1. posterid:86563
  2. Dec drive problem

Re: Dec drive problem

Christopher Erickson
 

Over the years I have developed a habit of putting big fuzzy car washing mitts or neoprene camera pouches over protruding counterweight shafts and such.

I also use glow-in-the-dark tape on all kinds of things in an observatory. Scopestuff.com sells a good GITD tape. You can find various GITD tapes on Amazon too. I use it to trim and define the edges of things. Especially important on steps.

I also prefer to paint observatory floors glossy white, which is a lot safer than flat black. Walls and dome interiors I prefer to make flat black if there is any light pollution in your area.

On Sun, Sep 6, 2020, 3:02 AM thefamily90 Phillips <thefamily90@...> wrote:
Yeow!

Can’t tell you how many times I have walked into the counterweight shaft in the dark. I was knocked to the ground one time, but, my hard head saved me.😜

Jim

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of Ben Lutch <procyon@...>
Sent: Saturday, September 5, 2020 9:23:33 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Dec drive problem
 

I got a few stitches in my head about a year ago from taking the counterweight off a mount that I thought had the clutches secure.  Counterweight shaft got me right above the left eyebrow.  Oops.
b

On Fri, Sep 4, 2020 at 10:15 AM thefamily90 Phillips <thefamily90@...> wrote:
Spoke directly with George and we tested the motor different ways. He told me to be careful as an out of balanced scope will spin when I remove everything. He is getting a work order (?) for me and I will be shipping it in next week.

Thanks everyone!

Jim
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> on behalf of uncarollo2 <chris1011@...> via groups.io <chris1011=aol.com@groups.io>
Sent: Friday, September 4, 2020 10:05 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Dec drive problem
 
Hi Jim,

Remove these 5 screws to remove the gearbox from the mounting plate:





-----Original Message-----
From: thefamily90 Phillips <thefamily90@...>
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io>
Sent: Fri, Sep 4, 2020 10:02 am
Subject: [ap-gto] Dec drive problem


Subject: Dec drive problem
 
One of my older AP 1200 go to mounts has a problem. The deck drive does not work properly. When I use the keypad to move the mount north or south there is just a jerky movement or, the telescope starts going around in a circle nonstop. This happened to a previous mount of mine years ago and George at AP was able to fix/replace it. I cannot recall which screws/bolts to remove to remove the drive. I will also have to get a work order number as well. Here is a pic. Thanks for any help.
The mount is at my farm and I will only be here until Monday so I need to get the drive off so I can ship it when I get back home.

Thanks,

Jim


-Christopher Erickson
Observatory engineer
Waikoloa, HI 96738
www.summitkinetics.com
   

Join {main@ap-gto.groups.io to automatically receive all group messages.