Losmandy GM8 Clutches adjustment?

[rogerg]

G'day all,

The clutches on my Losmandy GM8 have been becoming increasingly hard to tighten. It seems like I am always having to tighten them as much as they will go, applying quite some force, where as I used to have to only tighten them half as much to stop the axis moving. Both RA and Dec have degraded the same.

Does anyone know if there is some simple adjustment/maintenance I should make to them to bring them back to their former glory?

Thanks,
Roger.

[JohnG]

Hi Roger

Have you removed both the RA and DEC axis and removed the nylon disks and given the surfaces of the disks and their respective bearing surfaces a clean with Metho or Alcohol based cleaner. I usually do this about once a year and have never had any drama with having to overtighten.

While you are at it and have the shafts out, give the bearing where the shafts run down a clean with WD-40 or something similar, you can stick your fingers down to where the bearings are and free them up, over time the grease becomes rather gluggy.

Cheers

[rogerg]

Thanks John. I will see how I go at pulling them apart, I haven't done that previously, so no cleaning etc in the past. I have been cautious of not knowing exactly how to dismantle it and what to clean vs what not to clean lubricant off.

Roger.

[JohnG]

Hi Roger

Pulling the shafts apart is simply a matter of removing the clutch knobs, once they are fully undone, just slide the complete shaft out (without the telescope on, of course), you then just remove the white nylon clutch pads and clean all the surfaces.

Over time oil from the grease wicks onto the pads and they lose grip, just give them a good clean with metho or alcohol and make sure they are dry and the bearing surface is dry also.

You don't have to undo the worms to do this, the complete shaft will just slide out, as I said previously, take the opportunity to give the bearing a relube and clean, you will be surprised at the difference.

If you do this bit of maintenance every 12 months or so, the mount will stay in top condition.

Cheers

[bmitchell82]

ahh its all good roger, :D just give it a good rip apart :D youll never never know if you never never go :D

[gbeal]

I agree, it is simple. Lay it out on a cloth, but be meticulous about the thin spacers, they can be easily missed adhering to the bottom of the housing etc.
Gary

[suma126]

I might try this on my gm8 as well but what grease works best on the worm gear.

[bmitchell82]

white lithium grease is generally the go

[JohnG]

What Brendan said or Slick 50 if you can get it

Cheers