Tracking with Synscan on a HEQ5 Pro Mount

[Eris]

Hi everyone,
Tonight, after playing with the simulator for a few days I took my HEQ5 Pro out to the back yard to try my hand at Drift Alignment. Having leveled the mount and doing a good general alignment on the SSP I was ready to start. However the problem I have encountered during the session was that while using the directional keys even with a rate of "1x" to centre a star in the cross hairs the star would sometimes accelerate and move off the field.
While I did manage to get a taste of how drift alignment works I could have done the job in less than half the time if I had complete control of the mount.
I would appreciate it if anyone with experience with this mount can tell me what I am doing wrong and more importantly how to avoid this problem in the future.
Thanks to all who are able to offer assistance.

[raymo]

Assuming that you are pressing the enter button each time after you select a
motor speed, then there are only a couple of possibilities; if you balance the scope too accurately it can flop backwards or forwards within the range of
any backlash in the drive gears and/or worm. It should be balanced a bit
against the drive direction. Another possibility, which is actually a bit more
likely, is that the enter button is not always connecting, and the motor will
continue to operate at whatever speed the motor was last set to.
Raymo

[Eris]

Hi again,
The scope was balanced as best as I could get it so that is something to think about. I have been pressing the enter button every time that a speed change was made.
However, if it is a faulty enter button can I fix it myself, or do I send the Synscan back to the supplier for them to have a look at it?

Thanks for your reply.

[raymo]

It is easy to open up the hand controller and clean all the contacts for the buttons. It won't leave any signs of being tampered with if you should
have to send it back under warranty. Can you feel any backlash in either
axis when you try to move it manually? If you have noticeable backlash
you can minimise it by doing the appropriate adjustments. Astrobaby
can be googled for video tutorials on how to do it.
raymo

[Eris]

No I can't feel any noticeable backlash in either axis when moving it manually.
I will open up the hand controller and attempt to clean the contact points and see what that will do.
I am also mindful of your first point re how the scope should be balanced a little against the drive direction.