The worm gear, reduction spurs and motor are mounted in a movable module. A pair of "push" setscrews and centered single "pull" screw provide adjustment of the worm. The "push" setscrews are brass tipped and engage a mating surface. The "pull" screw is in a threaded hole, providing the pull away function.

Step 1

Place your hand near the end of the counterweight shaft and move the shaft back and forth as if to rotate the R.A. axis. This test can be done with the mount alone on its pier or with the telescope and counterweights attached.

If no play is felt or seen, then you do not have an R.A. backlash problem.

If play is felt or seen in the telescope eyepiece, proceed with the following adjustment.

Note: All of the following adjustments are made with a 3/32 inch hex key.

Step 2

Loosen the two buttonhead screws on the cable receptacle side of the worm housing.

Step 3

Loosen the three buttonhead screws on the opposite side.

Step 4

Turn the center "pull" screw counter-clockwise to loosen it. Leave loose at one full turn.

Step 5

Turn one of the two setscrews slowly clockwise while moving the counterweight shaft back and forth. Stop immediately when play is no longer felt.

Turn the second setscrew down slowly (clockwise) until it stops.

Step 6

Tighten the center screw slowly until it stops. Grab the counterweight shaft again and move it back and forth as you tighten the center screw. If you feel some play develop, stop and start tightening the two outer setscrews. Alternate between the inner and outer screws until the backlash play goes away and all screws are tight.

Very delicate adjustment is possible with the push/pull screws. Some practice may be needed to get the setting perfect. Minor play is better than too tight a mesh.

Step 7

Step 8

If the motor does not stall and sounds normal, close the sight-hole and re-tighten the 5 buttonhead screws. Try to apply equal pressure to each buttonhead screw. Uneven tightening can change the gear mesh adjustment.

Test for Declination (Dec.) backlash and corrective measures

Step 1

Note: All of the following adjustments are made with a 3/32 inch hex key.

Step 2

Loosen the two buttonhead screws on the cable receptacle side of the worm housing.

Step 3

Loosen the three buttonhead screws on the opposite side.

Step 4

Turn the center "pull" screw counter-clockwise to loosen it. Leave loose at one full turn.

Step 5

Turn one of the two setscrews slowly clockwise while moving the cradle plate or telescope back and forth. Stop immediately when play is no longer felt.

Turn the second setscrew down slowly (clockwise) until it stops.

Step 6

Tighten the center screw slowly until it stops. Grab the cradle plate or telescope again and move it back and forth as you tighten the center screw. If you feel some play develop, stop and start tightening the two outer setscrews. Alternate between the outer and the inner screws until the backlash play goes away and all screws are tight.

Very delicate adjustment is possible with the push/pull screws. Some practice may be needed to get the setting perfect. Minor play is better than too tight a mesh.

Step 7

Remove the setscrew on the worm housing. Opening this sight-hole provides a view of the internal spur gears (nonadjustable). This allows you to monitor the motor motions.

Power up your GOTO system and allow the gears to make a full rotation at the manual speed setting of 1x (set by hitting button #5 on the main menu). If ok, set the controller manual slew setting to 1200 and make a few slews. A labored motor sound is a sign of a tight mesh. If the motor stalls or sounds labored please return to step 4.

Step 8

If the motor does not stall and sounds normal, close the sight hole and re-tighten the 5 buttonhead screws. Try to apply equal pressure to each buttonhead screw. Uneven tightening can change the gear mesh adjustment.