rotation then bind a little for the remaining 160 degrees (making up numbers here but fairly accurate), I removed the knob and saw a little circular scratch on the clear plastic cover where the edge of the knob had scored it. I then put the knob back in place put the K3 on end looked from underneath along the front plane saw the knob was resting with a slight tilt. Again though, this knob wasn't loose, it was firmly attached. I removed the knob put the 2nd felt washer on top of the first to get it off the plastic and add some tension and then tried it again but when rotating the knob, I could hear a felt on felt sound like scuffing two chalkboard erasers face to face. Not the end of the world or anything but VFO B makes only the faintest of hi from the felt and B acts perfect. The Best tension I can get for the A knob isn't as good as the VFO B which feels darned good to rotate. I did rotate each of the shafts before assembly to be sure they were OK they both rotate with zip friction. I could forego any friction at all it would be fine easy to rotate but it would be a constant annoyance when I bump the VFO then be moved away from a frequency I'd narrowed in on. Since I will forever be using VFO A, I do need it to feel natural. Gary KA1J Well, I'll jump in here. I had the same problem a few months ago when I assembled S/N 1889. The VFO A knob was way too loose no matter what I did. I had followed the instructions and installed one (1) felt washer under both the VFO A and B knobs. The B knob was fine. The A knob couldn't be adjusted to my liking. Then I noticed I had an extra felt washer (i.e., a total of three were included in the package). I added the second washer and life is good. I have it setup so I can spin it and get a nice smooth run (maybe 6 or 8 turns) as it freewheels but yet for my taste it's not too loose. Like everything else of course it's all a matter of taste. Two washers worked for me. If it was an accident (they included too many) then it was fortuitous in my case. If by chance you have a third washer install it and life will be good. 73/Patrick W7TMT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension
I was annoyed by the felt on felt hiss generated by rotation of VFO A and took about six attempts to find a compromise between hiss and rotation damping. Ideally I would prefer it to rotate less easily though. - Shane K3/10: S/N 2127, KBPF3, KFL3B-FM, KFL3A-6K, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-400, KTCXO3-1 KXV3. -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-VFO-A-tension-tp1688263p1688878.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 VFO A tension
First I don't have a K3 being only a lowly K2 owner. So I'm throwing this out into the ring as a possible solution. In the Elecraft spirit I modified it by changing to a larger knob that I liked but was not happy with the tension. The knob was also unbalanced and if it came to rest at a certain position the rig would Drift. Two washers was to loose and 3 was way too tight and I could never find the right knob height for either combination. The local hardware store had what they called fender washers and were large enough to match the felt washer. The ideal combo was a sandwich of a felt-fender washer-felt. 73, Bob K2TK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
