HEQ5 question - thread sizes

[Astro_Baby]

Anyone know which thread size the altitude bolts are on an HEQ5 ?

I need to change one of my bolts for a slightly shorter one as with the new set-up one of the weights collides with the locking bolt for the altitude.

I have the astro-debelopments ones at the mo and just need a slightly shorter shaft length.

[Andrew*]

M10 i think.

[The Warthog]

You could always take the bolt to your local hardware store and find out in about five seconds what you need to know. Or, you could take a hacksaw and shorten your existing bolt by the necessary number of millimetres.

[beamish]

Pretty sure Andrew is correct- M10, You could always put a hacksaw to it

I recently came across some articulated versions ie a CV joint half way along so that it hangs down.

[Andrew*]

I could send you a couple if you want - my old EQ6 altitude bolts. They are 80mm long to the "handle"...

Andrew

[Astro_Baby]

Warthog - I;d love to be able to take it to a hardware store and get someone who knew what they were about say 'yup - its an M10' unfortunately this is England and we dont go much on specialised shops with any expertise about anuything - its all giant Wallmart type things with 17 year old kids who know nothing wandering about.

I did find a local engineering place recently who measured up some bolts, told me they were M5 and sold me a few. When I got back I found they were wrong.

I cant hacksaw the existing bolt down - it has a long round nose to prevent the tongue on the mount being damaged. I have no way to machine that back on.

Thanks for the offer of the EQ6 bolts but I already have the original HEQ5 bolts - they are also too long.

Ah well - looks like I have to find an engineering shope that can take off 10mm and remachine on the round head.

Thanks guys

[BlueAstra]

You could try somewhere like here:

Stagonset Stainless Nuts and Bolts, Screws and Fasteners

I did a search on M10 bolts. There're cheap enough to try some different options, and there're stainless steel. For M10x40, the M means metric, the 10 is the diameter of the thread and the x40 is the length of the thread measured from the bottom of the bolt head. I guess the only problem would be that the ends would be square and not rounded.

[Astro_Baby]

Ahhh I gave up and emailed Astro-Developments to see if they could get a shorter one for me and they have sorted me out. Thanks for all the replies.

I thought I may find something around cheaper and quicker cos I am in a hurry .