I tried both kinds of knobs for an extended period. I used the standard knob with very light drag from the felt pad so that I could spin it easily. It was easy to spin and stop precisely.
The heavy knob spins for much longer, but at first I found it was harder to stop it where I wanted it. I have kept the heavy knob because I like the feel of it when turning more slowly. Both it and the standard knob are well-balanced so you can use them with very little drag. On 5/30/2012 9:24 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: > What I get out of a weighted knob is related to a car accelerator or > throttle body that sticks with first pressure on the accelerator -- you > always get a jerky start. The knob weight makes the "smooth" part possible > -- with enough inertia in the knob, it is possible to tune slowly with the > results of a "light touch" even though my fingers no longer reliably impart > a light touch. This is getting more obvious as I get older. > > 73, Guy. > > On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 11:54 AM, W4ATK<[email protected]> wrote: > >> Phillip and others, >> >> The original K3 knob is adequate in my opinion. As a matter of fact >> I have an extra. I acquired a K2 where someone had put a K3 knob on it >> (Which I did replace with the newer K2 weighted knob from Elecraft). I am >> sitting here with the spare K3 knob in my hands and cannot for the life of >> me see any advantage to an even heavier knob. Proper adjustment against the >> felt washer works for me….But to each his own….. >> >> 73s Jim, W4ATK >> On May 30, 2012, at 8:44 AM, Phil LaMarche wrote: >> >>> I questioned the problems possible caused by heavy knobs. N8BX's >>> response.... >>> >>> Philip LaMarche >>> >>> >>> >>> K3 # 1605 >>> KPA500 # 029 >>> P3 #1480 >>> >>> W9DVM >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Fred Freeman [mailto:[email protected]] >>> Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 8:41 PM >>> To: Phil LaMarche >>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] HEAVY KNOBS?? >>> >>> >>> Hi Phil, with regard to premature wear caused to the K3 encoders by >> weighted >>> knobs, I do not feel there is anything to be concerned about. Elecraft >> uses >>> the best encoders I have experienced in over 20 years in ham radio. They >>> are on par with encoders I have seen in industrial applications where >> they >>> receive much more use and abuse than anything likely to be seen in an >>> amateur radio application. I have had a weighted knob on my K3 for 3 >> years >>> and it gets used frequently. It is also my demo radio at shows and it >> gets >>> a lot of use there. To date, I can not tell it from a brand new radio. >> The >>> reason it stays nice is partly due to the quality of the encoder and >> partly >>> because of the nature in which bearing material works. Obviously a ball >>> bearing is preferred but it is an expensive luxury for hams. We a lucky >> to >>> have a USA manufacture (Elecraft) that chooses to use premium components. >>> Many Japanese made radios now use a quality made encoder with a full >> metal >>> shell and a bronze bushing for the bearing. Icom uses the same exact >>> encoders the Icom 746 thru the 7800 radios, and Yaesu does the same on >> the >>> FT-950 thru FTdx9000, etc. There were radios made in the 80's and 90's >> that >>> had plastic encoder housings and less robust bearing materials, yet these >>> encoders continue to hold up over time. Once in a while you will find an >>> old Icom 735, Kenwood 440, or a Yaesu 757GX with a worn, loose and sloppy >>> feeling encoder. Often these radios have equal wear on the face, buttons >>> and the rest of the enclosure. They literally got the heck ran out of >> them >>> for 20 years and all without any maintenance (lubrication, etc). There >> are >>> a great many radios on the used market from the 80's-90's that have nice >>> smooth and wear free encoders and the best feeling are often from radios >>> with heavier knobs (Icom 781, 765, 751A, Kenwood 930, 940, 950, Yaesu >>> FT-990, FT-1000D, FT-1000MP, etc). As an experienced tool maker, I will >> not >>> design a product that I feel will compromise the life of a customers >> radio. >>> >>> One measure that I do recommend is removing the weighted knob from your >>> radio if ever you ship it. Shipping companies today are known for >> dropping >>> boxes from great heights. When I bought my Icom 7700 and 7800 radios, >> they >>> both came with the Icom weighted knob not installed on the radio. You >> have >>> to put the knob on after you remove it from the box. So it is a >> worthwhile >>> consideration to remove the knob if shipping your radio via UPS, Fed-Ex >> or >>> US Mail. >>> >>> If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to email me. >>> Thanks& 73, N8BX >>> Fred >>> >>> >>>> >>>> ------Original Message------ >>>> From: Phil LaMarche >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: FW: [Elecraft] HEAVY KNOBS?? >>>> Sent: May 27, 2012 2:58 PM >>>> >>>> Thoughts? >>>> >>>> Philip LaMarche >>>> >>>> >>>> 727-944-3226 >>>> 727-510-5038 Cell >>>> www.w9dvm.com >>>> WWW.FLAMGROUP.COM >>>> >>>> K3 # 1605 >>>> KPA500 # 029 >>>> P3 #1480 >>>> >>>> CCA 98-00827 >>>> CRA 1701 >>>> W9DVM >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [email protected] >>>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau >>>> Claire >>>> Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2012 2:56 PM >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] HEAVY KNOBS?? >>>> >>>> I wonder if anyone has studied the long-term effects on the encoder >>>> bushings and shafts that must support those knobs? AFAIK, it's just a >>>> simple bushing >>>> - no ball or roller bearing races - so all of the wear is on the lower >>>> side of the bushing. >>>> >>>> Ron AC7AC >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® >>> >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> 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 >> > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 -- Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ ______________________________________________________________ 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
