Dobsonian is jerky when moving vertically.

[Jemmo (Adrian)]

Dobsonian is jerky when moving vertically.

My dob has 2 small Teflon looking squares per side I've never owned one before its 2nd hand is the 2 squares the normal amount.
What can I clean it with to try make it smoother. It's not smooth at all and hard to use when using higher magnification.
Is it better to just replace the Teflon

[sn1987a (Barry)]

chapstick!

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

This is a GSO/Bintel scope with the springs is that right?
They can be a little jerky I noticed when I used one. The teflon is probably not the issue, more likely to be dirt on the other bearing surface.
I also found the they had a little knob that the upper end of the spring attached too and that could be a little worn and would make the movement jerky, maybe try lubricating that, I think from memory I tried a little candle wax and that helped a bit.

Malcolm

[Jemmo (Adrian)]

Yes it has the springs to hold it down to the base. I'll rey both ideas tonight thank you guys

[astro_nutt]

Hi Adrain.
Try cleaning the hubs with some metho then scuff the Teflon pads with some 400 grade wet and dry, very lightly, in the same direction as the hub sits and only in one direction, not back and forth. Clean off with metho then dust a bit of talc on the surface of the pads.
Cheers!

[Jemmo (Adrian)]

Thanks for that tip I'm a bit of a dob noob so does the hub mean the plastic circles either side of the tube that sit in the stand?

[astro_nutt]

Yep! you got it!

[GrahamL]

I clean with metho then wipe with a dab of mr sheen non aerosol on a clean cloth,, wax and polish as you dust with mr sheen