Stripped and re-greased mount

[goose35]

Hi

Well i aheve done it. i have stripped down my cg-3 mount and re assembled with teflon grease.

WOW... what a difference

Havent been out with it yet but it feels so much smoother, positive and  wobble free.

The grease and assebly from the factory well i don`t think it was grease but somthin they found from the sea or a volcano or somthing.

[hazegood]

am thinking of doing mine, if I can find instructions on how to dismantle it

[Chris]

Congrats and yes, I would love to know why Synta use that sticky tar like grease, blimming horrible stuff !

[RichM63]

There be a big 'grease mine' out there, that's why.

It is well worth the effort to do this job though, not only is the control smoother, but if you happen to touch a factory greased surface it won't form a perma-bond sticky on your fingers which then leaves traces on everything else you touch. (ST80 focus tube as an example)

[Chris]

There be a big 'grease mine' out there, that's why.

Well it does look like the stuff the Orcs were dug out of in Lord of the rings.

It is well worth the effort to do this job though, not only is the control smoother, but if you happen to touch a factory greased surface it won't form a perma-bond sticky on your fingers which then leaves traces on everything else you touch. (ST80 focus tube as an example)

I know what you mean about Orc grease getting everywhere, I did my NEQ6 last year and witnessed the same

[Astro_Baby]

Factories use it BECAUSE its thick and gooey, makes any rattles go away, makes the mount feel tight and silky, and saves having to custom tune each mount.  Same reason 2nd hand car dealers put bananas in the engine oil of a banger. Allegedly

[Chris]

Factories use it BECAUSE its thick and gooey, makes any rattles go away, makes the mount feel tight and silky, and saves having to custom tune each mount.  Same reason 2nd hand car dealers put bananas in the engine oil of a banger. Allegedly

Quite clever in a taking short cut kind of way. Celestron mounts must be the same if they are both from the Synta factory, I wonder if other companies like Ioptron do the same? might find out one day as that CEM60 mount has grown on me.

I've never heard of the banana thing so I'll keep my eyes 'peeled' when I next buy an old banger.

[kalasinman]

My Ioptron had a nice clear grease, a bit similar to super lube.

[Chris]

My Ioptron had a nice clear grease, a bit similar to super lube.

That sounds better I wonder if FLO have ever considered stocking Ioption mounts? But I digress, back to re-greasing Synta mounts. 

[Dave In Vermont]

Do be certain to remove ALL of the old grease before applying new lube. While most use alcohol for this, as a mechanic I swear by charcoal-grill lighter-fluid. Does a much better job - and it's dirt-cheap. Just use it outdoors and far from ignition-sources. I also store the stuff outside for added safety. Teflon-based grease is excellent stuff. I've seen it maintain it's form for 20+ years.

Aliphaticaly,

Dave

[Redbird48oo]

have a CG-3 i never used, so stiff you can not even balance the scope on it, need to tear down and so the same. did you take any pictures as you took it apart?

[goose35]

Alas i did take any. Its a very simple job if you are mechanicaly minded and good with sockets and spanners.

The hardest part was getting the declination slow mo back together. I found putting the winder side fully in and extended first then you can get the spring loaded plunger in without it going in on the squif. I layed the parts out in order of dissassemly and greased and re assembles backwards

[goose35]

Teflon-based grease is excellent stuff. I've seen it maintain it's form for 20+ years.

I use it on my bike bearings and so had some around

[hazegood]

any special tools required?  or a list of socket / spanner sizes would be useful, my toolkit is more electrical based than mechanical, so will prob need to buy beg or borrow some tools I think

[Redbird48oo]

would be intrested in tools required to, for sure about the spanner and size......

[goose35]

16 mm socket and a 15 mm spanner and 2.5 mm allen key to unlock the orange bit that holds the bar for balance weights.

Been out tonight and what a difference its made.

[Redbird48oo]

Guessing since am in USA spanner=open end wrench?

[Chris]

Guessing since am in USA spanner=open end wrench?

I think so

[hazegood]

16 mm socket and a 15 mm spanner and 2.5 mm allen key to unlock the orange bit that holds the bar for balance weights.

Been out tonight and what a difference its made.

Thanks for that will grab the spanner and socket sometime this week and have a go at it next weekend,  will try and photo what I do for others to follow

[hazegood]

Guessing since am in USA spanner=open end wrench?

yes but the spanners (wrenches ) that are usually available here are open ended at one end and a ring of the same size at the other