slop in declination..opinions please

I just got a used 12 lx200 classic. It looks great, and appears to have survived the shipping unharmed. I set it up and tightened the RA and the DEC. The OTA was tight left and right but I noticed in the declination( up on the right side upright) I can move the tube up and down on the end about an inch. The manual declination adjustment knob moves up and down at the same time making a clunk noise at the top and bottom of the "slop". What is up with this?? normal or fatal?? I went out for a viewing session and it tracked ok for a first time user that was getting frost bite.. I used the one star method (I was cold and two stars would be more difficult in the moon washed sky) I picked Sirus and did my best to center it. I hit m 42 and it was perfect in the middle...I bout filled my pants It found everything in the eyepiece in the south part of the sky. When I went to the north, things were off a bit. Andromena Gal. was a little up and to the right. Pleiades was on but mars wasn't.. Jupiter was just coming up and it would hit it 50/50..the moon was dead on saturn was close (I could see the division and a few bands on the main globe with 8mm throught the boiling jetstream).. No unusual groaning or clunking as the mechanics worked, appeared ok??..Do I need to be worried about the slop in the first part of my question?? thank you

Hi Dale,
I atually just posted the same Exact ? a short time ago. Slop in used sct declination. Check back in archives find my post and see the replies. One very kind person gave me a diagram of the hole deal. My fix was simple tightening of the bracket to the scope arm. It was a hinge pin and that is where the slop was. Take a look and in mean time i will see if I saved the diagram. You can do it! And yes it does need to be fixed since you move and slew the scope, it will flop some already so u dont want anymore than you have to.

hope This Helps. Its more then likley #3

Cheers
Bill RUssell


I have identified 3 Major causes of backlash (Slop ) in the LX200GPS.
1. Gear Pin 1 and 2 loose
2. Gap between Pinion Gear and Motor Gear.
3. Rack Pin Limit Spring.

Fix 1. Check for loose gears
1. Check for play in the Rack Assemble by lightly turning the gear back and forth while if any noticeable play is noticed tighten the gear Pin
2. Lightly turn the Dec Knob in both directions. If any play is visible, tighten the Gear Pin

Fix 2. Adjust Motor alignment bolts - You will have to remove the mounting bolts to perform this!.
1. First remove the 2 mounting bolts being careful not to loose the Rack Swing Limit Pin Spring.
2. Remove the Upper Gear and set aside.
3. Tighten the 2 lower alignment bolts.
4. Replace gear.
5. Check for play.
6. Repeat.


Fix 3. Rack Pin Limit Spring.
1) Get a new one. Tighten screw till it touches plate then back off 1 turn.

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