Help!! Stiff Dob Mount

[garyp]

Hi all
I am having some problem with my Dob mount when I rotate it in Azimuth. It's a skywatcher 8" Newt. I can't get a good smooth movement. It is very stiff and jerky. I loosened the central nut off which helped a bit but made the bottom platform way too loose so I had to tighten it again. Maybe I need to put some sort of spacer in between the platforms? I don't know how smooth it should be normally but I think It should be better than it is.

has anyone else had similar problems? I have put up with it for a while but now it is just frustrating me:mad2:

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks:)
Gary.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Well, there's a lot here on the forum about it

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,116,0,0,1,0

I modified mine with a lazy susan bearing

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,378,0,0,1,0

but as you will see there's other mods which have been tried with success. Go to Forums here and do a search for "smooth azimuth". One of these threads is

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=21727&highlight=smooth+azimuth

Cheers

[rmcpb]

As a starter I would try the milk jug washer trick and make sure taht the staples that hold the teflon bearings are below the level of the bearing or they will catch.

[erick]

Best you do it properly. Contact these guys and buy the pivot kit and the new teflon bearing kit. I did and have been very happy with the result on my 8".

http://www.astrosystems.biz/pivot.htm

Read up here on updating a 12":-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=41,451,0,0,1,0

Note that Scott also moved the Az teflon bearings in closer to the centre. (I've since bought that 12" from Scott.)

Good luck! :)

[garyp]

Thanks Geoff,Rob and Erick that is all very helpful information. I'll read it all up and see where I go from there. It seems I'm not alone with this problem.;)

Cheers and thanks

Gary

[Chippy]

I would try applying a very small amount of Vasoline to the teflon bearing surfaces. Works for me! I have a GSO though :-)