Nylock nuts are a possible solution as well. Maybe not in the K3 but I use them more and more especially on antennas where there are vibrations etc.
Mike W0MU On 8/23/2010 9:55 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > Sometimes a locking compound is simply the most practical solution. Most of > the electronics equipment used in WWII had either locking compound on the > screws, safety wires in the nuts, or both. Any OT who has pulled apart a > WWII ARC-5 was greeted with a sea of little red spots on every fastener > inside! > > There are times when the extra margin of safety is worth the effort. A dab > of nail polish is a benign and effective way to add that extra protection > that easily crumbles and falls off when the screw is removed. OTOH, I avoid > locking compounds such as Loc-Tite. That stuff slowly dissolves many > plastics, entirely destroying whatever it touches over a period of weeks and > months. > > I've not had a K3 handle screw come loose, but the design is such that you > do *not* want to over-tighten the hardware. That will compress the handle > covers so they squeeze against the handle strap and prevent it from moving > to lie flat against the side of the K3 when it's not in use. > > Ron AC7AC > > -----Original Message----- > I hope not. The world would fall apart as we know it. > > Locking compounds are never necessary to lock with the correct hardware and > materials. That's why wheel lug nuts stay tight even when threads are > greased, and why oil soaked engine and transmission bolts stay tight even > when spun, stressed, and vibrated. > > When a small screw comes loose it is because of a material problem (like > selection of the wrong locking hardware) or tightening error. Locking > compounds make up for other mistakes or shortfalls like too tight or too > loose or bad hardware. If we can't fix the real problem, then we should use > them. > > 73 Tom > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > 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:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
