The problem, according to my own experience, is that the ground in intermittent. Each paddle arm is the ground that makes contact with each standoff. Without a good grounding, the contact action between the set screw and the standoff is sometimes hit or miss. The reason the ground is occasionally weak is because the contact with ground by each keying paddle is designed to be via the pivot pins of each paddle arm. They are independent and sometimes intermittent grounding occurs. This results is missed dots or dashes (dits/dahs) being keyed. There are some solutions outlined on the web whereby one does a little soldering of two small wires to ground and then screw down the opposite ends of said wire under the heads of each countersunk screw head on each respective paddle arm. (These screw heads are the spring retainer screws.)
I developed another reliable solution whereby no soldering is required. (I am good at soldering but the miniaturization of the solder pads here are very delicate. I feel sure warranty issues come to mind as well. ) A great alternative is to provide backup grounding. To do so, 1. Disassemble as if changing springs. 2. The spring is coated for durability and anti-corrosion. So, on each end, place the spring opening (each end alternatively) on a micro file (or very fine emory board) and remove just the coating on the ends that contact the arms. 3. Delicately, use a small screwdriver or tool to remove the paint where the spring contacts each arm. Take your time. The paint is durable. Just remove an amount about the size of a lock washer. This will, in effect connect each paddle arm together. 4. When disassembling the key, you removed three allen screws. The heads of these screws fit into a recessed hole. At the bottom of that recess, you will need to remove the paint there as well. You need only do one but I did all three to be sure. 5. Reassemble the keyer. This mod resulted in 100% keying. The original reliability was dependent on the pivot arms of each paddle independently. This mod increases the reliability by transferring a good ground (via the spring) over to the arm that may be intermittently ungrounded. This method is still statistically less than 100% over time, but whereas I was getting keying errors regularly, they have completely disappeared. Happy keying. 73, Bill, AA4BQ ----- 73, Bill - AA4BQ Jupiter, FL. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-sluggish-keyer-tp7590116p7590946.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
