K2 knob - what are the options?

[Darwin, Keith]

I'm familiar with a few options to make the K2 nicer by changing the VFO
knob (FT-100 knob, Finger Dimple), but what is the best?
 
I bought a knob off of e-bay that was advertised for the K2 and other
rigs.  It fits the shaft fine but is too shallow so it sticks out from
the face of the rig.  It is also larger in diameter and tends to cover
stuff.  I do like the finger bowl in it though and even though it looks
worse than the OEM knob, it really does work better.
 
What other suggestions do you have?
 
- Keith KD1E -
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[Rich Ardolino]

>
>I bought a knob off of e-bay that was advertised for the K2 and other
>rigs.  It fits the shaft fine but is too shallow so it sticks out from
>the face of the rig.
>  
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The FT100 knob has a plastic "pin" (mold sprue) in the center of the
shaft hole that must be snapped off (used a small screwdriver) to let
the knob seat all the way on the shaft. Check to see if your ebay knob
is the same. As to what is best...strictly a matter of your preference.
I like the FT100 knob....gave away my stock K2 knob to someone who was
going to experiment machining off the ridge on the rim.....never heard
how that worked out.

Rich  k2cpe
K2 #1102
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[K. Rice]

Hi Keith,

The first thing I tried was the finger dimple - didn't like it because I
usually tune by rotating my finger around the outside of the knob.  

I ordered another stock knob -- it has a rasp-like front edge that didn't
make for comfortable tuning.

I ground off the raspy edge using the "scary sharp" technique (*).  You don't
have to remove much -- it looks no different that the stock knob unless
you use a magnifier.  If you can see a difference you've probably taken
off too much material.

I took out the brass insert and polished the back of it beginning with
the scary sharp technique and very fine, maybe 1500 or 2000 grit
automotive paper.  It had a number of high spots. I finished up
with two grades of jeweler's rouge, first on glass and then with
a buffer.  When you're done, the rear surface should be perfectly
flat and mirror smooth.  

I put one drop -- that's ONE DROP -- of Jojoba oil on the felt washer.

A single, gentle spin will advance the tuning 1.5 to 2.0 kHz at the
10-Hz rate, yet the knob never wanders around by itself (as it will
do if you don't have it bearing on the washer).

Cheap, easy, no machine shop required - takes about an hour and makes
a nice-handling knob, at least to me.

(*) Scary sharp ref: http://home.earthlink.net/~kvaughn65/scary.html
 
73,
Ken
K3VV


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[John [K7SVV]-2]

Go for the FT-100 knob.  Some think it is too small but I love it.  I
removed mine before selling the K2 and saved it for my next K2.

John   [K7SVV]


On 4/17/06, Darwin, Keith <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> I'm familiar with a few options to make the K2 nicer by changing the VFO
> knob (FT-100 knob, Finger Dimple), but what is the best?
>
> I bought a knob off of e-bay that was advertised for the K2 and other
> rigs.  It fits the shaft fine but is too shallow so it sticks out from
> the face of the rig.  It is also larger in diameter and tends to cover
> stuff.  I do like the finger bowl in it though and even though it looks
> worse than the OEM knob, it really does work better.
>
> What other suggestions do you have?
>
> - Keith KD1E -
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>

--
John   [K7SVV]

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