Quote:
Originally Posted by Shiraz
the backlash is a free region where the gears are not in physical contact and you can move the axis from side to side across the backlash gap by pulling and pushing on the OTA. But now imagine that you only pull on the OTA and hold it - the gears will be pulled into contact and if you keep pulling, the gears will stay in contact, regardless of which direction you drive. If you imbalance the load, you get the same result and take the backlash right out of the equation.
Don't be worried too much about DEC backlash - you can easily manage it and there is probably no need to try to repair your mount if you have ruled out all of the possibilities listed by Peter.
edit: thinking about it though, 25 steps is a lot - have you checked the settings in phd2 to make sure that the cal step size is big enough?
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Cheers mate.
I guess I was thinking for DEC to guide in the opposite direction to the imbalance, it would need to first take up the slack. Bit if it falls rather than gets pushed due to the imbalance that would probably have the same effect, which is essentially what you're saying. Makes sense, thanks!
The step size is fine, RA and DEC calibrate in about 12 steps once the backlash has cleared.