My SKYVIEW PRO does not work!!!

Hi,

I have noticed weird things with my SVP mount.

1) The most strange happens when I try to keep a star inside the rectangle of an illuminated reticle. When I press on button (RA or DEC) the mount moves to the opposite side for a while and then to the correct side. I have checked the motors and they seems to move to the right side according to the buttom command. Then I have tried using the knobs and noticed the same problem.

Does anyone have observed this anoying problem and have any idea of how to fix it ?

2) Another problem is that the RA motor seems to move a litle bit slow so that I can observe a slow drift of the star. Any idea?

Thanks,
Andre Moutinho

>>1) The most strange happens when I try to keep a star inside the rectangle of an illuminated reticle. When I press on button (RA or DEC) the mount moves to the opposite side for a while and then to the correct side. I have checked the motors and they seems to move to the right side according to the buttom command. Then I have tried using the knobs and noticed the same problem.>>

This first problem is quite common on all inexpensive mounts. It means that the worm is moving sideways in the worm block or in the worm bearings. It may also mean that the RA and Dec axes have too much play in the main bearings (tolerance too loose). It is impossible to fix loose fitting shafts inside bearings without resorting to some sort of plating and then careful hand honing until the part fits without any play. (By the way, this is one of the ways that a high end mount differs from a mass market version).

One way that inexpensive mounts sometimes can mask the problem for a while is to use a heavy sticky glue/grease between the rotating parts. This works ok in warm weather but becomes too stiff in colder conditions.

>>2) Another problem is that the RA motor seems to move a litle bit slow so that I can observe a slow drift of the star. Any idea? >>

This may be a simple case of polar alignment. The mount will seem to track slow or fast depending on whether the altitude axis is above the pole or below the pole. I suggest that you do a drift alignment, and the problem will probably be resolved.

Roland Christen