stiffness in the mount (HEQ5Pro)

[troypiggo]

I bought my HEQ5Pro mount used, and it's always been quite stiff when you release the RA and DEC lock knobs to balance it. The don't swing freely.

Any pointers on how I could adjust/improve this?

[darrellx]

Troy

I had exactly the same issue when I recently purchased my EQ6. I was told that I should simply release the clutches, one at a time, and stand there and just keep rotating them through the full 360 degrees - do turns in one direction for a few minutes then turn in the opposite direction for a few minutes. I couldn't be bothered, so I got my 15yo nephew to stand there and do it. (I told him it would help build up his shoulders to play football!!).

Well, he did it, and it has helped quite a bit. But, they still do not swing real free when I balance, especially if I am only attaching my Megrez90.
Hope this helps.

Of course, the other suggestion I got was to strip down the gears and re-lube or rebuild, but I didn't consider that a real option for me.

Darrell

[alfi]

hi
i did a hypertune on my eq6 pro, it was well worth the time and money, for the heq5 pro there are this page, that show you how to degrease it, and adjust it.
http://www.astro-baby.com/heq5-rebuild/heq5-m1.htm

alfi

[troypiggo]

Thanks guys. I've bookmarked that site. Might be a project over Christmas :)