K3 #6150
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K3/100 kit sn 6150 arrived yesterday just in time for the weekend. Took my time today and it went together in about 8 hours, with no significant issues. Everything worked according to the manual as I expected. There is one issue that is somewhat irritating though. The AF and RF knobs cannot be "nested" as they should be to fit properly. In order to be able to turn the AF gain or RF gain without having them catch on the larger respective SUB knobs they have to be pulled out so they won't catch. They are visibly out of alignment. A quick search of the archives revealed a rather long 2 /1/2 year old thread about some defective knobs. The gist of the thread was not so much about them cracking or breaking as some had experienced, it was because they were "off center" and would not allow for a proper installation. Apparently whatever the issue was, it is still there 2 1/2 years later as the one I received yesterday has the same problem. It's hard to understand how a product can be so well designed and the manufacturing tolerances so close (take the cabinet parts and pieces as one example) but yet something as seemingly simple as a plastic knob some 2 1/2 years after an in-depth discussion that Elecraft was part of are still being manufactured and delivered out of tolerance. I don't have a problem with the intended look or feel of the knobs, I think they are fine, just the fact they turn out so badly in many cases and detract from the end product. I was having a lot of fun putting this together today until I got to the part where I installed the knobs, big disappointment! I have a set of the Mouser machined aluminum knobs and although they are smooth and have a nice feel they just don't match the rest of the knobs to my liking, I wonder if anyone has come up with an alternative to the Mouser knobs? Tim NZ8J K3 - 6150 P3- 1775 KPA500 - 618 ______________________________________________________________ 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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Hi Tim,
I understand your disappointment. There is an inherent flaw with kits familiar to those of us that built Heathkits. When a shipment of 1000 or more knobs arrives from the knob manufacturer the kit manufacturer sample checks the lot. So some defective knobs may slip through. (The previous cracked knob flaw would pass inspection because the cracking happened over time). A factory built K3 would not have this problem since the knobs would be rejected by the assembler. But the good news is now you can enjoy perhaps the best reason to buy Elecraft. Send an e-mail to Elecraft support and you'll get a really fast response and you'll have new knobs in a few days. 73, Mike K2MK
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In reply to this post by nz8j
Tim,
The knobs are really easy to over tighten, which puts them out of round. I had the same problem, and same response as you (K3 #4974). I did get a replacement set of knobs, and found that they too were easy to deform. Just tighten them the minimum needed to hold them in place - they will work fine. And yes, you do need to separate them just slightly to prevent friction binding. Otherwise, this is the best radio I have ever owned. Get past this gripe and I am sure you will agree! Brian
Brian, op K1NW
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In reply to this post by nz8j
I just mentioned that on the reflector a week or so ago and a large number
of people said the same thing; contact Elecraft and let them know and you will get new knobs in a few days. I had the same problem as you with the K3 I built a few months ago and just kind of lived with it till I was told to get new ones. Problem solved. 73's Tim Herrick, KQ8M North Coast Contesters [hidden email] K3 Serial #5934 -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of NZ8J Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 1:04 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] K3 #6150 K3/100 kit sn 6150 arrived yesterday just in time for the weekend. Took my time today and it went together in about 8 hours, with no significant issues. Everything worked according to the manual as I expected. There is one issue that is somewhat irritating though. The AF and RF knobs cannot be "nested" as they should be to fit properly. In order to be able to turn the AF gain or RF gain without having them catch on the larger respective SUB knobs they have to be pulled out so they won't catch. They are visibly out of alignment. A quick search of the archives revealed a rather long 2 /1/2 year old thread about some defective knobs. The gist of the thread was not so much about them cracking or breaking as some had experienced, it was because they were "off center" and would not allow for a proper installation. Apparently whatever the issue was, it is still there 2 1/2 years later as the one I received yesterday has the same problem. It's hard to understand how a product can be so well designed and the manufacturing tolerances so close (take the cabinet parts and pieces as one example) but yet something as seemingly simple as a plastic knob some 2 1/2 years after an in-depth discussion that Elecraft was part of are still being manufactured and delivered out of tolerance. I don't have a problem with the intended look or feel of the knobs, I think they are fine, just the fact they turn out so badly in many cases and detract from the end product. I was having a lot of fun putting this together today until I got to the part where I installed the knobs, big disappointment! I have a set of the Mouser machined aluminum knobs and although they are smooth and have a nice feel they just don't match the rest of the knobs to my liking, I wonder if anyone has come up with an alternative to the Mouser knobs? Tim NZ8J K3 - 6150 P3- 1775 KPA500 - 618 ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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I certainly agree with your overall sentiment. It beats me why Elecraft would continue to use a parts vendor that produces knobs with such horrible quality control. Three years is a ridiculous amount of time for any supplier to get its act together. My AF/RF knobs had the cracking problem, and while Elecraft did quickly replace them I bought the machined aluminum knobs from Mouser anyway and I love them. They have a very solid feel to them and I actually like the fact that they stick out. They don't stick out any more than the main VFO knob, and since I am right handed they are easier for my hand to quickly access past the other four small knobs. 