K2 encoder question

[VK7JB]

Hello All,

Just got to the stage of completing the FP of K2 #6998. I'm wondering how much
resistance in turning the encoder shaft is "normal" on the K2?  Even without the
felt washer, there is quite a bit of friction turning the shaft of my encoder -
it's very smooth, but there's no way I could "spin" it very much.  If I give it
a flick (hard), the VFO knob will turn maybe 3/4 of a turn at the most.

This is much "stiffer" than, say my IC746pro encoder knob which I'm used to, so
I'm just wondering what's normal for the K2 encoder.  I saw a video on You Tube
of a guy with a K2 and he was having no trouble spinning up and down the band
with a few revolutions per flick of the VFO knob, but he had a different knob to
the stock K2, so maybe that makes a difference too.

Just wondering.

Thanks,
John
VK7JB



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[Don Wilhelm-4]

  John,

The K2 encoder should be quite smooth and free.  It would be normal
without the felt washer for the knob to spin at least two revolutions
with a hard 'flick'.  In the early days of the K2, some who adjusted
their knob with no tension on the felt washer would see their dial
reading "drift" with light taps on the desk or enclosure because of a
slight imbalance in the knob geometry - I mention this only as an
example of the smoothness of the encoder.

If yours is as tight as you indicate, I would contact [hidden email]
about a possible replacement.  Since it is the single most expensive
part in the K2, they may want to ask some questions first.

As a side note, normally the proper amount of pressure between the knob
and felt washer can be achieved by letting the knob drop onto the shaft
of its own weight and then tighten the setscrews.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 9/27/2010 8:12 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> Just got to the stage of completing the FP of K2 #6998. I'm wondering how much
> resistance in turning the encoder shaft is "normal" on the K2?  Even without the
> felt washer, there is quite a bit of friction turning the shaft of my encoder -
> it's very smooth, but there's no way I could "spin" it very much.  If I give it
> a flick (hard), the VFO knob will turn maybe 3/4 of a turn at the most.
>
> This is much "stiffer" than, say my IC746pro encoder knob which I'm used to, so
> I'm just wondering what's normal for the K2 encoder.  I saw a video on You Tube
> of a guy with a K2 and he was having no trouble spinning up and down the band
> with a few revolutions per flick of the VFO knob, but he had a different knob to
> the stock K2, so maybe that makes a difference too.
>
> Just wondering.
>
> Thanks,
> John
> VK7JB
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

______________________________________________________________
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