AZ-EQ5 tuning and replacement parts

[Oddity (Andrew)]

Hey there

I've been tuning my AZ-EQ5 to remove some wiggle/play as per these excellent instructions that someone posted on CN:

https://acercandoelcosmos.files.word...r_20150617.jpg

https://acercandoelcosmos.files.word...r_20150618.jpg

What I've found adusting the D and E screws is that there there is a point where the R.A pinion is unevenly spinning, where it's loose 80% of the rotation and tight the remaining 20% and I am unable to remove any more play without causing the pinion to be too tight during that 20%. It seems the pinion may not be perfectly straight as clearly it's engaged too closely for part of its rotation.

The Dec. axis is even weirder, it rotate perfectly 95% of the way, the remaining 5% is basically stuck, as if the thread on the pinion has a notch in it.

I'm wondering if anyone knows where to source replacement gear boxes, or even just replacement pinions (although I imagine that to be very fiddly to replace, pulling apart the gear box and all).

[floyd_2 (Dean)]

Hi Andrew,
This won't directly answer your question, but may give you another angle to play. My AZ-EQ5 had a little bit of free play when it was new. I sent it back to Skywatcher and they corrected it free of charge. The guy there was great to deal with and did a really good job of tuning the mount for me.