HEQ5 Tracking Issue in Dec

[DeepSpaceNebulae]

I am relatively new to astrophotography and recently notices an unusual issue I haven’t seen discussed.

I have noticed and minimized some RA backlash, an noticed some issues in Dec but the issue seems different than backlash.  

When slewing around in the Dec, I find when I change directions, for the first second it actually slews the opposite direction before actually going the direction I want

This has caused obvious issues guiding as when it does a correction in Dec the guide star will shoot off out of the trackers view and I usually get a warning about a cable snag or something else.  Because from PHDs view it’s trying to push South but it’s heading waaay off North for that initial bit 
 

It’s not a lack of initial response like my experience with backlash, but it’s as if the first few pulses aren’t in the right direction.  
 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have resorted to North or South only in Dec guiding as a bandaid solution but would like to solve this issue outright.  

Edited June 17, 2021 by DeepSpaceNebulae
Clarified

[carastro]

When you say "change directions", are you meaning another target?  If so is this on the opposite side of the Meridian?  

If that is the case you need to re-calibrate the guiding.  I only use PHD 1 so not sure where it is in PHD2, but in PHD 1 you need to tick the box to Force Calibration in the "brain".   

If that is not your issue I leave it to some-one else as you're likely using PHD2.  

Carole 

Edited June 17, 2021 by carastro

[DeepSpaceNebulae]

Sorry, could have been clearer.

The issue occurs when I am using the hand controller/EQMOD to slew around (I first noticed it when doing a star alignment), so it doesn’t appear to be a PHD issue.. though the issue effects PHD guiding

So if I was just using the controller to slew around freely, when I change directions in the DEC (Between North and South) it initially (for a second) continues to slew in the original direction before changing and going the actual direction I am pressing.  
 

How this effects PHD is that when it corrects for drift it occasionally causes the star to go waaay out of tracking before slowly coming back in as it initially “corrects” in the wrong direction
 

Sorry if I’m not being completely clear

 

 

[Ishan Mair]

I think you have Dec gears too tight or there is stiction somewhere. My HEQ5 too has been plagued occasionally by such strange problems. Can't help you though as I have no idea about getting rid of it. Let's see what others opine.