Is this a common occurance?

I don't think it is common. One other bbs user broke his when he misunderstood instructions about how to keep the rotary knob from slipping and epoxied it to the shaft. He broke the display trying to remove the knob to change faceplates.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"