EQ8 Dec binding

[Star Hunter]

My EQ8 is only a month old and last night when I went to do a 3-star alignment the mount started to slew OK, then the Dec made this terrible binding or jamming sound and stopped. Not good.

Now waiting on a reply from the SW engineers in Vancouver, Canada as to how to pull the Dec apart and see what is causing this.

Anyone who has bought an EQ8, I hope you don't experience what I had last night. But then, we get what we pay for, eh?.

Santa, unless you have a slab or two of festive cheer under your coat, don't come calling. I'm not in the mood.

[Peter.M]

I hate to sound negative, but if you aren't the kind of person who can troubleshoot faults then maybe this isn't the hobby for you. With a bit of luck all that is wrong is the dec worm is a little too close and all it needs is an adjustment.

Both software and hardware are can be frustrating in this and I don't think it matters which brand you buy

[Logieberra]

Sorry to hear that. Can you return to seller and grab another, hopefully better sample?

[Astro_Bot]

+1 on knowing how to troubleshoot.

Even if well adjusted at the outset, EQ6s seem to need re-adjustment after a year or so, maybe less if heavily used. You do get what you pay for, but at the cost of learning a few "tips and tricks" you get a solid mount at a bargain price, at least in the case of an EQ6/NEQ6. Of course, precision in operation and software features are other arguments altogether.

Having a problem in only 1 month sounds a bit poor. I can understand the frustration ... anger, even. Perhaps it took a knock in transit/handling that was just enough to cause the worm carrier to move (does the EQ8 still have a worm carrier like the EQ6)?

Hope it is an easy fix.

Edit: It's a bit like owning a cheapish, bog-standard lawn mower. They're simple beasts, and cost effective, but they need regular maintenance to run well and it's a good idea to learn how to DIY.

[Logieberra]

There is no perfect mount. This is how they gear meshed pre-2005 AP mounts. Hammer in hand! If APs require re-meshing, an EQ8 will too. The only exception being a direct drive ASA or equivalent with no worm.

[Peter.M]

And if the ASA mount has any issues then it will definitely have to go back to them!

[2stroke]

Just take it back to were you got it from and have it replaced, we have laws in Australia if you people didn't know. Demand a new unit as more then likely a metal fragment has got caught between the worm and worm gear and probably damaged both leading to bad PE. Let us know were you got it from please.

BTW: 1 bad mount doesn't mean there all bad, hell every product has a fail rate even the very best mounts could end up with a bit of metal swath in them.

[Star Hunter]

Thanks guys for the replies both pos and neg. I am waiting on a reply from Synta in Vancouver as to what to do next, that won't invoke my warranty from TASCO.

I spoke to Rob there today and he too, would like to know what is going on and how to strip down the Dec housing without damaging anything.

I've built dozens of EQ mounts both small and large and can tell you that worm/wheel pressure is very important. Why do you think the Paramounts and other pro mounts use spring-loaded worms. This keeps an even pressure for meshing. In the proposed Pro SW mount, it will have this and many other pro features.

Anyway, in re to my EQ8 Dec problem it's nothing I can't fix, but if it's damaged due to bad workmanship, I'll get a new mount but not before I get inside and see what caused this binding.

I'll report back here when I'm into it.

I've got a Titan 50 and an EQ6 and a 500kgs payload EQ mount, I built 33 years ago and it still gives spot-on tracking. Size does matter, folks. :eyepop:

[Astro_Bot]

Was that a typo?

[Star Hunter]

nup, not a typo. 3" hardened shaft solid in 3" pillow blocks in RA and 2.5" in Dec. 40mm thick steel saddle plates and 12"Byers drive. Whole thing weighs unloaded, ~350kgs. It's sits on a 12" x 12" RSJ pier. I'm a B/Welder by trade, so I tend to build mounts that are 'over-kills' :D

[Astro_Bot]

Well, I think the most appropriate reaction to that is: holy sh*t!

Sounds like a hell of a mount. :thumbsup:

[Paul Haese]

Welcome to the world of Beta testing Jim. I understand the feeling when things are not going right. Though I have found that the Chinese and Taiwanese are a pretty fair lot overall and usually like to help those who help them.

When I sorted the first lot of RC8's and the baffle tube reflections, the manufacturers were most interested to hear how I resolved the problem and what I thought out to happen to future models. It is in their best interests to listen to those who want to sort the issues.

I am sure that Synta are the same. When I was I China I spoke to the head man at the Synta works about cooling of big scopes. He was keen to engage in the conversation and listen to an end user.

What sort of payload did you have on the mount? Balance? Just out of interest.

[Star Hunter]

Hi Paul,

Mate I have a perfect balanced 50kg system. You know me very well and I don't do things by halves but it seems I'm not the only one experiencing this Dec issue now.

Latest is, BOTH motors fail. Both the makers and I suspect it's the power board so the EQ. head is going back to TASCO for repairs.

Jim

[TrevorW]

It always amazes me how tolerant of imperfection Amateur Astronomers are, $5000 is a lot to pay for something that doesn't work the way it should. Beta testing what a load of BS, equatorial mounts are nothing new just improvements on an old design. I'd be asking for a replacement nothing less which you should be entitled to under Australian Warranty laws.

