Alternate Knob for K3 VFO B - update

[David Gilbert]

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



<quote>

I actually have three production Kranker knobs at this time.  The FT817
knob is about 1 1/8 inches in diameter with the Yaesu rubber ring around
it, the FT857 knob is about 1 5/8 in diameter with the rubber ring and
both fit 6mm shaft encoders used by Yaesu and Elecraft.  You would need
to purchase a rubber ring from Yaesu parts dept for either one since I
only supply the replacement knob to be used with the original rubber
ring.  I also have a 1 1/4 inch diameter Kranker that fits the standard
1/4 inch shaft.  Guys have been putting them on the Elecraft KX1 and
some on the TenTec scout.  This one is complete and doesn't require a
rubber ring, it is beautifully made and is anodized black.  All of these
will be on my website shortly.

The 1 1/4 inch Kranker is $15.00 including freight.  Just Paypal me to
my email address and I will ship one out.

I might order a set of knobs from a K3 and see how difficult it would be
to make Krankers to replace them.  Several requests have come in for me
to build something for the K3.

Thanks, Wayne K8FF
[hidden email]

</quote>



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[wayne burdick]

A larger knob at VFO B would make it a little harder to use the switch
above it and the RIT offset knob to the right of it. That's what
determined the knob's size. To make up for the medium-ish size, we
included a brass insert in the VFO B knob to give it some heft. It does
spin, and you can adjust the spin decay rate by moving the knob in/out
to vary the amount of contact with the felt pad. The VFO B knob also
has knurling that matches the rest of the knobs (since we designed them
all at the same time). An adhesive "spinner" might be useful and
wouldn't detract from the appearance or get in the way. K8FF makes a
nice black one that matches the knob color.

Since it's obvious that I'm hopelessly biased toward our present K3 VFO
B knob, I probably can't add anything useful to the discussion, so I'll
go back to firmware now ;)

73,
Wayne
N6KR

David Gilbert wrote:

> I received several replies to my question about an alternate knob for
> VFO B on the K3....


---

http://www.elecraft.com

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[WBG]

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.

<quote author="David Gilbert">

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

[Doug Faunt N6TQS [phone]]

I'm not a big fan of cranks on knobs, but I've improved my K3 VFO B
knob in a way very reminenasent(SP!) of the broccoili band for the K2,
by using a short length of bicycle inner tube pushed on and folded
over.  I think another layer would be better, but two is pretty good.

73, doug

   Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 15:18:15 -0800 (PST)
   From: WBG <[hidden email]>

   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:
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