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And here are the Masters: 10s and 30s masterLight_BIN-1_EXPOSURE-10.00s_FILTER-NoFilter_RGB.xisf masterLight_BIN-1_EXPOSURE-30.00s_FILTER-NoFilter_RGB.xisf

Two nights ago, after fixing my mount, and achieving steady guiding, I attempted M42. Scope is 350FL, 70mm refractor, ASI294MC Pro, Guiding, and used the Optolong UV/IR filter. I took 10s, 30s and 60 second subs. I also took corresponding darks at same temperature (-5C) and Flats and dark flats at the end of the night. The flats are clean, and I checked them, no artefacts. The resulting masters have terrible artefacts, and I cannot find the culprit? I stacked the subs in WBPP, and ALL the three masters had the same artefacts. I also tried stacking just the 30s subs alone WITHOUT ANY CALIBRATION files, and the artefacts are there. Would appreciate if someone can advise as to why this artefacts are showing up? Attached are the Masters as well as subs from each stack, in case anyone has the time to have a look. Many thanks masterDark_BIN-1_EXPOSURE-4.82s.xisf masterDark_BIN-1_EXPOSURE-10.00s.xisf masterDark_BIN-1_EXPOSURE-30.00s.xisf masterFlat_BIN-1_FILTER-NoFilter_CFA.xisf 2022-02-15_21-07-45__-4.90_30.00s_0006.fits 2022-02-15_23-18-35__-4.90_10.00s_0016.fits 2022-02-15_23-11-16__-4.90_60.00s_0002.fits

The 120EC version. Fingers crossed!

I will certainly update here when I get to use it. It's still in the box! I plan to open it and start using it when the obsy is ready.

I thought I would update this thread with my findings, just in case someone else needs replacing the bearings on their AZ-Eq6 Pro mount. Thr bearings used by Skywatcher are: JESA W5 608Z 22mm diameter 8mm bore hole 7mm thick ”Z” seems to stand for SEALED bearings with the metal plate. I could not find any SKF bearings in the local market, and I used Japanese NSK bearings. They did the job. For reference the bearings needed are: SKF 608-2Z ( think the 608-ZZ is the same) or NSK 608 Z Also, just a work of caution. The worm shaft CANNOT be pulled out of the RA worm carrier with the mount assembled. There is a plastic plate on the shaft that is sandwiched by a sensor which makes up the secondary encoder. A full disassembly of the mount is required.

The mount is currently abroad. The only model I can find in the local market is: SKF 608-ZZ Is that similar to the 608-2Z? There also seems to be a SECONDARY encoder housing on the shaft, so it seems the worm shaft cannot be removed while the mount is assembled. It seems that I need to strip the mount again and access the RA carrier and housing from inside.

Perfect. I’ll order two bearings. Can you please advise how to actually remove the shaft and bearings?

Thank you for your reply. Can you please advise how to pull the shaft out of the bearings? The pulley has two grub screws on the shaft, but removing those did not make a difference? How can I dismantle this part? Many thanks

Many thanks for your reply. Is it this one? https://www.acorn-ind.co.uk/p/skf/single-row-deep-groove-ball-bearings/608-2z/c2egjn-skf/ The inner diameter is 8mm and outer diameter is 22mm The outer diameter fits with my measurements, but the inner diameter is 8mm? I measured the shaft at 14mm? Does the shaft narrow down to 8mm inside the bearing? Many thanks

I’d appreciate it if someone can supply the model numbers for these bearings? I measured the worm shaft at 14mm (this would be the inner diameter of the opening in the bearing) and the external diameter of the bearing at 22mm I cannot find any bearings on SKF website that has those dimensions?

Are those two bearings these by any chance? https://www.tme.eu/en/details/skf607-2z_c3/roller-bearings/skf/607-2z-c3-skf/ 607-2Z/C3 SKF SKF

Very sorry to resurrect this thread. I need to replace the bearings on my RA worm shaft of the AZ-EQ6 Pro Are these the ones described above? IMG_0069.MOV

Yesterday I noticed that there is a very fine and subtle vibration in my scope when my AZ-EQ6 Pro was slewing in RA. I had already been struggling with guiding for the last week, and my RA would go up to 7rms for no obvious reason. I used to have constant 0.5-0.7rms, and over the past month or so the RA had been terrible. I stripped the mount today, and I seem to have found a problem. The worm shaft is VERY rough when I turn it by hand and NOISY. It seems the bearings are gone. Mount is just 2 years old. The same one on the DEC is silent and buttery smooth Any idea what I should do? Grease? WD40? Is this replaceable or serviceable? Many thanks IMG_0068.MOV IMG_0069.MOV

Agree with all the above points. I think the advice regarding the HEQ5 as a minimum starting point for AP relates to the previous experiences of all those that actually gave that advice. Almost everyone who bought some sort of star tracker to start out, found themselves upgrading to a proper mount to go deeper and longer. I suppose the advice is solid. And as the saying goes: I’m not rich to buy cheap! Buy once, cry once.

Well done! Fantastic first results!

I can only vouch for my Altair Starwave 70EDQ-R 4 element Apo. I have a WO Star 71 5 element apo and an Esprit 100. The fit and finish, especially on the focuser is excellent, even compared to the Esprit. The focuser and rotator are buttery smooth, and the paint job is top notch, even though that's just cosmetic.

