Losmandy question how tight do you tighten your clutch

[h0ughy]

Just putting this out there, how tight do you tighten your clutch?

I'm beginning to think I am doing mine too tight on the Titan, hard :question:

I'm beginning to think that it is binding the mount

[multiweb]

Just enough so they don't slip. Tightening too much will put pressure on the thrust bearings.

[h0ughy]

So by don't slip you mean finger push and no movement or a good push and no movement. I do tend to have it tight for no movement. I think I have a problem, me ;)

[multiweb]

Well... tight enough so it doesn't keep going when you slew provided you're well balanced. With mine I can still grab the end of the DEC shaft and quite easily move the RA if that's what you mean.

[RB]

Yep, what Marc said.
Just enough so they don’t slip.
Sounds like you’ve got it way too tight Dave.

:scared2:

[DarkArts]

Agree with tight enough to not slip. When working around my mount in the daytime, I've sometimes (lightly) bumped my CW shaft and the mount has annoyingly moved in RA ... but I wouldn't tighten the clutch any further.

I use one of those rubber-strap-on-a-lever tighteners, which limits how tight you can go anyway - it's plenty, though.

[h0ughy]

I don't like to loose my grip on reality

[h0ughy]

I'm intrigued what's a rubber strap on a lever tightener :question:

[DarkArts]

Well, officially they're called a "strap wrench" but it was too early on a Saturday to remember that. :screwy:

This is the one I have:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/haron-160mm-strap-wrench_p4900119

... and here's how to use one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRT8UvYraI

[h0ughy]

Thanks

[h0ughy]

OK I backed it off a tad will try to give it a go tonight weather permitting

[multiweb]

Clotheline peg pressure.

[AstralTraveller]

From the manual:

"How tight should the clutch knobs be? You set the clutch knobs to the
friction you like. When you want to move the telescope, all you do is grab the telescope and move it to its new position."

This implies to me that they expect that you don't need the clutches very tight at all. I try not to use too much pressure but I still loosen the clutches before moving the scope by hand. I've had wear issues with a previous (lower quality) mount and so I'm careful. Also, I observe outside and sometimes wind is a problem, so I need the clutches a little tighter.