Nicola Fletcher

It’s very frustrating Carl - lucky you have a nice portable setup! I got my first clear night last night to have a longed-for look through my 102 ED-R - Clear Outside promised me a couple of clear hours and the scope didn’t disappoint. I find this time of year very frustrating but the clear nights are some of the best of the year IMHO!!

I agree that the QC may not be everything it should be. The box wasn't damaged and the mount head is within an inner box with polystyrene around it. The screws weren't loose or anything when I took the motor cover off. It's a shame because I like the look and versatility of SW mounts and they are clearly very popular. I am, however, very glad that the SGL community is so willing to help and hopefully this was a simple solution to a (rare?) problem with what seems to be a very nice mount.

I also use the BST Starguiders, they are great. I've recently bought a Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom and I really like it too.

Definitely! Legends!

Thanks so much for all your help I was initially a bit disappointed at their lack of QC too, but as you said, it could have happened during shipping. I am so glad I didn't have to send it back for repairs - I would have had to hoist my lovely new refractor onto someone's shoulder just to have a look through it!

Fixed. It was very straightforward, just as you said. I removed the motor cover, being careful not to stretch the wires underneath. I could then loosen two screws at the back of the motor and adjust the cog so it engaged with the worm. The gap between them was very visible once the cover was removed. I then just tightened the screws and replaced the cover. I've attached a photo of the cogs before I adjusted them, just in case anyone else has this problem. You can see the gap just above the blob of grease. I really appreciate your help Craig and everyone who offered advice. What a g

Ok, that's really helpful. I'm happy to have a go since SW said it won't void the warranty. It sounds like they think it's simple enough. I will report back!

Yes, you’re right, the RA worm shaft doesn’t turn. So do you think that might indicate that there is more to the problem than just mis-alignment? If you move it by hand, the RA axis does move but it feels a bit stiff (with the clutch off). I’ve tightened the clutch when trying to move it with the hand control but it doesn’t move at all.

It’s a good point but I do have written permission from Sky Watcher to remove the cover on the motor - if it is a quick fix like they say I’d prefer to check before shipping the mount back to them. They said: ”The customer will not void the warranty if he removes the cover. Please ask him to try and visually check that the motor gear is turning (sounds like it is). It is probably the simple task of loosening the motor and repositioning it closer to contact with mount gear”.

I wish that was the problem but I can see the dec motor slewing - but not the RA motor at a speed setting of 9x. Here’s a quick video of it. FullSizeRender.mov

I thought that might be the problem but the speed was definitely set to 9. You can hear the difference between it and the dec motor- it’s like the cogs aren’t engaging or something.

Hi everyone, I just got a new EQM 35 Pro Mount and set it up on Saturday. The RA motor doesn’t move the mount at all when I try to move it with the hand control, even though I can hear the motor working. The declination motor works fine. I’ve taken the counterweight and telescope off, and loosened the RA setting circle knob, but it still doesn’t move. I reckon the wheels within the motor are not connecting, similar to the problem described here: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/690145-help-eqm-35-ra-engine-problems/. Manually moving the RA axis with the clutch loosened is stiffer than t

Welcome! Although waiting for opportunities to get out and see the stars can be frustrating, I have also found that this forum provides plenty of entertainment for cloudy evenings!

Welcome! I’m the same - pretending all the accessories came with the scope. If they ever knew....!

Thank you - looks interesting!

Thank you both very much - that makes a lot more sense! I’ll continue tinkering while waiting for my mount to arrive.....

Sorry for being a bit thick headed but I’m trying to set up my new Starwave 102 ED-R and there are some things that don’t look right. The focuser looks crooked and the star diagonal wobbles and I can’t see a way to screw it in more securely. What is the smooth part on the focuser with the three silver bits - it moves clockwise and anti-clockwise but I don’t know what for!! (I have circled it in red on one of the photos). Thank you in advance for your help - sorry, this is the first time I’ve set up a refractor or any telescope that didn’t come in a kit!! IMG_1881.MOV

I ended up having a ‘pandemic buy’ and getting an EQM-35 Pro. I know it’s equatorial but I did want GoTo and I found one in stock. We will see how it goes. I like the idea of using it to mount a DSLR too in the stripped down mode. We will see how it goes when the mount arrives on Monday!

Honestly, the only thing I would critique is the tripod - but I’ve got so used to it now I don’t mind it anymore. The alignment and GoTo are great. I just bought a Sky-Watcher EQM-35 for my new refractor so we’ll see how they compare! Definitely upgrade the eyepieces, it improves the whole viewing experience so much. Best of luck with your purchase!

I don’t have any experience with the Skymax but the Celestron 127 was recommended by someone in my astronomy club as her favourite even though she had bigger scopes. I bought one in 2013 and it has been my main scope since then. It is so much fun to use I have been reluctant to buy anything else (although I just bought my first refractor). I upgraded all the eyepieces (I use BSTs and a Baader MK IV zoom), the RDF and I use a Celestron lithium power tank which has a brilliant red light that shines on the accessory tray when I’m setting up). I find the optics fantastic, the GoTo system is ridicu

You must see a lot more detail as time goes on. I have done the vast majority of my observing with a Celestron 127 SLT (I recently checked and I bought it in 2013 so I’ve got tons of value out of it but I’m definitely ready for an upgrade!). I suppose the decent dark skies I have at home help with observing, and I recently saw wonderful detail In the Orion Nebula on a very clear night, but I’ve never seen colour and only recently realised that was possible. I love the idea of taking the time to sketch and see more detail over time.

Fantastic, that’s something to look forward to. I have never looked through a refractor before so I’m dying to get hold of it. Thanks for all the info!

That’s brilliant news, and more than I was expecting to be honest. Thanks for attaching those beautiful sketches too. I’ve been very inspired by your post showing your Takahashi DZ and your observatory - really appreciate you sharing all those pictures!

It looks absolutely fabulous- and also the sort of setup you’ll get loads of use out of. Congratulations! Mine has arrived in Dublin and cleared customs so I’m hoping for delivery on Monday (fingers crossed). What do you think it’ll be like for DSOs? I’m assuming planets will look wonderful. I think we will get a lot of fun from these scopes

Thinking of just going all out and getting the Altair RACI - I haven’t used a finderscope in a while but I really liked the one that was on my LX200. Wicklow is a good place for reasonably dark skies - although I brought my little 127 Mak to the Burren in Co. Clare last summer and Wow the skies were great! Leitrim and Sligo would be good too I imagine