CG-5 mount grease

Hi all

I'm on the lookout for a new mount, Astronomy Ireland were advertising a Super Polaris, I phoned to enquire and it was gone. The chap I was talking to suggested the CG-5, he came out with the following statement that left me a little stunned. "If you dismantle it and clean out the grease it's a very good mount."

Now I no way blame the chap at AI, he was giving me sound advice, but I can't understand the manufacturer letting a mount out of the factory with this gloop inside it. If I buy a new car I shouldn't be expected to strip down the engine to make it go better, therefore I should not be expected to have to strip down a new mount to improve it.

I can only imagine that if I were to do this and something went wrong my warrenty would be void. Is there no quality control in these places or is it a case of sod them.

Anyone got experience of this mount and it's tar for grease?

Paul

Hi Paul,

You don't NEED to regrease the mount. I used my CG5 for years without any problems. I ended up regreasing mine but to be honest looking back the mount was just fine before. The performance increase is probably marginal at best. Something you can do if you have a free Sunday afternoon. Unless your comfortable with it best left alone.

Remember it's horses for courses. IMO the CG5 is very good value for money. As long as you keep in mind that it is an entry level mount and don't expect the same performance as you would from a mount costing multiple times the cost of the CG5. It is quite good as long as you don't overload it. Fine for an 8"-10"SCT An 11" with all the add ons would be too much for astrophotography, but fine on its own for visual use.

What do you plan to mount on your proposed new mount?

Hey Dave

I plan to mount an 8" SCT, a Meade SCT, a Meade on a Celestron, could this lead to the courts? :twisted:

Paul

As long as you don't call it a 'Modified Ritchey Chretien', I think you'll be ok :lol:

The CG5 will be happy enough to take an 8" SCT and a guidescope without problems. I had a 9.25"SCT and a 5" mak coupled together with heavy guide rings and plates mounted on mine. This was probably a tiny bit over the limit.

My CG-5 froze up one one very cold night.

Astonished that this age-old problem (at this stage) should still be around.

I am, overall, very happy with the Celestron 6" RGT refractor and the mount.

But it DID happen.

See this link for info. on how to improve the mount:

www.astronomyboy.com/cg5/

Peter