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Help to fix Altitude Adjustment T-bolt thread :(

RolandKol

By RolandKol
in DIY Astronomer

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RolandKol

RolandKol

Posted
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Hi guys,

I bought NEQ6 (second hand) almost a year ago...

Unfortunately, the seller has not told me that Mount has a damaged Altitude adjustment thread,  so my T - bolt fell off after a month or two...

I tried used THREAD TAP REPAIR CUTTER KIT M10 x 1.25 and it worked till today :( 
While placing new Thread, I noticed that SW Mount metal is not very tough, however, the new thread was quite good.

Today, I tried to adjust my scope in the new place and the Altitude Adjustment bold simply fell off... Fortunately, I managed to catch my rig, otherwise, I presume, my whole set up could end up on the ground... "LUCKY!!!!".

Is there any fast way to fix it up?

I planned to attend astrocamp on the 5th of October for the first time... 

I guess I need to buy a larger Bolt and re-thread the mount, but metal is sooo soft... I afraid to do it again ;(

Any advice will help... .... ....

thread.thumb.jpg.076df1c494e0e5b49f9d9ef2185b631f.jpg

 

1239747675_TBolt.thumb.jpg.55b813fdccb220b768dff579c0a50416.jpg

 

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Davey-T

Davey-T

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Hi Roland was hoping to meet you at October astro camp but not going to make it until a November one.

There are specialist companies that fit a more robust thread insert but don't know how much they charge.

There is this gizmo but it looks like you still need the thread in the body, this can be modded if you're into DIY.

Dave

https://www.modernastronomy.com/shop/accessories/mount-accessories/mkiii-eq6wedge/

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kbrown

kbrown

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Oh dear. The threads on my NEQ6 aren't in a very good shape either. I was going to fix them with helicoils like you have done but now I'm having second thoughts. Following this thread with interest.

Maybe a time-sert or a big-sert (oversized time-sert) would work (I've never used them):

 

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kbrown

kbrown

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2 hours ago, RolandKol said:

I tried used THREAD TAP REPAIR CUTTER KIT M10 x 1.25 and it worked till today :( 

While placing new Thread, I noticed that SW Mount metal is not very tough, however, the new thread was quite good.

This is not going to help at all but I think you have used the wrong kit if you used the one in the link. The M10 bolts are 1.5mm pitch. Not 1.25mm. That would explain why they failed.

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RolandKol

RolandKol

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Thanks guys for ideas,

I will probably try this one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Baerfix-M10-x-1-5mm-Metric-Self-Tapping-Damaged-Thread-Repair-Cutter-Kit-Inserts/142889395003?epid=25021992058&hash=item2144df233b:g:5nQAAOSwXV1bYESP

I think I will not need to drill the hole as it is around 13mm already... Will check tomorrow.

If I will kill it again... Will go for a wider Insert + wider bolt and Pipe Wrench for adjustment :)... As far as I understood NEQ6 upgrade wedges are not on the market anymore (plus the price!!!!)...

 

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RolandKol

RolandKol

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9 hours ago, kbrown said:

Oh dear. The threads on my NEQ6 aren't in a very good shape either. I was going to fix them with helicoils like you have done but now I'm having second thoughts. Following this thread with interest.

Maybe a time-sert or a big-sert (oversized time-sert) would work (I've never used them):

5

The problem I had with Helicoil, was at the last step - Once I hit to break the inner pin, half of the coil together with the Pin simply slid out as it cut the soft SW metal off instead of breaking the Pin!!!!.

I have managed to fit it in from the second attempt, Broke the pin with pliers from inside of the mound, but... the mount metal was already damaged with my first try...
And of course, the second attempt was not solid enough to keep the bolt properly...  :( 
"Don't try it at home!", - or do it from the first Attempt properly :) I simply have not expected mount to be so soft...

As per thread pitch, I do not remember which I used, now I simply googled for the toolkit which looked more or less the same. Previously I bought based on someone's direct link

My Altitude bolt fitted in properly, I can check the box if I will manage to find it (I moved houses recently....)

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Gina

Gina

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I did my own mod but I'm an engineer.  Can be a big problem for others.  The design is very poor.  The EQ8 was a vast improvement over the NEQ6 in all respects but more expensive, of course.  The EQ8 is a properly engineered mount unlike the NEQ6.

