How to check for backlash

[Russe]

Hi guys,

Reading the sky at night complete guide to AP, I came across this: "Before beginning an imaging session, ensure ... That theres a minimum of backlash in the gears".

How would you do that???

[seren]

hi Russe i don`t think this is a trivial task and would be dependant on you make and model of mount. AP has a guide on how to recognise and correct this on some of their mounts

and could well be worth a look

http://www.astro-physics.com/tech_support/mounts/600gto/600ebacklash.htm

[ollypenrice]

Classic bit of journalism, there. If you have an EQ6 try googling Astro Baby's EQ6 strip down guide. It goes through the backlash adjustment process. It does vary from mount to mount.

One way to reduce backlash is to run the mount east heavy and camera end heavy, but not by much. This makes the scope fall onto one side of mesh in the gears rather than oscillate across.

The real solution is to buy a mount without worm drive but there it gets more expensive!

Steve's Making Every Photon Count is a good source of information on AP.

Olly