Halp!! Polar Alignment Scope Bolt is Snapped

[chaotician]

Hi All I had a small accident with my EQ3-2 a few weeks after I got it.

It fell over in the dead of night (I swear I've not woken up so fast in a long time).

The upshot is that it bent the thumb bolt on the dovetail mount, and sheared one of the screws that hold the polar scope in place.

At the time, I wasn't so bothered as I didn't have a polar alignment scope, but for christmas my Dad has brought me one.

Getting the sheared end out isn't a problem as there is still some of the end of the bolt sticking out, my problem is more of a "what do I replace it with" nature.

Can anyone think of a source of these bolts online/does anyone know what thread/size bolts I need, or is my best hope to find a nice local hardware store and take my mount along to try screws for size?

Cheers,

Matt H

[Bizibilder]

I can't say what size they are but you must make sure that you get stainless steel (or possibly Brass) replacements. Don't buy "plated" as they will surely rust! Try Googling "stainless steel bolts" or phone around some of the Astro dealers.

[ollypenrice]

They are sure to be standard metric threads so you just need to buy the right ones from a pattern (another bolt) or just go and buy a few that look about right and hope for the best.They are available in hardware stores (proper ones that deal with the trade) or even nut and bolt suppliers. Google or Yellow Pages will find them.

Olly

[Zakalwe]

Screwfix is a good source of stainless steel bolts.

[chaotician]

cheers for all your replies, I guess I am going to just schlepp my mounts head down to the local hardware shop and see if we can match the thread of the bolt.

Have a good one,

Matt H

[nightfisher]

good luck sorting it

[chaotician]

hmm maybe this is the excuse I need to upgrade to an NEQ6...

(in my dreams)

[Ibbo!]

Try John at Astrodevelopments.co.uk

[glowjet]

If you carefully measure the dia of the broken/bent bolts with a metric rule, they will mostly go in even numbers ie, Metric 3mm 4mm 5mm etc, you will be able to obtain stainless steel replacements, even if they need cutting to length, from Tek hardware an ebay seller who has thousands of stainless bolts screws washers nuts etc in stock.

[chaotician]

Just figured out that the bolts were of no use at all anyway as the whole assembly is unscrewed and replaced by the polar alignment scope, d'oh. Still is good news

sent from the tubes