I broke my EQ5

[daztay]

I was writing & testing some code to talk to my synscan and I accidentally left the mount on and worst the tracking on, when i went to bed.
In the morning I found the scope jammed and the motor was still going but something was slipping.
Now the DEC makes a horrid sound when moving with the motor. Instead of the nice vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv sound it makes a VZCvvgdXXvVB sound.
I am planning on opening it up tonight to inspect the damage.
Any thoughts on what I have damaged, mount or motors or both? :scared:
I would have thought that the RA would have been damaged but it seems ok.

[coldknights]

Once you take it apart to inspect the damage put a few picks up !
Could be a misalignment of the gear to motor on the dec But if the gears are stripped ....you may as well do the Rowan belt mod while you have it all apart.

http://rowanastronomy.com/productsa1.htm#heq5beltkit

http://www.astro-baby.com/heq5-rebuild/heq5-m1.htm

[daztay]

Thanks
I will put up some pics.
Its only a Eq5 not Heq5 :(
So Im not sure if a kit like that exists for Eq5, I think the internals are way different. But I will google and sus it out,

[daztay]

All the gears look fine, the noise is in the motor, I will check that all phases are being driven correctly.
Since its in bits I'll give it a re grease and alignment.
http://www.astronomyboy.com/cg5/Astronomy_Boy_CG-5.pdf

[MattT]

Can you swap the RA and Dec motors around to see if it is the motor?
Matt

[daztay]

That was my next thought, Ill do that tonight .
I checked all phases and there working. Still might be a electronic error but swapping the motors will show that up. Being a electronic tech by trade, fixing the controller shouldnt be to hard.

I pulled the motor apart at lunch time and there are 2 bearings and I can get them from a bearing place near home, $9 each. I just need to get a bearing puller. Looks like I may have to remove the gear to get one of the bearing off. Going to a tool place tomorrow, to see I can get a puller that is small enough, else I can order one from hobbyking and wait a week or 2.

So Ill do the motor swap tonight, then grease and align the internals of RA & DEC and put back together. I might leave the DEC motor off so I can still track till.

Worst case is a new motor
Got all bases covered ATM

[daztay]

It makes the same noise when connected to RA, so its the motor.
I maybe be able to buy just the motor, but awaiting confirmation on that.
I found the exact motor, but the shaft is not standard :(
http://en.nanotec.com/products/185-st3518-stepper-motor-nema-14/
I have ordered a small gear puller, should have it next week.
If I can get the motor at a good price Ill do that and repair the old motor and use it as a focuser (replacing my jacar elcheapo motor)

[Andy01]

That's rotten luck mate, but it's a nice unit - worth the $ to repair.
Good luck with it hey. :thumbsup:

Cheers

Andy