Congrats on the new scope. I’ve always felt that Altair’s scopes are a level up in quality of build compared to the rest of the mass produced scopes on the market. Especially their focusers and rotators. Always wondered who makes their scopes?

Hi Wim Yes, I contacted FLO today. They do not have the ADM saddle in stock. The problem is, I am abroad! I could not resist. I used the second bolt, and it give an OK grasp, but week. I zip tied the heck of the Esprit and its rings and clamps to the saddle, just for reassurance! I am having a NIGHTMARE now with guiding. Ran calibration. It was not happy! Says I have SEVERE DEC backlash. This is confusing. If I have SEVERE DEC baclash, why is my DEC RMS 0.09 in PHD2, and the RA is almost 3.5RMS??!! So, it seems RA issues continue. I am now running Guiding Assistant, and will post results. I am very confused about PHD2's interpratation. BTW, I fine tuned the grub screws, and both DEC and RA are SOLID. No play at all? Why is there still significant backlash? In the current setup, I am using the Esprit, with a 290MM Mini fitted to the 9x50 Skywatcher guidescope, at 181mm focal length. Just before all of these issues started, I was regularly guiding with a TOTAL RMS of about 0.7RMS, but that was with the WO Star 71 fitted with the Sky Watcher Evoguide 50mmED and the smaller 120MM Mini. I think I have grown a few years older this past week!!

Perfect. Yes, I missed the tickbox for DISABLE ENCODERS. Once I unticked that, everything went well. Many thanks P.S. It seems my the GODS will never allow me to take this out for a night of imaging!! I loaded the Esprit and imaging train on the freshyly assembled mount. As I was tightening the two knobs on the VERY poor stock saddle, one of the knobs gave way, and would simply not tighten!! Why is EVERYTHING going wrong for me...? Anyways, I am very worried of leaving the Esprit on the mount with just ONE knob tightened. It seems the inner threads of the saddle stripped!!! Are they M10 bolts?

Perfect. Yes, I missed the tickbox for DISABLE ENCODERS. Once I unticked that, everything went well. Many thanks

Yes, absolutely. The mount slews perfectly, and its smooth and there are no issues with slewing. It just does not park in RA? I am confident it's a software setting that is the issue? Logically it cant be a mechanical issue, otherwise the mount would not be responding to slew commands in RA?

Thanks WIM. I have turned off all the encoders, but the mount does not respond at all in RA to the Park command. Both in NINA and EQMOD. Say I manually put the mount in the home position. Both RA and Dec are at the ZERO point on the setting circle. I slew E, W, N & S etc, then click PARK. The DEC axis returns to home position, but the RA does not respond. It stays wherever I slewed to? Can I try imaging in spite of this? I am worried this is indicative of a problem? You mentioned: Also reset any mount model in eqmod What do you mean by that, and where can I do that?

Hi everyone Over the past few days I stripped the mount and re-greased it. Yesterday, I fine tuned BACKLASH on both RA and DEC. There is no play now whatsoever in both axis. I connected the mount in NINA, and slewed to all extremes in all 4 directions to make sure there is no stiction or issues. Everything seems perfect. The issue is: The mount will NOT PARK to the home position? DEC parks just fine, but RA does not park? In EQMOD, I clicked the RESYNC EQMOD encoder button to tell EQMOD of the home position, but still no parking in RA? I EVEN TRIED WITH THE KEYPAD, same issue Any thoughts on how to address this? In EQMOD, I observed what sort of log comes up In the information window I could read: Mount slewing to home position Limit 32 Quote

Update. Tonight I fine tuned BACKLASH on both RA and DEC. There is no play now whatsoever in both axis. I connected the mount in NINA, and slewed to all extremes in all 4 directions to make sure there is no stiction or issues. Everything seems perfect. Its a clear night, so I thought I might take the mount out for a CALIBRATION first in PHD2, and see what guiding might be like on a short imaging run. The issue is: The mount will NOT PARK to the home position? DEC parks just fine, but RA does not park? In EQMOD, I clicked the RESYNC EQMOD encoder button to tell EQMOD of the home position, but still no parking in RA? Do the issues ever end?

Job done! Third strip down in three days!! So, it turns out the issue was with the BLACK SCREW LOCK NUT. While disassembled, I threaded the three grub screws into it, and observed, on the inner circumference, how far they went. Turns out that TWO of the three grub screws were not screwing in all the way. They would stop about 2/3 the way, so they would not lock onto the inner barrel. Using a 2mm Allen key, I cleaned out the three holes. There was some brown muck in there. A touch of grease on the inner threads of the three holes, and reassembled the whole mount. This time I noticed that the grub screws required MANY more rotations. And VOILA! Job done. It’s now about 1/4 of a turn on the RA clutch from disengaged to locked. Sadly, I have one causality. The thumb screw has stripped, as I must have used in in anger and haste a thousand times over the past three days! Using an M6 socket cap screw instead! Happy days!! I’m taking a break, then will address the inevitable HORRIFIC BACKLASH both in RA and DEC! Thanks you all for your great help and contribution! Much appreciated! Especially @wimvb 👏