Motor Drive Troubles

Hi there

I recently purchased a dual axis drive for my CG-5 mount, tonight was the first opportunity I got to use it and it wouldn't work. Everything is connected up correctly and the batteries are freshly charged.

Here's what happens. At X8 when I press either the RA or dec button the brass cogs turn, but the scope does not, even in the finder the stars don't move. At rest I can hear the "clock" ticking over, but it is not tracking the stars, the scope is balanced and polar aligned and the object just drifts out of the field of view. All the locking screws are tight, though I notice that they loosen very easily and every minute or so I have to tighten them up again

This is only a new unit, I have contacted the company for advice, and potential refund, but I thought that someone ou there might have an idea as to the trouble.

Thanks

Paul

Hi Paul, I'm sorry to hear of your problem, I too have the cg5 and although th motors have always worked for me, this sounds very unusual. You say the brass cogs turn, but to me common sense would suggest theare not in contact with the worm gears inside the unit itself. I really can't think how this could be after a quality control inspection by celestron before leaving the factory.

I would say the the motor unti has had a very bad bang during transport, and you *could* open up the unit itself the see, but I would'nt for 2 reasons

1. Celestron will probably find an excuse to invalidate your warranty
2. It can affect your tracking id you play around with the cogs.

I would absolutely push them on this for advice and do nothing until they make a recommendation.

I can only offer you small comfort in the fact that I too and lots of others have been here as well

Keith..

Hi Paul,

I have the same setup on my 6" scope. I find that I have to wait a few seconds before the drives will engage. I can drop over with my scope if you want to compare the units.

Michael.

Thanks guys

I noticed that the RA worm shaft turns, but the dec doesn't. I removed the dec worm from the scope and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, it even turns by hand, I'm thinking that the motor is not providing enough power to turn the shaft, though it doesn't take much power to move it so this is not really likely.

Thanks for that Michael, I'll be in touch.

Paul

Jed Glover and Dave Gradwell both have (had) CG11 mounts that exhibited tracking problems. In their case the grease lubricating the needle-bearings around both shafts had dried out to the consistency of hard varnish and prevented the bearings from moving at all. The shafts could still be moved by hand but only because they were slipping on the polished surface of the dried grease.

In both cases I stripped down the mount, removing the worm & gear, and removing both shafts. I then attacked the gummed up bearings with an old tooth brush and *lots* of kerosene (diesel is just as good) until there was no trace of the old grease and the needle bearings moved freely. After re-greasing and reassembling carefully (with particular attention to the worm & gear mating) everything worked smoothly once more.

Something to consider,

Phil.