I recieved a cg-3(i think) mount from someone and noticed the dec axis has a about 5-10 degree play in it. What can I do to remove it?
tightening up the dec
Started by dapetersen, 03/14/2007 03:54AM
Posted 03/14/2007 03:54AM
Opening Post
Posted 03/14/2007 10:18AM
#1
>>>I recieved a cg-3(i think) mount from someone and noticed the dec axis has a about 5-10 degree play in it. What can I do to remove it?
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David:
These are pretty simple mounts IME and I find that they are often loose when I get them.
Not exactly sure where the play is but these are not difficult to disassemble, no fancy bearings or anything.
This is what I often find:
Most often all that has happened is that something has come unscrewed so that all that is necessary is to tighten things up with a wrench.
The first step is to see if just locking the axis and turning the head will tighten it up.
Also, there is a big nut (17mm??)at the bottom of the RA that adjusts the RA axis. The end of the shaft holds to the DEC head so that adjusting that nut can tighten up the mount.
There is a similar nut underneath in the dec head that can be loose. You might have to take the counter weight off along with the 3 screws that hold that boss in place to get at it.
In general, it is probably best to just take enough apart to see what has happened and that everything is as it should be. These are quite simple, I haven't found any exploding springs or difficult to reassemble assemblies.
Jon
PS: These mounts can be used as ALT-AZ mounts simply by pointing the RA axis to the zenith
----
David:
These are pretty simple mounts IME and I find that they are often loose when I get them.
Not exactly sure where the play is but these are not difficult to disassemble, no fancy bearings or anything.
This is what I often find:
Most often all that has happened is that something has come unscrewed so that all that is necessary is to tighten things up with a wrench.
The first step is to see if just locking the axis and turning the head will tighten it up.
Also, there is a big nut (17mm??)at the bottom of the RA that adjusts the RA axis. The end of the shaft holds to the DEC head so that adjusting that nut can tighten up the mount.
There is a similar nut underneath in the dec head that can be loose. You might have to take the counter weight off along with the 3 screws that hold that boss in place to get at it.
In general, it is probably best to just take enough apart to see what has happened and that everything is as it should be. These are quite simple, I haven't found any exploding springs or difficult to reassemble assemblies.
Jon
PS: These mounts can be used as ALT-AZ mounts simply by pointing the RA axis to the zenith
Dave
