KXPD2 Paddle

[Tom Francis, W1TEF]

Greetings,

First, before I go any further, I have nothing but the highest regard
for Elecraft's Customer
Support and Service.  I've had several issues with my KX2 that were due
to operator error
and Elecraft has fixed my self-induced KX2 injuries quickly and
efficiently. Plus, I've had
a couple of other dealings with Customer Service all outstanding.

However..... ;-)

I've been dealing with a KXPD2 paddle issue since I purchased my KX2
last year. I've gone
through four of them all with the exact same problem.

To wit: After use, say half hour or so, the contact posts loosen up and
the CW becomes
impossible.  I've tried everything I know how to do - Loc-Tite blue goo,
used a mini-torque
wrench to set torque, pushed the envelope with tightening up the screws
- the contact posts
loosen up.

I have a very light touch with my paddles with very close spacing as CW
is my primary
mode of choice for 54 years.  So I don't think that its heavy tapping or
wide spacing
that is causing the problem.  If I were to guess, I believe it is a
dissimilar materials issue -
metal screws, plastic base, warm radio causing the plastic to expand
JUST THAT LITTLE
BIT to loosen up the screws.

Now here's the thing - four paddles all having the same issue on the
same radio with
the same operator seems to be indicative of a manufacturing problem.

Maybe it is peculiar to me - I'm not discounting that, but it seems
unusual. What I'm
wondering is if anybody else who owns and uses these paddles have the
same issue?

Thanks.

Very best regards,

Tom, W1TEF
Lexington, SC
______________________________________________________________
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]

[KENT TRIMBLE]

Tom ...

I feel your pain but not your conclusion.  For me the post-loosening problem was solved with Loctite Blue.  Since that didn't work for you, Loctite Red is the next logical step.  If that doesn't work, JB Weld most certainly will.  Just a drop of either adhesive coating the entire shank of the screw(s) will absolutely make that a permanent cure.  Carefully done, the fix is invisible.  Why Elecraft doesn't do it as a routine step in the manufacturing process I don't know.

The KXPD2 is an excellent mini-paddle once the posts are permanently anchored.

73,

Kent  K9ZTV

> On May 28, 2017, at 1:05 PM, Tom Francis, W1TEF <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
>
> First, before I go any further, I have nothing but the highest regard for Elecraft's Customer
> Support and Service.  I've had several issues with my KX2 that were due to operator error
> and Elecraft has fixed my self-induced KX2 injuries quickly and efficiently. Plus, I've had
> a couple of other dealings with Customer Service all outstanding.
>
> However..... ;-)
>
> I've been dealing with a KXPD2 paddle issue since I purchased my KX2 last year. I've gone
> through four of them all with the exact same problem.
>
> To wit: After use, say half hour or so, the contact posts loosen up and the CW becomes
> impossible.  I've tried everything I know how to do - Loc-Tite blue goo, used a mini-torque
> wrench to set torque, pushed the envelope with tightening up the screws - the contact posts
> loosen up.
>
> I have a very light touch with my paddles with very close spacing as CW is my primary
> mode of choice for 54 years.  So I don't think that its heavy tapping or wide spacing
> that is causing the problem.  If I were to guess, I believe it is a dissimilar materials issue -
> metal screws, plastic base, warm radio causing the plastic to expand JUST THAT LITTLE
> BIT to loosen up the screws.
>
> Now here's the thing - four paddles all having the same issue on the same radio with
> the same operator seems to be indicative of a manufacturing problem.
>
> Maybe it is peculiar to me - I'm not discounting that, but it seems unusual. What I'm
> wondering is if anybody else who owns and uses these paddles have the same issue?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Very best regards,
>
> Tom, W1TEF
> Lexington, SC

______________________________________________________________
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]