Elecraft

Field repairs to K3s

Classic

List

Threaded

7 messages Options

Jerry KD6ET

Field repairs to K3s

Where do I look to see how to troubleshoot a K3s at the shack and just
order the new parts.

I'm looking to buy a radio that does not need to be sent back to the
manufacturer for basic repairs. I'd also like to buy a radio from a USA or
North American company for support.

Gerald
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From: Gerald Capodieci (kd6et) Woodland Hills, CA USA*
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

na5n

Re: Field repairs to K3s

Gerald Capodieci writes:

> I'm looking to buy a radio that does not need to be sent back to the
> manufacturer for basic repairs.

Gerald,

Repair implies a failure has occurred. Most radios these days, and
certainly Elecraft, are highly reliable rigs short of receiving some sort
of abuse. Sure, failures do sometime occur, but fairly rare. There are
countless thousands of Elecraft and other radios on the air after years of
use with no problems. Many being carried to mountain tops (SOTA) and back
frequently. I bought a TenTec Triton IV in 1978 (?) when they first came
out - the first solid state full CW QSK rig ... and quite a few rigs
since. Haven't had one failure on any of them in those 40 years. I don't
think you have much to worry about.

72, Paul NA5N
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Grant Youngman-2

Re: Field repairs to K3s

In reply to this post by Jerry KD6ET

Gerald ..

If you’re looking for the 50 page "troubleshooting and diagnosis" guide for the K3, it isn’t something you’ll find. But as others have said, this list and Elecraft support are invaluable resources.

The K3 is largely built to be module replaceable. But the modules themselves are also repairable, as long as you’re willing to deal with SMD components. One of the several benefits of building one (as opposed to ordering a factory built version) is that it eliminates the fear of taking off the covers. Another is that you get familiar with what’s in the box, where it is, and will have at least installed it once. You just use the construction manual backwards to get it out again. But even a factory built radio does NOT come with one of those stickers that causes your warranty to be terminated if you “break the seal”.

I built my K3 back in 2007 or so. I’ve been into it over and over again installing new or updated versions of boards, or applying updates to individual boards. I’ve never actually had a board/component failure (knocking very hard on wood), and think that’s the likely case for most of us. And it’s never been back to Elecraft to cut a trace, install a jumper or a new part, etc. YMMV :-)

Grant NQ5T
K3 #2091, KX3 #8342

> On May 26, 2018, at 1:50 AM, Gerald Capodieci <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Where do I look to see how to troubleshoot a K3s at the shack and just
> order the new parts.
>
> I'm looking to buy a radio that does not need to be sent back to the
> manufacturer for basic repairs. I'd also like to buy a radio from a USA or
> North American company for support.
>
> Gerald
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Jerry KD6ET

Re: Field repairs to K3s

In reply to this post by na5n

Thanks Paul:
You have some wonderful luck. I bought a Tentec Eagle and Omni 7 and both failed within 2 years. I opened both to look for problems. though both were labeled ‘Made in USA’ most components were labeled ‘Made in China’ and are no longer available. For both repairs they need to be shipped back to Tennessee to their shop now employing a part time repair person. Reading the forums, reliable repairs are questionable. So I’m about ready to give up on the hobby.

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 25, 2018, at 11:15 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>
> Gerald Capodieci writes:
>
>> I'm looking to buy a radio that does not need to be sent back to the
>> manufacturer for basic repairs.
>
> Gerald,
>
> Repair implies a failure has occurred. Most radios these days, and certainly Elecraft, are highly reliable rigs short of receiving some sort of abuse. Sure, failures do sometime occur, but fairly rare. There are countless thousands of Elecraft and other radios on the air after years of use with no problems. Many being carried to mountain tops (SOTA) and back frequently. I bought a TenTec Triton IV in 1978 (?) when they first came out - the first solid state full CW QSK rig ... and quite a few rigs since. Haven't had one failure on any of them in those 40 years. I don't think you have much to worry about.
>
> 72, Paul NA5N

Drew AF2Z

Re: Field repairs to K3s

I've done a couple of repairs on my old K3: blown pin diodes on the
transverter board, and the corroded 12 vdc connector pins on the KPA3
amp. Have also done several component-level mod kits supplied by Elecraft.

I think Elecraft will supply all K3 parts that are still in production
and, if I'm not mistaken, they stockpile end-of-life components for
future repairs. But you can't expect parts to be available forever.

