Hi all, full disclosure !
Not sure if correct sub forum so mods feel free to move.
Short version ... bought C8 HD approx 6 years ago, seized 2 years ago due to not being used for 2 years (shoulder injury) bought for visual / planetary. Stripped down / re greased etc. nice and free now (better than when new) now tracks a 420 mm scope at 1.5 arc seconds fairly consistently. Not good enough for DSO at 0.54 pixel scale. I can spend £500 on a dark frame repair / hypertune or sell the mount / Starsense with a link to this thread so people know what they are getting for maybe - mount @ £250 ish Starsense £150 ish or £400 as a package. This leaves me about £555 away from the HEQ5 rowan modded mount from @FLO
In summary, which would you choose ? I know EQ6R is a better option but can't spend the extra (or lift it with my dodgy shoulder 🙂 )
Long version- details, the AVX bearing was replaced with an angle bearing ( better for loading in 2 directions ) degreased, cleaned thoroughly, lightly lubricated with teflon superlube, nylon washers on replaced bearing removed as not needed with angled bearing. The RA assembly is now approx 1.5 mm higher than previous but the worm still meshes nicely. One of the threads on the Dec / RA mounting has stripped, had to rotate 90 degrees and use 'spare' threads ( there are 4 when only 2 used) All flashed to latest firmware ( as of 19-4-2020) well looked after, stored in garage under tarp when not used.
INFO - used these pages for guidance during mods - http://rocketsparrow.blogspot.com/2017/01/how-i-made-better-celestron-avx.html https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/578878-celestron-avx-rebuild/
Thanks for looking.
edit - should have added ... I'm an engineer by trade so although the AVX has been stripped / rebuilt I'm no muppet
edit 2 - should also have added that I will be using the 0.7 reducer so F7 / 1400 mm - 0.56"/pixel