K3 bottom cover screw spinning in place

[K4SO]

Builders,

 

When removing the screws from the cabinet of my K3 to make the IF
sensitivity mod, and the one-wire receiver protection mod, I've run into a
show stopper.

 

The screw in the middle of the front-most bottom cover is just spinning in
place. This is a factory build, and all the screws let go with a loud BANG,
which is either expected from differential metal expansion/contraction, or
they were really torqued when they were installed. Anyway, the screw in
question never made any noise, it just gave resistance and spun in place,
like there's captive hardware on the other side that is just spinning. I
don't know if there's access to it if I remove the back-most bottom cover.

 

It looks like it would be hard to access from the top, without taking most
of the rig apart. That's not an attractive proposition.

 

I hate to take the Dremel tool to it.

 

73, Mark

www.k4so.com

www.picasaweb.com/kfourso

kfourso.googlepages.com

 

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Mark,

It certainly sounds like either the screw itself or the threads on the
K3 are stripped.
Do not take the dremel tool to it.  Instead, use a thin tool (like the
point of a knife blade) to insert under the screwhead and pry it upwards
while turning it with a screwdriver.  There is no captive hardware on
the other side.

Examine the screw carefully - if there is a place where the threads on
the screw are stripped, you should throw that screw away and request a
replacement from Elecraft ([hidden email]), but if the threaded part
of the K3 enclosure is stripped, that is a more serious problem -
consult [hidden email] for advice and assistance.

73,
Don W3FPR

Mark C. Killmon wrote:

> Builders,
>
>  
>
> When removing the screws from the cabinet of my K3 to make the IF
> sensitivity mod, and the one-wire receiver protection mod, I've run into a
> show stopper.
>
>  
>
> The screw in the middle of the front-most bottom cover is just spinning in
> place. This is a factory build, and all the screws let go with a loud BANG,
> which is either expected from differential metal expansion/contraction, or
> they were really torqued when they were installed. Anyway, the screw in
> question never made any noise, it just gave resistance and spun in place,
> like there's captive hardware on the other side that is just spinning. I
> don't know if there's access to it if I remove the back-most bottom cover.
>
>  
>
> It looks like it would be hard to access from the top, without taking most
> of the rig apart. That's not an attractive proposition.
>
>  
>
> I hate to take the Dremel tool to it.
>
>  
>
> 73, Mark
>
> www.k4so.com
>
> www.picasaweb.com/kfourso
>
> kfourso.googlepages.com
>
>  
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.43/2474 - Release Date: 11/01/09 07:38:00
>
>  

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Mark,

Re-reading that screw location - it may mate with a standoff - so you
may be able to remove the top cover and tighten the screw that fastens
the standoff to the main board.  Easy if you have the basic K3, but a
bit more complex if you have the SubRX installed.

73,
Don W3FPR

Mark,

It certainly sounds like either the screw itself or the threads on the
K3 are stripped.
Do not take the dremel tool to it.  Instead, use a thin tool (like the
point of a knife blade) to insert under the screwhead and pry it upwards
while turning it with a screwdriver.  There is no captive hardware on
the other side.

Examine the screw carefully - if there is a place where the threads on
the screw are stripped, you should throw that screw away and request a
replacement from Elecraft ([hidden email]), but if the threaded part
of the K3 enclosure is stripped, that is a more serious problem -
consult [hidden email] for advice and assistance.

73,
Don W3FPR

Mark C. Killmon wrote:

> Builders,
>
>  
>
> When removing the screws from the cabinet of my K3 to make the IF
> sensitivity mod, and the one-wire receiver protection mod, I've run into a
> show stopper.
>
>  
>
> The screw in the middle of the front-most bottom cover is just spinning in
> place. This is a factory build, and all the screws let go with a loud BANG,
> which is either expected from differential metal expansion/contraction, or
> they were really torqued when they were installed. Anyway, the screw in
> question never made any noise, it just gave resistance and spun in place,
> like there's captive hardware on the other side that is just spinning. I
> don't know if there's access to it if I remove the back-most bottom cover.
>
>  
>
> It looks like it would be hard to access from the top, without taking most
> of the rig apart. That's not an attractive proposition.
>
>  
>
> I hate to take the Dremel tool to it.
>
>  
>
> 73, Mark
>
> www.k4so.com
>
> www.picasaweb.com/kfourso
>
> kfourso.googlepages.com
>
>  
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.43/2474 - Release Date: 11/01/09 07:38:00
>
>  

______________________________________________________________

Elecraft mailing list
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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.43/2474 - Release Date: 11/01/09 07:38:00


______________________________________________________________
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[Bill N2BC]

Mark C. Killmon wrote:

> Builders,
>
>  
>
> When removing the screws from the cabinet of my K3 to make the IF
> sensitivity mod, and the one-wire receiver protection mod, I've run into a
> show stopper.
>
>  
>
> The screw in the middle of the front-most bottom cover is just spinning in
> place. This is a factory build, and all the screws let go with a loud BANG,
> which is either expected from differential metal expansion/contraction, or
> they were really torqued when they were installed. Anyway, the screw in
> question never made any noise, it just gave resistance and spun in place,
> like there's captive hardware on the other side that is just spinning. I
> don't know if there's access to it if I remove the back-most bottom cover.
>
>  
>
> It looks like it would be hard to access from the top, without taking most
> of the rig apart. That's not an attractive proposition.
>
>  
>
> I hate to take the Dremel tool to it.
>
>  
>
> 73, Mark
>
> www.k4so.com
>
> www.picasaweb.com/kfourso
>
> kfourso.googlepages.com
>
>  
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>
>  

Hi Mark,  I don't have my K3 apart... but looking at the assembly manual
it appears that the center screw at the rear of the front bottom cover
goes into a standoff on the bottom of the RF board.  I suspect the screw
on the top of the standoff is loose.

Download a copy of the assembly manual and look at pages 56 and 62.  

If you remove the top covers and look in the topside near the center of
the RF board you may see the upper screw spinning as you turn the screw
on the bottom.  Not sure you will be able to see the screw at all
depending on the options installed.

In any event, if you cannot see the top screw, you may be able to access
the standoff from the bottom by removing the rear bottom cover - again
refer to the assembly manual for the screws involved.  With the rear
portion of the bottom cover removed you should be able to reach the
standoff with a pair of forceps or a small needle nose plier, holding
the standoff as you unscrew the bottom screw.

Of course you will still need to get access to the top screw eventually
in order to tighten it!   The assembly manual will help with all of this!

Good Luck!   73, Bill  N2BC

 

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[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

[Ignacy]

Had teh same happen to me two days ago.

I unscrewed the other half cover and secured the standoff with pliers. It is possible that my screw was too long.
Ignacy

Mark C. Killmon wrote

Builders,

 

When removing the screws from the cabinet of my K3 to make the IF
sensitivity mod, and the one-wire receiver protection mod, I've run into a
show stopper.

 

The screw in the middle of the front-most bottom cover is just spinning in
place. This is a factory build, and all the screws let go with a loud BANG,
which is either expected from differential metal expansion/contraction, or
they were really torqued when they were installed. Anyway, the screw in
question never made any noise, it just gave resistance and spun in place,
like there's captive hardware on the other side that is just spinning. I
don't know if there's access to it if I remove the back-most bottom cover.

 

It looks like it would be hard to access from the top, without taking most
of the rig apart. That's not an attractive proposition.

 

I hate to take the Dremel tool to it.

 

73, Mark

www.k4so.com

www.picasaweb.com/kfourso

kfourso.googlepages.com

 

______________________________________________________________
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