73, Dave AB7E > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of NZ8J > Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 1:04 AM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 #6150 > > > K3/100 kit sn 6150 arrived yesterday just in time for the weekend. Took > my time today and it went together in about 8 hours, with no significant > issues. Everything worked according to the manual as I expected. There > is one issue that is somewhat irritating though. The AF and RF knobs > cannot be "nested" as they should be to fit properly. In order to be > able to turn the AF gain or RF gain without having them catch on the > larger respective SUB knobs they have to be pulled out so they won't > catch. They are visibly out of alignment. > > A quick search of the archives revealed a rather long 2 /1/2 year old > thread about some defective knobs. The gist of the thread was not so > much about them cracking or breaking as some had experienced, it was > because they were "off center" and would not allow for a proper > installation. Apparently whatever the issue was, it is still there 2 1/2 > years later as the one I received yesterday has the same problem. > > It's hard to understand how a product can be so well designed and the > manufacturing tolerances so close (take the cabinet parts and pieces as > one example) but yet something as seemingly simple as a plastic knob > some 2 1/2 years after an in-depth discussion that Elecraft was part of > are still being manufactured and delivered out of tolerance. I don't > have a problem with the intended look or feel of the knobs, I think they > are fine, just the fact they turn out so badly in many cases and detract > from the end product. > > I was having a lot of fun putting this together today until I got to the > part where I installed the knobs, big disappointment! > > I have a set of the Mouser machined aluminum knobs and although they > are smooth and have a nice feel they just don't match the rest of the > knobs to my liking, I wonder if anyone has come up with an alternative > to the Mouser knobs? > > Tim > NZ8J > > K3 - 6150 > P3- 1775 > KPA500 - 618 > > > > 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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I have the weighted black knobs on my K3 and love them. So nice to turn.
Philip LaMarche 727-944-3226 727-510-5038 Cell www.w9dvm.com K3 # 1605 KPA500 # 029 P3 #1480 CCA 98-00827 CRA 1701 W9DVM -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Gilbert Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 2:17 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 #6150 I certainly agree with your overall sentiment. It beats me why Elecraft would continue to use a parts vendor that produces knobs with such horrible quality control. Three years is a ridiculous amount of time for any supplier to get its act together. My AF/RF knobs had the cracking problem, and while Elecraft did quickly replace them I bought the machined aluminum knobs from Mouser anyway and I love them. They have a very solid feel to them and I actually like the fact that they stick out. They don't stick out any more than the main VFO knob, and since I am right handed they are easier for my hand to quickly access past the other four small knobs. 73, Dave AB7E > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of NZ8J > Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 1:04 AM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 #6150 > > > K3/100 kit sn 6150 arrived yesterday just in time for the weekend. > Took my time today and it went together in about 8 hours, with no > significant issues. Everything worked according to the manual as I > expected. There is one issue that is somewhat irritating though. The > AF and RF knobs cannot be "nested" as they should be to fit properly. > In order to be able to turn the AF gain or RF gain without having them > catch on the larger respective SUB knobs they have to be pulled out so > they won't catch. They are visibly out of alignment. > > A quick search of the archives revealed a rather long 2 /1/2 year old > thread about some defective knobs. The gist of the thread was not so > much about them cracking or breaking as some had experienced, it was > because they were "off center" and would not allow for a proper > installation. Apparently whatever the issue was, it is still there 2 > 1/2 years later as the one I received yesterday has the same problem. > > It's hard to understand how a product can be so well designed and the > manufacturing tolerances so close (take the cabinet parts and pieces > as one example) but yet something as seemingly simple as a plastic > knob some 2 1/2 years after an in-depth discussion that Elecraft was > part of are still being manufactured and delivered out of tolerance. I > don't have a problem with the intended look or feel of the knobs, I > think they are fine, just the fact they turn out so badly in many > cases and detract from the end product. > > I was having a lot of fun putting this together today until I got to > the part where I installed the knobs, big disappointment! > > I have a set of the Mouser machined aluminum knobs and although they > are smooth and have a nice feel they just don't match the rest of the > knobs to my liking, I wonder if anyone has come up with an alternative > to the Mouser knobs? > > Tim > NZ8J > > K3 - 6150 > P3- 1775 > KPA500 - 618 > > > > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by David Gilbert
How about a Mouser part # for those knobs?
