I'm not sure what the "middle" means here. There are seven screws holding the front section. Four in the corners thread into 2D fasteners. The others (one in the center at the rear edge and two on either side of the centerline near the front) thread into aluminum standoffs.
If it's hard to get something under the screw, lift up on one edge of the cover itself while unscrewing it. You can try one of the other screws in that 2D fastener or standoff and see if it tightens to determine if the screw or the 2D fastener/standoff is stripped. If it's not the screw itself that stripped, you'll need to replace the damaged 2D fastener or standoff. That requires significant disassembly of the K3, especially if you have the Subreceiver installed, but it's important that it be in place. Many of those screws are positioned where needed to ensure good grounding of the covers to prevent birdies in the rx, etc. One that won't snug down is not good. K3Support at elecraft dot com can lead you through the process if it's needed. Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 3:47 PM To: Mark C. Killmon Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 bottom cover screw spinning in place Mark, It certainly sounds like either the screw itself or the threads on the K3 are stripped. Do not take the dremel tool to it. Instead, use a thin tool (like the point of a knife blade) to insert under the screwhead and pry it upwards while turning it with a screwdriver. There is no captive hardware on the other side. Examine the screw carefully - if there is a place where the threads on the screw are stripped, you should throw that screw away and request a replacement from Elecraft ([email protected]), but if the threaded part of the K3 enclosure is stripped, that is a more serious problem - consult [email protected] for advice and assistance. 73, Don W3FPR Mark C. Killmon wrote: > Builders, > > > > When removing the screws from the cabinet of my K3 to make the IF > sensitivity mod, and the one-wire receiver protection mod, I've run into a > show stopper. > > > > The screw in the middle of the front-most bottom cover is just spinning in > place. This is a factory build, and all the screws let go with a loud BANG, > which is either expected from differential metal expansion/contraction, or > they were really torqued when they were installed. Anyway, the screw in > question never made any noise, it just gave resistance and spun in place, > like there's captive hardware on the other side that is just spinning. I > don't know if there's access to it if I remove the back-most bottom cover. > > > > It looks like it would be hard to access from the top, without taking most > of the rig apart. That's not an attractive proposition. > > > > I hate to take the Dremel tool to it. > > > > 73, Mark > > www.k4so.com > > www.picasaweb.com/kfourso > > kfourso.googlepages.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 > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.43/2474 - Release Date: 11/01/09 07:38:00 > > ______________________________________________________________ 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
