Hi Jim, I've had good results using a GC Electronics "Solder Popper" (part # 12-2157). It's a 30W soldering iron with a built-in spring loaded solder sucker. While it's certainly not equal to something like a Hakko 808, it's adequate for occasional use. And at less than $40, it's about 1/4 the cost.
Note, however, that it seems to run hotter than a normal iron, so you have to be careful not to linger on PC board connections. It would be a good idea to try it on some junk PC boards to get a feel for it before using it on your K2. 73 -- Joe KB8AP On Jan 29, 2009, at 6:41 AM, Jim Giercyk wrote: > Thanks guys! I purchased all of the updates from A to B. It looks > like there are some substantial improvements, and I can't wait to > get it up and running again to hear what the new and improved rig > sounds like. I also bought a new set of XTALs, but I am dreading > taking the old ones out. Any tips on removing them without damaging > the board? Since they are up against the board it's impossible to > cut the leads, and since the xtal basically acts as a heat sink, I'm > thinking it would take a lot of heat to get it out. Thanks again, > > Jim > N2SUB > > > > --- [email protected] wrote: > > From: "Guy Olinger, K2AV" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> > Cc: <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Upgrade question > Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:58:21 -0500 > > I did all the A to B upgrades and other mods on my K2 #1239, > including the > matched crystals, and then added the KDSP2. What a difference. > > It is a 10W version and I keep a battery in it, so I added the KIO2 > to talk > to the computer and the key line mod for amp keying for contesting > use. I > can drive my pair of 4X150's with it for 400-500 watts QRO if I want. > > It took a while to work through it, and getting the xtal and dsp > skirts to > match on CW took some getting used to, but when I got it all done, > the work > turned the K2 into a red-hot box. > > I did a 160 contest QRP with it and the RX was never overloaded. The > first > two CW dsp and xtal filter settings are set to give me a 400 and a > 250 Hz > resultant. Skirts keep going straight down out of my measurement > capabilities. > > Yes, you can run on 160 using QRP. Going up the band to the land of > ugly SWR > is not a problem, just use the auto-tune. Then again, maybe it's > the mojo > that makes the run. > > I carry the K2 out to an antenna, use the KAT2 to match it at the > feed and > it tells me what it used to do it. That has been ever so handy. > Never gets > fooled by close BC stations. Have used it with a 2m rubber duckie > to sniff > out an HF feedline break. > > 73, Guy K2AV > K2/K3 #1239 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Don Wilhelm" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Cc: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 8:15 PM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Upgrade question > > >> Jim, >> >> I forgot to mention - for all K2s with serial numbers less than 2560, >> replace the IF crystals too - the filter will improve >> dramatically. A >> set of 7 matched crystals is only $10 from Elecraft and if the KSB2 >> is >> installed, a set of 14 matched crystals is only $15. There is no >> need >> to match the KSB2 crystals to that used in the K2 IF filter, 2 >> matched >> sets of 7 crystals will work nicely too (if you purchase a KSB2 >> option, >> you will receive a matched set of 7 crystals with the kit. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> Jim Giercyk wrote: >>> Hello all, >>> >>> I've been out of the loop for a while, but I am looking to fire up >>> the >>> soldering iron and digging in again. My K2, #1998, was one of the >>> earlier kits. It is a revision A. Right now it has the 160 board, >>> internal battery and NB options, but it is strictly CW. >>> >>> I want to get the rig back 'up to snuff' and do whatever mods need >>> to >>> be done to make it current. I plan to add the SSB module, and >>> eventually ditch the battery and add the amp, but for now, what are >>> the critical drop-dead mods I need to do so that I am starting on a >>> level playing field? I sold my big-rig last year and so the K2 is >>> my >>> one-and-only. >>> >>> I also noticed that there is a lot of documentation on soldering, >>> but >>> none on desoldering. Any good ideas would be appreciated since I >>> see >>> a lopt of that in my future. Thanks guys and gals, >>> >>> Jim >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Post to: [email protected] >>> You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >>> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): >>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> >>> >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >>> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.15/1921 - Release Date: >>> 1/28/2009 6:37 AM >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Post to: [email protected] >> You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): >> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [email protected] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
