starmattic

Hey fellow stargazers! I am jumping back into this old thread because I am having trouble with my Orion 7827 EQ-2M Electronic Telescope Drive which is connected to an Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope that came with an EQ-2 equatorial mount and accompanying lightweight tripod. I have read a few threads on issues related to using this motor drive, and know I am not the only one who has had issues with the motor's gear staying locked with the teeth on the RA cog on the telescope. The only heavy-ish thing I have attached to the scope is a Pentax XW 3.5mm eyepiece which adds about 14oz/400g-ish. I have made sure my right ascension is moving smoothly and easily (including with the fine adjustment knob) and that my scope is balanced, and have followed recommendations about how lose or tight the screw needs to be that holds the motor in place, how to seat the teeth of the gears, etc. I have come to the conclusion that the little spring that comes with the drive that keeps it engaged is just too weak. When I apply gentle pressure to the underside of the motor housing, the gears stay locked and the motor drive moves the scope without issue, even at 4X speed. If I do not do this, the motor's gear ether periodically slips (clunk! shake!) or fails completely to turn the RA cog. Obviously I don't want to keep a hand on the motor drive housing while using the scope. As an inelegant (and hopefully temporary) solution, I have wedged a round piece of foam from the Pentax eyepiece protective tube between the bottom of the motor housing and the top of the tripod. This seems to work fine. I hope this helps someone. All I want is for this drive to work without fiddling with it. Seems like I've found a stopgap solution but I think I will contact Orion to see if they may be able to provide a sturdier spring. I don't know what else to do. Thank you for hearing my tale.