K2 Antenna Nut: It can't be this hard

[Michael Cook-2]

Hi all. I've been assembling my K2 since thursday and having a ton of  
fun. Last night I just finished the last assembly steps and I'm about  
to move on to the third set of testing (and aligning) of the  
transmitter.

There is just one thing that has got me stuck: the nut that goes on  
the antenna jack.

This can't POSSIBLY be this hard. I've tried. I've had someone else  
try. I just can NOT get the thing on. It seems impossible to get the  
thing on straight. If I do get it to catch it quickly seems to end up  
crooked and then falling off.

Is there some kind of special secret here? I've even tried screwing  
it on backwards (CCW instead of CW) but that didn't work (no surprise).

Tips?
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[Dave Sublette]

Gee--I don't remember it as being particularly difficult. Is there some
flaw in the threads of either the nut or the connector? Is it the
correct size nut?

K4TO

Michael Cook wrote:

> Hi all. I've been assembling my K2 since thursday and having a ton of
> fun. Last night I just finished the last assembly steps and I'm about to
> move on to the third set of testing (and aligning) of the transmitter.
>
> There is just one thing that has got me stuck: the nut that goes on the
> antenna jack.
>
> This can't POSSIBLY be this hard. I've tried. I've had someone else try.
> I just can NOT get the thing on. It seems impossible to get the thing on
> straight. If I do get it to catch it quickly seems to end up crooked and
> then falling off.
>
> Is there some kind of special secret here? I've even tried screwing it
> on backwards (CCW instead of CW) but that didn't work (no surprise).
>
> Tips?
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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[Darwin, Keith]

At first I thought the post was about me. :-)

I recall the nut going on mine just fine.  The nut is small and easy to
get cross threaded and with plastic threads, it's easy to get things
fouled up.

My *guess* is that the nut itself has messed up threads.  If so, the
more you try, the more likely the threads on the jack body will get
messed up.

Just my guess!

- Keith KD1E -
- K2 5411 -

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Cook

There is just one thing that has got me stuck: the nut that goes on the
antenna jack.

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[stephen Farthing]

Mike,
            Mine went on first time......here is a tip you might wish to
try....(having first checked that you have not, by accident got the right
nut confused with another on your bench). Offer up the nut to the threads on
the antenna connector. Then turn it anti clockwise until you feel a "click".
This click is the end of the thread on the nut passing over the end of the
thread of the antenna conector....as soon as you feel the click turn the
nnut clockwise and the threads will engage and Sam is your uncle (over here
we say Bob!). You can use your fingers to tighten it up....dont bother witha
spanner (wrench in the colonies?) unless you want to tighten it up at the
end a tad...finger tight works for me....

Regards, Steve G0XAR
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Cook" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 4:19 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 Antenna Nut: It can't be this hard

> Hi all. I've been assembling my K2 since thursday and having a ton of
> fun. Last night I just finished the last assembly steps and I'm about  to
> move on to the third set of testing (and aligning) of the  transmitter.
>
> There is just one thing that has got me stuck: the nut that goes on  the
> antenna jack.
>
> This can't POSSIBLY be this hard. I've tried. I've had someone else  try.
> I just can NOT get the thing on. It seems impossible to get the  thing on
> straight. If I do get it to catch it quickly seems to end up  crooked and
> then falling off.
>
> Is there some kind of special secret here? I've even tried screwing  it on
> backwards (CCW instead of CW) but that didn't work (no surprise).
>
> Tips?
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> 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
>

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[Rajiv Dewan, N2RD]

I had exactly the same problem.  I tried for a long time and gave  
up.  I got a nut from another BNC connector in the junk box and it  
went on right away.  Something is not right with those nuts.

A recommendation for all new builders:  try it before you install the  
antenna jack.  It is probably not a bad idea to try out all the nuts  
for connectors / jacks before installing them.

Raj, N2RD



--
Rajiv Dewan, N2RD
[hidden email]
FN13fc

--

On Jul 18, 2006, at 11:19 AM, Michael Cook wrote:

> Hi all. I've been assembling my K2 since thursday and having a ton  
> of fun. Last night I just finished the last assembly steps and I'm  
> about to move on to the third set of testing (and aligning) of the  
> transmitter.
>
> There is just one thing that has got me stuck: the nut that goes on  
> the antenna jack.
>
> This can't POSSIBLY be this hard. I've tried. I've had someone else  
> try. I just can NOT get the thing on. It seems impossible to get  
> the thing on straight. If I do get it to catch it quickly seems to  
> end up crooked and then falling off.
>
> Is there some kind of special secret here? I've even tried screwing  
> it on backwards (CCW instead of CW) but that didn't work (no  
> surprise).
>
> Tips?
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> 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

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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Michael,

Others have given you good suggestions, but ...

In most cases, you can simply leave the nut off - the BNC is securely
soldered to the RF Board and the rear panel is securely fastened with its
screws.  The only thing the nut accomplishes is to cover the gap between the
rear panel and the BNC body.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
> There is just one thing that has got me stuck: the nut that goes on
> the antenna jack.
>
> This can't POSSIBLY be this hard. I've tried. I've had someone else
> try. I just can NOT get the thing on. It seems impossible to get the
> thing on straight. If I do get it to catch it quickly seems to end up
> crooked and then falling off.
>
>

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[Oscar F Hills]

Same exact problem here too. I tried, gently, this and that, and then  
everything. Eventually, in spite of careful efforts, I had kind of  
stripped the first few threads. I finally just wound it on there,  
making some "new " threads. Wish I had tried a different nut, but I  
didn't think of it. There is obviously a problem with some of the  
nuts, and I will be wanting to replace the whole jack at some point  
when all my options are installed and all is well.  Just for  
completeness' sake.

Oscar WV1C


On Jul 18, 2006, at 12:16 PM, Rajiv Dewan, N2RD wrote:

> I had exactly the same problem.  I tried for a long time and gave up.
> On Jul 18, 2006, at 11:19 AM, Michael Cook wrote:
>

>> Hi all. I've been assembling my K2 since thursday and having a ton  
>> of fun. Last night I just finished the last assembly steps and I'm  
>> about to move on to the third set of testing (and aligning) of the  
>> transmitter.
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[Earl Ritchie-2]

Same with mine.  I cant even get it started, seems to be a little  for the
antenna jack

Earl

> Michael Cook wrote:
>> Hi all. I've been assembling my K2 since thursday and having a ton of
>> fun. Last night I just finished the last assembly steps and I'm about to
>> move on to the third set of testing (and aligning) of the transmitter.
>>
>> There is just one thing that has got me stuck: the nut that goes on the
>> antenna jack.
>>
>> This can't POSSIBLY be this hard. I've tried. I've had someone else try.
>> I just can NOT get the thing on. It seems impossible to get the thing on
>> straight. If I do get it to catch it quickly seems to end up crooked and
>> then falling off.
>>
>> Is there some kind of special secret here? I've even tried screwing it on
>> backwards (CCW instead of CW) but that didn't work (no surprise).
>>
>> Tips?
>> _______________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Post to: [hidden email]
>> 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
>>
> _______________________________________________
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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