FWIW, I recently managed to find a ceramic filter for my Argonaut V that
is out of production. I ordered directly from TenTec. Amazingly they
still had a few in stock.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On 05/26/18 11:12, Gerald Capodieci wrote:

> Thanks Paul:
> You have some wonderful luck. I bought a Tentec Eagle and Omni 7 and both failed within 2 years. I opened both to look for problems. though both were labeled ‘Made in USA’ most components were labeled ‘Made in China’ and are no longer available. For both repairs they need to be shipped back to Tennessee to their shop now employing a part time repair person. Reading the forums, reliable repairs are questionable. So I’m about ready to give up on the hobby.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On May 25, 2018, at 11:15 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>>
>> Gerald Capodieci writes:
>>
>>> I'm looking to buy a radio that does not need to be sent back to the
>>> manufacturer for basic repairs.
>>
>> Gerald,
>>
>> Repair implies a failure has occurred. Most radios these days, and certainly Elecraft, are highly reliable rigs short of receiving some sort of abuse. Sure, failures do sometime occur, but fairly rare. There are countless thousands of Elecraft and other radios on the air after years of use with no problems. Many being carried to mountain tops (SOTA) and back frequently. I bought a TenTec Triton IV in 1978 (?) when they first came out - the first solid state full CW QSK rig ... and quite a few rigs since. Haven't had one failure on any of them in those 40 years. I don't think you have much to worry about.
>>
>> 72, Paul NA5N
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: Field repairs to K3s

If you are looking for a radio which won't fail, I suggest one keep your money in the bank. All new radios, all brands, have a known failure rate, out if the box, at one year, and two years. That is the reason companies offer a warranty. They expect some number but of units to fail during the warranty period. Nothing unusual about this fact.

As to personally repairing one of the modern radios, unless one has capability to handle remove and replace surface mount components, as well as rather extensive test equipment and advanced knowledge of electronics, one is relying on board or modular exchange. This does involve the factory an leaves one with a nonworking product for a period of time.

For a period of years I repaired many ham radio products for others. In probably a majority of cases I had to not only find and repair the original fault, but.....I had to correct the attempted repairs of others.

Like many other products, we are moving more and more to a toss and replace commodity.

Bob, K4TAX

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 26, 2018, at 11:12 AM, Drew AF2Z <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I've done a couple of repairs on my old K3: blown pin diodes on the transverter board, and the corroded 12 vdc connector pins on the KPA3 amp. Have also done several component-level mod kits supplied by Elecraft.
>
> I think Elecraft will supply all K3 parts that are still in production and, if I'm not mistaken, they stockpile end-of-life components for future repairs. But you can't expect parts to be available forever.
>
> FWIW, I recently managed to find a ceramic filter for my Argonaut V that is out of production. I ordered directly from TenTec. Amazingly they still had a few in stock.
>
> 73,
> Drew
> AF2Z
>
>
>
>> On 05/26/18 11:12, Gerald Capodieci wrote:
>> Thanks Paul:
>> You have some wonderful luck. I bought a Tentec Eagle and Omni 7 and both failed within 2 years. I opened both to look for problems. though both were labeled ‘Made in USA’ most components were labeled ‘Made in China’ and are no longer available. For both repairs they need to be shipped back to Tennessee to their shop now employing a part time repair person. Reading the forums, reliable repairs are questionable. So I’m about ready to give up on the hobby.
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> On May 25, 2018, at 11:15 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>>>
>>> Gerald Capodieci writes:
>>>
>>>> I'm looking to buy a radio that does not need to be sent back to the
>>>> manufacturer for basic repairs.
>>>
>>> Gerald,
>>>
>>> Repair implies a failure has occurred. Most radios these days, and certainly Elecraft, are highly reliable rigs short of receiving some sort of abuse. Sure, failures do sometime occur, but fairly rare. There are countless thousands of Elecraft and other radios on the air after years of use with no problems. Many being carried to mountain tops (SOTA) and back frequently. I bought a TenTec Triton IV in 1978 (?) when they first came out - the first solid state full CW QSK rig ... and quite a few rigs since. Haven't had one failure on any of them in those 40 years. I don't think you have much to worry about.
>>>
>>> 72, Paul NA5N
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Don Wilhelm

Re: Field repairs to K3s

In reply to this post by Jerry KD6ET

Gerald,

There are no details for how to troubleshoot to the component level. In
most cases, the FRU (Field Replacable Unit) is a board.

In some cases, Elecraft support is able to assist with your
troubleshooting as long as it does not get too involved. Many times
customers have replaced components such as PIN Diodes and several such
items.

So if you have test equipment and troubleshooting skills as well as
equipment and skills for repairing SMD circuits, it can be done without
sending the radio to Watsonville.

Be aware that level of skill is not the norm for the Elecraft customer
set. It was the norm for K2 builders several years ago, but conditions
have changed and the average customer does not have the capability to
repair his own radio - especially since the circuit density has
increased many-fold and we encounter many hams with "shaky hands".

If you want a radio that you can build and thus have some knowledge
about "what makes it work", I might suggest building an Elecraft K2
which is still a top performing transceiver.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/26/2018 1:50 AM, Gerald Capodieci wrote:
> Where do I look to see how to troubleshoot a K3s at the shack and just
> order the new parts.
>
> I'm looking to buy a radio that does not need to be sent back to the
> manufacturer for basic repairs. I'd also like to buy a radio from a USA or
> North American company for support.
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]