Buck k4ia K3 # 101 On 1/8/2012 2:17 PM, David Gilbert wrote: > > I certainly agree with your overall sentiment. It beats me why > Elecraft would continue to use a parts vendor that produces knobs with > such horrible quality control. Three years is a ridiculous amount of > time for any supplier to get its act together. > > My AF/RF knobs had the cracking problem, and while Elecraft did quickly > replace them I bought the machined aluminum knobs from Mouser anyway and > I love them. They have a very solid feel to them and I actually like > the fact that they stick out. They don't stick out any more than the > main VFO knob, and since I am right handed they are easier for my hand > to quickly access past the other four small knobs. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [hidden email] >> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of NZ8J >> Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 1:04 AM >> To: [hidden email] >> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 #6150 >> >> >> K3/100 kit sn 6150 arrived yesterday just in time for the weekend. Took >> my time today and it went together in about 8 hours, with no significant >> issues. Everything worked according to the manual as I expected. There >> is one issue that is somewhat irritating though. The AF and RF knobs >> cannot be "nested" as they should be to fit properly. In order to be >> able to turn the AF gain or RF gain without having them catch on the >> larger respective SUB knobs they have to be pulled out so they won't >> catch. They are visibly out of alignment. >> >> A quick search of the archives revealed a rather long 2 /1/2 year old >> thread about some defective knobs. The gist of the thread was not so >> much about them cracking or breaking as some had experienced, it was >> because they were "off center" and would not allow for a proper >> installation. Apparently whatever the issue was, it is still there 2 1/2 >> years later as the one I received yesterday has the same problem. >> >> It's hard to understand how a product can be so well designed and the >> manufacturing tolerances so close (take the cabinet parts and pieces as >> one example) but yet something as seemingly simple as a plastic knob >> some 2 1/2 years after an in-depth discussion that Elecraft was part of >> are still being manufactured and delivered out of tolerance. I don't >> have a problem with the intended look or feel of the knobs, I think they >> are fine, just the fact they turn out so badly in many cases and detract >> from the end product. >> >> I was having a lot of fun putting this together today until I got to the >> part where I installed the knobs, big disappointment! >> >> I have a set of the Mouser machined aluminum knobs and although they >> are smooth and have a nice feel they just don't match the rest of the >> knobs to my liking, I wonder if anyone has come up with an alternative >> to the Mouser knobs? >> >> Tim >> NZ8J >> >> K3 - 6150 >> P3- 1775 >> KPA500 - 618 >> >> >> >> > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 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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In reply to this post by nz8j
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How about a Mouser part # for those knobs? ---------------------------------- The Mouser Part # is 506-KN5700B1/4. They are also available from Digikey and Newark. Bob W6VY ______________________________________________________________ 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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Great idea for upgrading the concentric knobs...But I think the OEM cost might be why Elecraft didn't use them.Component manufactures will have a minimum of three qualtity levels. Consumer; Industrial and Military.Not sure which catalog Elecraft does their shopping in but the original concentric knobs may have been from the consumer booklet. Maybe someone on list would put together a group/quantity purchase from one of the stocking Distributors for those wanting. Bill-w7kxb > Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 09:02:49 -0800 > From: [hidden email] > To: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 #6150 > > ------------------------------- > How about a Mouser part # for those knobs? > ---------------------------------- > > The Mouser Part # is 506-KN5700B1/4. They are also available > from Digikey and Newark. > ond set > Bob W6VY > > ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ 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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