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K2 raspy side tone

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K2 raspy side tone

Hello;
I have an older K2 that has developed a raspy, scratchy sounding CW note on receive. All bands affected. The transmit sidetone is clean as a whistle. Headphones or external sparker are the same. Seems like there is some popping and scratching when I bump or play with the AF gain control. Could that be it? And I'm thinking of spraying with DeOxit contact cleaner. Is that OK? Thanks!
Jacob K4JQV

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 raspy side tone

Jacob,

If the AF Gain is scratchy when turned, the best cure is to replace it.
Those small pots are sealed, and I doubt that you could get any DeOxit
into the body of the control. Even if you can get some inside the pot,
the "cure" will not be long lasting, you will eventually have to replace
the pot, so 'bite the bullet' and do it now.
The carbon (or other material) that forms the resistive layer over which
the wiper rides can become pitted and work with extended use - there is
no way to fix that other than replacement.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/21/2016 10:53 AM, Jacob Chambers via Elecraft wrote:
> Hello;
> I have an older K2 that has developed a raspy, scratchy sounding CW note on receive. All bands affected. The transmit sidetone is clean as a whistle. Headphones or external sparker are the same. Seems like there is some popping and scratching when I bump or play with the AF gain control. Could that be it? And I'm thinking of spraying with DeOxit contact cleaner. Is that OK? Thanks!
>

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Vic Rosenthal

Re: K2 raspy side tone

If it's a REALLY old K2 there is a modification that you should perform in the wiring of the control as well as replacing it. It's on the Elecraft website.

Vic 4X6GP/K2VCO

> On 21 Jan 2016, at 11:36 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Jacob,
>
> If the AF Gain is scratchy when turned, the best cure is to replace it. Those small pots are sealed, and I doubt that you could get any DeOxit into the body of the control. Even if you can get some inside the pot, the "cure" will not be long lasting, you will eventually have to replace the pot, so 'bite the bullet' and do it now.
> The carbon (or other material) that forms the resistive layer over which the wiper rides can become pitted and work with extended use - there is no way to fix that other than replacement.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 1/21/2016 10:53 AM, Jacob Chambers via Elecraft wrote:
>> Hello;
>> I have an older K2 that has developed a raspy, scratchy sounding CW note on receive. All bands affected. The transmit sidetone is clean as a whistle. Headphones or external sparker are the same. Seems like there is some popping and scratching when I bump or play with the AF gain control. Could that be it? And I'm thinking of spraying with DeOxit contact cleaner. Is that OK? Thanks!
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: K2 raspy side tone

I'll second that. I have K2 #380 and changing the
AF pot wiring a couple of years ago cured all of
that AF gain scratchiness.

Phil W7OX

On 1/21/16 9:52 PM, Vic Rosenthal wrote:

> If it's a REALLY old K2 there is a modification that you should perform in the wiring of the control as well as replacing it. It's on the Elecraft website.
>
> Vic 4X6GP/K2VCO
>
>> On 21 Jan 2016, at 11:36 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Jacob,
>>
>> If the AF Gain is scratchy when turned, the best cure is to replace it. Those small pots are sealed, and I doubt that you could get any DeOxit into the body of the control. Even if you can get some inside the pot, the "cure" will not be long lasting, you will eventually have to replace the pot, so 'bite the bullet' and do it now.
>> The carbon (or other material) that forms the resistive layer over which the wiper rides can become pitted and work with extended use - there is no way to fix that other than replacement.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>>> On 1/21/2016 10:53 AM, Jacob Chambers via Elecraft wrote:
>>> Hello;
>>> I have an older K2 that has developed a raspy, scratchy sounding CW note on receive. All bands affected. The transmit sidetone is clean as a whistle. Headphones or external sparker are the same. Seems like there is some popping and scratching when I bump or play with the AF gain control. Could that be it? And I'm thinking of spraying with DeOxit contact cleaner. Is that OK? Thanks!