Tex - if you're referring to the scratchy mechanical noise that occurs when you rotate the encoder even when the KX3 is powered off, it seems that can be solved by carefully removing the main tuning knob (remove rubber sleeve to access the hex screw opening), carefully removing the circlip and washer from the shaft, and polishing/greasing them. There is no need to remove the nut that secures the encoder.
Here's a post on the subject by Mike / W5EEA. I went through this process myself and it cured the scratchy. I did not polish the circlip or attempt to flatten the washer - I only applied some "fine polishing creme for all metals" to each side of the washer and polished that with a Dremel tool, then applied some white lithium grease to both sides and put it all back together. Scratchy is about 95 percent gone. Please be careful.. and obviously this is not an Elecraft-endorsed mod. Mike's post follows. 73, --Andrew, NV1B .. --- From: mikew5...@hotmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: KX3 encoder noise fix....for some Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 08:39:52 -0600 PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS FIX..unless you read this and think 'I have no problem doing this'. There is every chance you will loose parts or make things worse than they were (or may end up buying a new encoder). I found the scrapping/scratching stopped if you invert the radio and turned the knob. If you remove the knob you can see a "C" clip on the shaft over a washer resting on the body of the encoder. On mine the noise was coming from the surface finish between the washer and the clip. The washer rotates a little each turn and that is why the noise does not happen at the same spot in the rotation of the knob. Remove the washer and clip, make them flat and polish them, put them back on with a good silicone grease and it feels like a K3 VFO. If you think SM parts are small you will never see what needs to be done to the washer and clip. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not stick a screwdriver in your had or ding up your very nice new KX3 that works *just fine* without this fix if this is not something that sounds easy for you to do. (I work at Lockheed where we make some REALLY NICE little gizmos - that's where I got the 'practice' for this kind work) --- On Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 6:55 PM, pkhjr <k...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Received my KX3 ordered 2/17 serial # 1040. Love the radio.... The only > problem so far is the noise generated I guess generated by the encoder. I > tried removing the felt pad between the knob and the chassis and the noise > is still there...? > > 73 Tex > ka5y > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-Rec-d-today-tp7560208.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
