worm gear for eq5 RA

[1crem1]

Hi all
looking for worm gear for an eq5 RA
looks like this: https://www.dropbox.com/s/316jgw0jo9pnace/eq5RA.jpg?dl=0

I've come into an eq5 mount and everything in it, apart from being extremely gunky, seems ok except this piece which is half stripped. Would be unusual to have one lying around but you never know.

Also, if you know who would stock this could you let me know? I've found a place in Europe but freight is $$$.

I've also heard that since it's RA I could mount the gear on the other side to the worm and so avoid the stripped part - is this an option?

thanks
Andrew

[JohnF]

By the way Andrew, there is a guy on IIS who may be able to make one on a lathe -- do not know for sure. Think his name is Joshua. But not sure what he does make.

[ChrisV]

Yes you can rotate the gear so that the stripped part is opposite the worm drive.

[bojan]

Rotation is not really an option, sooner or later (actually after 12~20 hours of use) stripped part will come into a contact with worm again.
Machining or new part is the way to go.
New parts were available online.. try Bintel also, they were servicing those mounts

Now I see you found the supplier (https://tavcso.hu/en/product/WormGearEQ5) ..

[1crem1]

Bojan, they’re the ones that come up. I’ll try Bintel too.
There’s a LOT of play between this part and the main RA shaft that doesn’t look normal (this was after degreasing); doesn’t seem to be the case with the Dec assembly. The gear also has a number of hairline cracks in the cylinder itself: poor manufacture or stress, so a replacement definitely on the cards.
Andrew

[bojan]

If you are talking about play only, that can be adjusted, provided it is the same all around the wheel.

By "rotating", whoever mentioned that, what they really meant was to swap DEC and RA wheels (they are the same).
Of course, this is not the solution once you have GoTo, especially if the wheel on DEC is damaged too badly.