Elecraft

KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

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k1um

KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

I must have done something wrong... When I plug the kxbd1 in it wiggles
too much..

Should I have screwed the knerled nut on the key jack? The jack on my kx-1
is flush with the upper conver so the nut wont screw on.
Suggestions to solve the case of the wiggling KXBD1

thanks

Ken K1UM

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Don Wilhelm-3

RE: KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

Ken,

The knurled handle screw supplied with the KXPD1 is what keeps the key
secured to the KX1 and should prevent 'wiggling'. If it does not, look for
something projecting on the back of the paddle - you may not have tightened
the jack body adequately into the paddle base - the shoulder of the jack
should be flush with (or recessed slightly below) the aluminum block of the
paddle.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I must have done something wrong... When I plug the kxbd1 in it wiggles
> too much..
>
> Should I have screwed the knerled nut on the key jack? The jack
> on my kx-1
> is flush with the upper conver so the nut wont screw on.
> Suggestions to solve the case of the wiggling KXBD1
>
> thanks
>
> Ken K1UM
>

Ron D'Eau Claire-2

RE: KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

Which nut are you looking at Ken? There should be *no* knurled nut on the
jack itself.

The jack should be just flush with the case so when you plug the KXPD1 into
the key jack, the KXPD1 aluminum body rests flush against the side of the
KX1 case.

Then you insert the knurled *screw* into the hole in the KXPD1 body so it
passes through the KXPD1 and into the threaded hole in the side of the KX1
just above the key jack.

Tighten that screw so the KXPD1 assembly is held tight and secure against
the KX1.

There are two holes in the KXPD1 for the knurled *screw*, so you can orient
the paddles for either left or right-handed operation. The knurled screw is
a "captive" screw: once you screw it into the KXPD1 hole, it then screws
into the KX1 side. When you remove the KXPD1 from the KX1 the knurled screw
remains captive in the KXPD1 hole unless you purposely unscrew it from the
KXPD1 body as well.

That helps avoid the knurled screw becoming separated from the KXPD1 and
lost. When you put it in, you must screw it through both the KXPD1 body and
into the KX1 to hold the assembly.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 6:53 AM
To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

Ken,

The knurled handle screw supplied with the KXPD1 is what keeps the key
secured to the KX1 and should prevent 'wiggling'. If it does not, look for
something projecting on the back of the paddle - you may not have tightened
the jack body adequately into the paddle base - the shoulder of the jack
should be flush with (or recessed slightly below) the aluminum block of the
paddle.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I must have done something wrong... When I plug the kxbd1 in it wiggles
> too much..
>
> Should I have screwed the knerled nut on the key jack? The jack on my
> kx-1 is flush with the upper conver so the nut wont screw on.
> Suggestions to solve the case of the wiggling KXBD1
>
> thanks
>
> Ken K1UM
>

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Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
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http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

_______________________________________________
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David F. Reed

Re: KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

In reply to this post by k1um

Ken,

Whatever you do, do not over tighten the knurled screw; this can damage
the circuit board behind it.

Look very carefully at why it is loose...

One possibility is that the internal board there is too close to the
case, and that the knurled screw is not holding the paddle tightly
because the board is interfering with it as it is screwed in.

If this is the case, you will want to be very careful in repairing it;
you do not want to grind down the board, as there is a trace near the
edge that can be ruined by that sort of action.
You might try loosening some of the mounting screws and repositioning
the board slightly more aft of that panel. This may not work though.

I personally prefer the method suggested to me by Jerry McCarthy,
WA2DKG; that is to carefully grind a very short length off the knurled
screw end, taking car to preserve the thread end as undistorted. That
way, it can pull the paddle flush against the case.

73 de Dave, W5SV

[hidden email] wrote:

>I must have done something wrong... When I plug the kxbd1 in it wiggles
>too much..
>
>Should I have screwed the knerled nut on the key jack? The jack on my kx-1
>is flush with the upper conver so the nut wont screw on.
>Suggestions to solve the case of the wiggling KXBD1
>
>thanks
>
>Ken K1UM
>
>

Ron D'Eau Claire-2

RE: KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

On my KX1, the knurled screw does *not* reach through the threaded ferrule
on the case, so it's not possible to damage anything no matter how hard it's
tightened (other than to strip the threads if one tries to tighten it with a
wrench!).

It sounds like there may be some variation in the screws or key bodies if
some can actually reach through the threaded section and touch the board. On
my KXPD1, the knurled screw only shows about 1/8" of screw when pressed hard
into the hole on the paddle body. That's just enough to show at most 3
threads to mate with the threaded ferrule in the after passing through the
thickness of the case. If your knurled screw shows more than 3 threads or
protrudes more than 1/8" through the KXPD1 body, it might be possible to jam
against the edge of the PC board. That's easy to check. Just remove the
bottom cover and look to see if it's coming all the way through when
tightened.

Note that you may need to wiggle the KXPD1 slightly to get the threaded
screw to go into the threaded ferrule on the case. The screw has to be lined
up with the threads in the case before it'll "tighten".

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David F. Reed
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 8:34 AM
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 KXBD1 KEYER ISSUE

Ken,

Whatever you do, do not over tighten the knurled screw; this can damage
the circuit board behind it.

Look very carefully at why it is loose...

One possibility is that the internal board there is too close to the
case, and that the knurled screw is not holding the paddle tightly
because the board is interfering with it as it is screwed in.

If this is the case, you will want to be very careful in repairing it;
you do not want to grind down the board, as there is a trace near the
edge that can be ruined by that sort of action.
You might try loosening some of the mounting screws and repositioning
the board slightly more aft of that panel. This may not work though.

I personally prefer the method suggested to me by Jerry McCarthy,
WA2DKG; that is to carefully grind a very short length off the knurled
screw end, taking car to preserve the thread end as undistorted. That
way, it can pull the paddle flush against the case.

73 de Dave, W5SV

[hidden email] wrote:

>I must have done something wrong... When I plug the kxbd1 in it wiggles
>too much..
>
>Should I have screwed the knerled nut on the key jack? The jack on my
>kx-1 is flush with the upper conver so the nut wont screw on.
>Suggestions to solve the case of the wiggling KXBD1
>
>thanks
>
>Ken K1UM
>
>