Category Archives: Astro Equipment

Prompted by someone else’s success at improving his RA axis backlash, this evening I returned to mine and ended up disassembling the entire axis once again just to make sure I’d put everything back together as well as I could. … Continue reading →

The first step with the motors is to remove the mounting plate and idler gear. And then the gear comes off the end of the motor drive shaft. The new pulleys go on, together with the mounting plates. Orientation is … Continue reading →

Now it’s time to return to the DEC axis. The process is pretty much the same as for the RA axis, starting with the removal of the clutch lever (having remembered to release the clutch first). The worm housing should … Continue reading →

With the worm housing in a vice (protected from damage by the vice) I used circlip pliers to remove the worm end caps. I do actually have the additional tool from Rowan Astronomy for doing this, but circlip pliers were … Continue reading →

So, RA axis next, starting with the polar scope. This just unscrews. I was almost tempted not to put it back at the end. Now I have an observatory I only used it for a rough polar alignment before doing … Continue reading →

Next the entire DEC axis has to be removed, starting by unscrewing the collar for the counterweight bar, which comes off very easily. There’s a tapered roller bearing at this end of the axis which could potentially fall out when … Continue reading →

The first job was to remove the control panel by undoing the four outer screws (the inner ones hold the circuit board in place). What’s inside is actually pretty uncomplicated: That actually looks less threatening than the inside of the … Continue reading →

Just before the bank holiday this arrived in the post courtesy of First Light Optics: Such was my enthusiasm for getting started that I’m not sure I have a photo of the contents, so until I find it (assuming it … Continue reading →

No excuses not to get on with this now. A little delayed (it was ordered at the same time as the HEQ5 Pro kit), but it has now arrived…