Andy McK

Rip Sir Patrick.

I somehow get the feeling that moon landings are a bit like halley's comet, once a life time. It would be nice to see Gerry Anderson's "moon base alpha" start, before I leave. But as in earlier posts, the western worlds financial state will be a very heavy lead boot....

I hope the Chinese do have a crack at it, at least the food will be better

Even after changing both RA bearings, i do have to take care in balancing the OTA, as the RA clutch does struggle (Too much grease?) But last nite, I managed to get on to Jupiter and noticed that I wasnt tracking at all. Turned out that, for whatever reason, the Sync motor had poped out of its mounting, spring still attatched. Eased it back in and scope carried on well, changed EP's 45,20,15 all with and with out x4 Barlow and Jup was where I left her.

Well chaps, it's been a couple of nights with the scope out, even managed to get the finder scope sorted (long story)

Now I can pop out the back, polar align, point OTA at a celestial object and with a little tweek every now and then, I seem to be able to stay on't star I'm viewing.

I have also discovered another use for the mount. please lookup

my Solar tracking thread.

Andy McK

AndyH, you just brought a tear to my eye, I loved Triumph Dollies, even had a Herald briefly, I totally agree with the engineering, Digging around inside the mount remended me of me pulling my Grandads Pathescope 9.5mm projector apart, same smells

PPs, used to site on the front wheels to do the point.s in the Herald, ah what joy.

Well, I managed 1 hour with a hole in the clouds, pointed at Vaga and turned on the RA drive, went for a cuppa, came back half hour later and Vaga was where I left her, smack bang in the middle of my FOV, chuffed!

Was hoping for Jupiter, gave up on M32/31.

Cloud rushing in..

Happy with the "feel" of the mount and the RA drive.

So to sum up:

Couple of hours, pulling the mount to bits

Couple of hours, SGL (thanks guys)

Couple of hours re assembly (tea included)

Now I'm in possesion in a very solid telescope that to my novice hands and eyes

seems to be worth the money I spent.

(have to start on my Brian Cox impersonations now, "Aaa, look at em star's")

Yer, all for that James,

BTW, skies are clearing again whoop.

did notice ealier, now the scope is in the cold, i.m getting slip in RA

Torch n screwdriver, onward.......

Well, proof of the puddin!

We have a clear sky at Port Talbot at the mo, so I've set up outside, Going to have a crack at M32 if poss, should be good for me bout 9-10 tonite.

Andy McK (To many Andy's on this site, Think I'll change me name to Slartibartfast)

)

Cant remember if you sent me this Andy, but all good stuff.

THE FIRMAMENT - Solar System and Deep Sky webcam images

Very interesting with the amount of effort this chap went through to remove PE from the worm drive

Sorry guys, typo, Me daughter had 114mm Helios not 114" (would have had to sell the house for that !!)

Cheers Andy, all good stuff.

So chaps, if I've got this right:

The RA axis should move 15 deg in 1 hour (360 deg/24hrs)

In my pics above, I am using an angle finder and stop watch, so I recon, starting from 0 or 90 deg, i should see a 15 tilt in the OTA every hour (OTA horizontal to start)

the longer I run this, compound errors in tracking speed will become apparent. (or untill the angle finder falls off).

Motor clutch adjustment:

As stated Andy, I did notice a profound effect the tension on the motor clutch springs had on the RA adjustment, moreover, I noticed the strain put on the motor gearbox. So I backed the springs off untill there was no drive, then tightened the screws all the way in, counting the number of turnes used untill the were "snug", then backed them off total number of turns -1. I did note some slippage and adjusted the 3 screws up 1/4 turn each. I used the same process on the RA clutch. And at 12:00 today, the rig is under test, with the same apparatus as my pic. So far so good.

I will be swapping out the screws that are use the most/visable with counter sunk socket head screws when I get back to work (engineering dept have all this nice 316 stainless bits and bobs)

Btw, My daugter had a 114" Helios for her birthday, in June. We set it up quite quickly and we all saw the moon, Saturn, Jupiter etc. very impressed.

Took my TAL over there 1st night I had bought it, to compare, Just looking at the moon, I noted the improvement in image, (25mm EP) the 15mm 45mm and the 4x barlow need cleaning. But heres the point.

When my daughter came out the back garden and saw the TAL, she thought I had got it from the Taliban, as it really did look like a rocket launcher ()

pps: she did ask "who's the coffin for?" (she's 5 foot)

Thanks again all.

Andy

Drive under test. I dont know if this is the right way to go about this, just a shot in the dark, see how many deg. diff in 1 hour etc.

Hmmm, tried to post pics?

Job done!!

As you said James, I did manage to remove both bearings, without to much force, I placed the shaft in the vice, as the threaded end is of a smaller dia. then, through the large holes in the end plate, used a a piece of dowel to tap the bearing off.

Cleaned up the lot, nipped of to the local bearing supplier, (who was amused to see USSR stamped on the shells) Replaced the bearings and serverly greased the lot.

BTW. I did notice, when i stripped the RA clutch, that there was un even "polished" areas on the brass ring, sugesting that the plate and ring were not in full contact. So I have lapped them with some very fine emery sheet and oil on my table saw, (only true flat surface I have).

After re-assy. as described in one of the web sites the Tal group pointed me to, I have set up the clutches, "just to bite" and I can now balance the scope with ease, and the action on all axis' are lovely and smooth.

I am very pleased with the result, and I couldn't have done this (with confidence) without your's and AndyH's help.

The unit is now under test in the dinning room, just wait for some clear skies now.

Many Thanks

Andy McK.

Well thanks chaps, my mount is now in bits, managed to get the thrust washer off the RA axis after a bit of a faff, but it transpires that the larger of the two bearings (clutch end) seems to be ok but the smaller of the two is like a 50p piece, saying that, looking at the design, it is the bearing that takes most of the load, I'm now wondering is a tapered roller bearing might be a viable upgrade.

I had to repair my clock drive g/box, one of the shafts had sheared off the casing, but more disturbing, my g/box is an all nylon/ptfe affair. So I can see this being swapped out soon too ((

Off to find a bearing pullers now.

Thanks all. I am overwhelmed with these replys.

If all support was of this quallity, the world would be a happier place.

Andy McK

Hi all,

Shot in the dark, anyone pulled a TAL-2 EQ mount apart?

I need to change the RA bearings

anyone done this, have diags, etc.

Cheers,

Andy