[Logieberra]

Specifically, under the ACL:

The Australian Consumer Law

On 1 January 2011 the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) commenced. The ACL includes, among other things:

a national law guaranteeing consumer rights when buying goods (and services); and
new penalties, enforcement powers and consumer redress options.
The ACL applies nationally and in all States and Territories, and to all Australian businesses.

[Logieberra]

Jim, I see that you're in Qld. Your Office of Fair Trading has an excellent site, here: http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/guarantees-warranties-refunds.htm Check out the hyperlinks at the bottom. Lots of good tips. Good luck.

[Star Hunter]

Mount is now in the hands of Dr. TASCO. No doubt the good doctor will find and fix the problem. Prognoses? I'll either get a new EQ8 head that has been personally brain tested and signed off by its maker or a refund, of which the latter I do not want nor do I see happening. I'll report back when the patient is out of IC and is recovering.

[Imagerman]

Any news?

[uwahl]

Sorry to read about your EQ8 issues. I have a one month old EQ8 - no problems so far (touch wood! ). I would be keen to know what the end result turns out to be.

[Imagerman]

From the lack of infomation around the web, seems like no one is getting an answer from the manufacturer regarding their bearing issues ?

[icytailmark]

this is why you dont rush out to buy products when they are in their infancy. I learnt this the hard way with the losmandy gemini 2. It took a year for the software in the hand controller to be at a good level where you could do accurate GOTOs. It really annoys me when companies release a product half working.

[h0ughy]

did this ever get resolved?

[Logieberra]

Same here. I was an early adopter. Thank God for René Görlich and G2 Yahoo Group mod Tom. Top blokes!

[Logieberra]

You may find this interesting. Even on the new AP mounts, you must check gear mesh before operation. I guess they recognize that after long distance travel, with many bumps on the way, things can work their way loose. As I said before, there is no perfect mount. Perhaps Skywatcher should ship their mounts with a similar warning and provide the necessary steps to re - mesh, assuming that's even the issue here...

[Star Hunter]

Well, to continue this sorry saga, it has now been suggested by its maker to increase the backlash in both axis - to release the pressure of the worm meshing with the drive wheel. Can you believe this nonsense?

Increasing Backlash will only defeat the purpose of upgrading the firmware for both motor and handset. We all know that Backlash is the killer in guiding, so why increase it?

When the mount was finally stripped down, the repairman found a broken motor/worm coupling! Synta eventually sent a new coupling which was installed and tests applied. The RA coupling looked good. A small load test was applied and no jamming was seen or heard, but then they did not do an alignment run or select an object then press Enter, because that is where the jamming happens, not slewing the mount around by pressing some buttons.

In case EQ8 users do not know, the RA has a fixed drive wheel with its worm riding up and down the wheel. The Dec wheel is attached to the Dec shaft and powered by a fixed worm and motor. Maybe the RA worm is riding over an uneven set of teeth of the drive wheel or it's out of centre to its shaft, or the motors do not have enough torque, I don't know. But until this jamming problem is fixed, I have an expensive paperweight.

As a comparison, my 1 year old Losmandy Titan 50 mount pulls a lot more weight than the EQ8 and its slewing rate up to 8 deg/sec. is absolutely spot-on! But then, the Titan 50 is double the price of an EQ8 and it's build quality is of a high standard.

Anyway, this jamming/binding/stalling, only happens during a slew when doing a star alignment. Sometimes if you're lucky enough to get an alignment without a stall, it will happen after you have selected an object - NGC, IC, Planet, etc, and no sooner after you press Enter to slew the mount, we get this..... bbbbuuuurrrrrr - the sound of the dreaded stalling which is random - no particular spot on either axis.

Power is 13.8 VDC when slewing in both axis so no probs there. The OTA balance in both axis is also spot-on and the payload is only 42kgs, Synscan handset is V3.35 and motor firmware is the latest 2.10.

Perhaps SW should make provision in the next motor and Synscan firmware, whereby the user can select a GOTO rate speed other than the factory-set GOTO slew (3.3 deg/sec.) speed after you press Entre to GOTO.

I've have since asked my supplier for a replacement EQ8 head.

cheers,

Jim

[icytailmark]

logan have you had many issues with the AP1600?

[allan gould]

Sorry to hear your problems Jim.
I was about to pull the trigger on this mount but held off for another 12 months to give SW time to get this and other issues completely sorted out. I hope you get it resolved to your complete sattisfaction.
Allan

[Star Hunter]

Thanks mate. I'm sure the importer will sort it out as its still under warranty. It should not have happened, as not all flowers have broken petals.

cheers,

Jim

[coldknights]

Hi Jim ,
Is the EQ8 all working ok ?,now it is back from the mechanic ?

just looking for a update and to see if all is working .

[coldknights]

We have put our Skywatcher EQ8 mount through its paces and not one ounce of trouble this way !
We loaded it up with a Skywatcher 12 " Newtonian and had no problems at all slewing around no strange noises just purred like a kitten.
......picture below was from last night under a very clear night sky.

[PeterM]

Had mine for 3 months with over 3000 slews to various galaxies.
This mount is superb right out of the box.
I am sure I have read posts on other sites where Jims problems are now fixed?
Is that right Jim?

[PeterM]

For the number of responses and inparticular the number of views this post has received it would seem appropriate to hear from the poster just what the outcome/resolution was to his issues.

[Logieberra]

Sorry. Just saw this question! No. Not a single issue. Smooth sailing as I expected :)