What on earth can cause this? Tracking, alignment and guiding problems

[Jannis]

Well, it seems the stacked resulth smooths out teh stars a bit, but i think i will try to take the mount apart again today and have another look at the gears, and maybe the DEC worm-gear as well wich i suspect i damaged a tiny bit.

The mount seems to make a strange sound while tracking from time to time as well. Not the standard high-frequency noise it usually make. Almost like it's struggeling to move the scope. Could be i've tightent something too hard?

This is a very quick stacked result (not processed for details yet, just to see the stars shape mainly) from about 3 hours worth of 400s and 800s subs from 2 days ago. Cropped a bit, but not 100%.

[George]

You need to turn "Auto" off and choose either North or South in DEC guiding, if your DEC alignment is out it will drift in 1 direction only. Having it set to Auto can cause a rocking effect as it bounces between North or South. Turn off DEC guiding and see which direction DEC wanders off in then set DEC to the opposite direction.

[Jannis]

Ok, thanks. Will try that tonight if the weather lets me. But hwo do i see wich way it drifts too? Can PHD tell me wich way somehow? I have always had it on auto and "resist switch", but i'll give it a try with turning it off to see how it drifts.