Muzfox
26-03-2021, 10:22 AM
So I haven't been happy with my guiding and had a real hard time getting rid of backlash and oscillation in my HEQ5 by adjusting the gears etc. I bit the bullet and did the Rowan belt mod. I am working to get everything right for a future scope in the 900mm range so tracking is important to me.
Some tips for those thinking of this, get the extraction tool, makes removing the small gear a breeze. Also the instructions don't mention this but the shaft on the idler has a flat, slowly rotate that till you find where it just slides in, that actually took me a while to figure out.
Initial test just slewing in the house shows what an awesome difference it makes to the noise. No more grinding, very clean and quiet sounding.
I've had 2 clear nights now, the first night I ran a calibration for PHD2 and then started guiding just to see the results. Screenshot attached I think say it for itself, previous guiding I was getting 1.5 to 1.8rms. I picked various parts of the sky using the same calibration and guiding was great everywhere.
Last night I did 4 hours on a target and averaged around 0.5 to 0.7rms, seeing was okay, humidity was not bad, moon was bright. Imaged right over the meridian and there was no difference either side. I did a straight balance on my mount, not heavy in any direction.
Another full clear night coming this Saturday, plan to add another 5-6 hours and will show the full result.
My mount is only 12 months old but I wish I had of done this from day one. For me it makes a huge difference. I run a 72ed Scope with 071mc pro, auto focuser, filter drawer, heavier 190mm guide scope and 120mm cam, pegasus power box advance, dual dew heaters, everything mounted on the scope so not exactly light, but still only 1 counterweight needed.
Some tips for those thinking of this, get the extraction tool, makes removing the small gear a breeze. Also the instructions don't mention this but the shaft on the idler has a flat, slowly rotate that till you find where it just slides in, that actually took me a while to figure out.
Initial test just slewing in the house shows what an awesome difference it makes to the noise. No more grinding, very clean and quiet sounding.
I've had 2 clear nights now, the first night I ran a calibration for PHD2 and then started guiding just to see the results. Screenshot attached I think say it for itself, previous guiding I was getting 1.5 to 1.8rms. I picked various parts of the sky using the same calibration and guiding was great everywhere.
Last night I did 4 hours on a target and averaged around 0.5 to 0.7rms, seeing was okay, humidity was not bad, moon was bright. Imaged right over the meridian and there was no difference either side. I did a straight balance on my mount, not heavy in any direction.
Another full clear night coming this Saturday, plan to add another 5-6 hours and will show the full result.
My mount is only 12 months old but I wish I had of done this from day one. For me it makes a huge difference. I run a 72ed Scope with 071mc pro, auto focuser, filter drawer, heavier 190mm guide scope and 120mm cam, pegasus power box advance, dual dew heaters, everything mounted on the scope so not exactly light, but still only 1 counterweight needed.