K2 gettin' old.....

[Elecraft mailing list]

Greetings all....I just realized my K2 (# 3500+) is getting old, I can't remember exactly when I bought the kit from Elecraft, but at least 12-13 years ago.
So, as things begin to wear out, any suggestions on what to clean, as in different front-panel POT controls that and suggestions what to use to clean them? I have used Detoxit and it seems to work very well.......
Thanks all........73
ed - k6sdw
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Ed,

If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it.  The most probable controls to wear
out are the AF gain and the RF gain, and if you use it a lot, the RIT
control.  Wait until they get scratchy and then replace.

Rather than trying for a temporary fix with DeOxit or other compounds, I
suggest you simply replace the controls that are bad. What usually
happens is that the carbon trace that the wiper runs on becomes pitted
with use, and for that there is no good cure other than replacement.
Besides, the pots used are rather tightly sealed, and I don't think you
could get any spray inside where it would do any good.  Unlike the old
unsealed pots of yesteryear.

Elecraft has replacement parts - I buy parts from them often, but then I
repair a lot of Elecraft gear - one or two each day is not unusual for me.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/10/2015 2:19 AM, Eddy via Elecraft wrote:
> Greetings all....I just realized my K2 (# 3500+) is getting old, I can't remember exactly when I bought the kit from Elecraft, but at least 12-13 years ago.
> So, as things begin to wear out, any suggestions on what to clean, as in different front-panel POT controls that and suggestions what to use to clean them? I have used Detoxit and it seems to work very well.......
> Thanks all........73
> ed - k6sdw
> ______________________________________________________________
>

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[Phil Wheeler-2]

Ed, If you're noticing some scatchiness in the AF
gain, there is a better way to deal with that --
if you have not already. I did the AF pot fix last
year in K2 #380 and it made big difference.

Info is here:
http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/K2_AF_pot/K2_AF_gain_app_note.htm 
but this may have been the wiring in yours as built.

Phil W7OX

On 2/10/15 7:53 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Ed,
>
> If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it.  The most
> probable controls to wear out are the AF gain
> and the RF gain, and if you use it a lot, the
> RIT control.  Wait until they get scratchy and
> then replace.
>
> Rather than trying for a temporary fix with
> DeOxit or other compounds, I suggest you simply
> replace the controls that are bad. What usually
> happens is that the carbon trace that the wiper
> runs on becomes pitted with use, and for that
> there is no good cure other than replacement.
> Besides, the pots used are rather tightly
> sealed, and I don't think you could get any
> spray inside where it would do any good. Unlike
> the old unsealed pots of yesteryear.
>
> Elecraft has replacement parts - I buy parts
> from them often, but then I repair a lot of
> Elecraft gear - one or two each day is not
> unusual for me.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 2/10/2015 2:19 AM, Eddy via Elecraft wrote:
>> Greetings all....I just realized my K2 (#
>> 3500+) is getting old, I can't remember exactly
>> when I bought the kit from Elecraft, but at
>> least 12-13 years ago.
>> So, as things begin to wear out, any
>> suggestions on what to clean, as in different
>> front-panel POT controls that and suggestions
>> what to use to clean them? I have used Detoxit
>> and it seems to work very well.......
>> Thanks all........73
>> ed - k6sdw
>> ______________________________________________________________
>>

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[Sverre Holm (LA3ZA)]

My K2 is also old now - 14 years I believe - and I don't use it that often any longer. I notice that the pushbuttons need some exercising before they work now. For instance no 7 and 8 (where I have CW stored for LA3ZA and 5nn - yes, I'm a lazy CW operator!). Is there any cure for this - other than to replace them or use them more often?

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Before Ed cuts traces on his K2 -- he said the serial number was above
3000, so it already has those wiring changes embedded on the board.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/10/2015 12:13 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:

> Ed, If you're noticing some scatchiness in the AF gain, there is a
> better way to deal with that -- if you have not already. I did the AF
> pot fix last year in K2 #380 and it made big difference.
>
> Info is here:
> http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/K2_AF_pot/K2_AF_gain_app_note.htm but
> this may have been the wiring in yours as built.
>
> Phil W7OX
>
> On 2/10/15 7:53 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Ed,
>>
>> If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it.  The most probable controls to
>> wear out are the AF gain and the RF gain, and if you use it a lot,
>> the RIT control.  Wait until they get scratchy and then replace.
>>
>> Rather than trying for a temporary fix with DeOxit or other
>> compounds, I suggest you simply replace the controls that are bad.
>> What usually happens is that the carbon trace that the wiper runs on
>> becomes pitted with use, and for that there is no good cure other
>> than replacement.
>> Besides, the pots used are rather tightly sealed, and I don't think
>> you could get any spray inside where it would do any good. Unlike the
>> old unsealed pots of yesteryear.
>>
>> Elecraft has replacement parts - I buy parts from them often, but
>> then I repair a lot of Elecraft gear - one or two each day is not
>> unusual for me.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 2/10/2015 2:19 AM, Eddy via Elecraft wrote:
>>> Greetings all....I just realized my K2 (# 3500+) is getting old, I
>>> can't remember exactly when I bought the kit from Elecraft, but at
>>> least 12-13 years ago.
>>> So, as things begin to wear out, any suggestions on what to clean,
>>> as in different front-panel POT controls that and suggestions what
>>> to use to clean them? I have used Detoxit and it seems to work very
>>> well.......
>>> Thanks all........73
>>> ed - k6sdw
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Sverre,

I would replace them - the pushbuttons are difficult to remove solder
from the pins, even with a good de-soldering iron.  I cut the pins as
close to the button body as possible and remove them from the board one
at a time.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/10/2015 12:46 PM, Sverre Holm (LA3ZA) wrote:
> My K2 is also old now - 14 years I believe - and I don't use it that often
> any longer. I notice that the pushbuttons need some exercising before they
> work now. For instance no 7 and 8 (where I have CW stored for LA3ZA and 5nn
> - yes, I'm a lazy CW operator!). Is there any cure for this - other than to
> replace them or use them more often?
>

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