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RolandKol

RolandKol

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39 minutes ago, Gina said:

I did my own mod but I'm an engineer.  Can be a big problem for others.  The design is very poor.  The EQ8 was a vast improvement over the NEQ6 in all respects but more expensive, of course.  The EQ8 is a properly engineered mount unlike the NEQ6.

In my case, the main problem is, -  Tools... I am more into electric side, not the metal works... However, I would not call may self "Lad with both left hands".

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Davey-T

Davey-T

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Yes, still need to fix the thread, it would be a simple matter for the folk that make that gizmo to knock up a threaded insert that fitted in the enlarged screw hole completely replacing the aluminium thread.

There must be a big demand for this.

Dave

Something like this, excuse the quick freehand sketch.

EQ6-Nut.thumb.png.e0e6bd9f2caa72d6a3e18dbc224880c5.png

 

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RolandKol

RolandKol

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15 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

Yes, still need to fix the thread, it would be a simple matter for the folk that make that gizmo to knock up a threaded insert that fitted in the enlarged screw hole completely replacing the aluminium thread.

There must be a big demand for this.

Dave

Something like this, excuse the quick freehand sketch.

EQ6-Nut.thumb.png.e0e6bd9f2caa72d6a3e18dbc224880c5.png

 

Yep, Dave,
I've been looking for something similar,
The perfect one, would be a bit longer with a nut to tighten from inside.
But, I cannot find anything online... :(

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RolandKol

RolandKol

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22 minutes ago, Gina said:

I used to have a friend who lived the other side of the river in Silvertown whom I used to visit and stay for a few weeks at a time and we often used the Woolwich Ferry.

Unfortunatelly, I have to use it almost daily...  :)
it is nice to have a ride or two, but for daily commuting... nitghtmare... escpecially then Lorries try to get int and jam Woolwich round about :)
Why we have no bridges in the East London? what a shame....

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Davey-T

Davey-T

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6 minutes ago, RolandKol said:

Yep, Dave,
I been looking for something similar,
The perfect one, would be a bit longer with a nut to tighten from inside.
But, I cannot find anything online... :(

Doubt you'll find anything ready made, flange nuts are pretty common but not pairs that screw together.

Maybe we could appeal to one of the many folk on here with lathes etc to make one out of brass, FLO have a guy that makes stuff but probably be expensive for a one off.  

My son in law could make one but he's away from home working most of the time so it would probably take him months to get around to it.

There used to be a shop in Woolwich that supplied metal sheet, bar etc and the guys in there used to make stuff but no doubt it's closed down now.

Dave

 

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Gina

Gina

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10 minutes ago, RolandKol said:

Unfortunatelly, I have to use it almost daily...  :)
it is nice to have a ride or two, but for daily commuting... nitghtmare... escpecially then Lorries try to get int and jam Woolwich round about :)
Why we have no bridges in the East London? what a shame....

That's definitely not so good!  There were several time we had to use another route back such as the Blackwall Tunnel.  Yes, crossing the Thames in East London is/was a pain !

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RolandKol

RolandKol

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9 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

May be able to make one of these work araldited into the hole.

Dave

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10psc-M4-M5-M6-M8-M10-TYPE-D-METRIC-THREADED-WOOD-SCREW-INSERT-NUT-WITH-FLANGE/112811902394?hash=item1a441d05ba:m:m5c_1_qtNoa8iFFADZp7YLw

I afraid of these... Zinc..
they are for wood, - have no idea if they are strong enough to handle the head, counter weights and the rig all together... Ofcourse, the bolt does not hold all of it, but strongly supports for sure...
As I have only one last try with M10, I will go for something from stainless steel.

otherwise, after the second fail, I will need to go for M12 and the wrench for adjustment :)

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Davey-T

Davey-T

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15 minutes ago, Gina said:

That's definitely not so good!  There were several time we had to use another route back such as the Blackwall Tunnel.  Yes, crossing the Thames in East London is/was a pain !

There's talk occasionally about a new crossing downstream but never comes to anything and now they're building thousands of new house around Ebbsfleet to clog the roads up even more and they've only got the Tilbury Ferry.

Dave

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