how much weight is too much?

[Spacedad]

I have a EQ5 mount and i was wondering how much weight was too much to put on it?.
I know it is rated for about 9.1 kg, but is 25% more too much?
I am only doing visual moon and planets.
thanks
Mark

[Startrek]

I’d stick to the specified maximum payload of 9kg or just under for visual use
For long exposure AP max payload would be around 6.5kg
The EQ5 can and will carry 12kg but it’s not designed to carry 12kg year after year.
If you want the mount to have trouble free operation year after year and last then don’t overload it. Manufactures specify maximum payload weights for a reason.
Sounds like you needed a HEQ5 mount or a lighter payload (lighter scope)

Cheers
Martin

[Spacedad]

Thanks for your comments Martin, possibly an neq6 will be required for me.
Can I also ask after how long should a mount be serviced. I know grease has a limited life span, so to ensure trouble free operation when should you degrease your mount.?

[Startrek]

If your intending to future proof your mount with a 20kg class mount , the most widely used , proven workhorse and best bang for buck is the EQ6-R pro belt driven mount ( not the EQ6 or NEQ6 which are gear driven like the EQ5 and HEQ5 ) I’ve owned 2 of them in the last 5 years , still have one in Sydney. My OBS mount on the South Coast is the EQ8-R pro.
You may want to get into long exposure DSO imaging at some point down the track so the EQ6-R ( in lieu of NEQ6 ) would be the better choice and better decision long term.
Out of the box performance is ok but I’ve carried out a few adjustments ( tune ) which is fairly straightforward and tightened my guiding from 0.80 arc sec down to 0.45 arc sec on stable nights ( I use mine for imaging ) Soft tune includes adjusting drive belts , adjusting tension on both main Ra and Dec axis and finally adjusting Ra and Dec worm gears for Backlash.
If you’re just doing visual observing then straight out of the box is fine.
My EQ6-R mount is Sydney is 5 years old and have never pulled it apart to re grease or do a major service. It still performs really well. If you live in extremes of cold and hot weather then grease maybe affected ???
I’d say every 10 years you would have to do a strip down and full hypertune but that’s a guess.
Max payload for visual use 18 to 20 kg
Max payload for imaging use 15kg

Cheers
Martin