Hi All,
I thought that I would post some results of my efforts to improve the performance of my EQ6 GEM.
I have an older model (black) that I have been using for around three or four years.
I didn't have a permenant installation for my gear (observatory) and so I was observing in fits and starts and not in any serious way prior to this.
In January this year I decided to build my observatory. I had been threatening to do it for years but like most projects astronomical it always got put back unitl I bit the bullet this year.
Now having a permenant pier for my mount meant that the time had come to try to iron out some of the performance issues I ahd identified in the past. Notably, a rather nasty worm PE.
I had read that a company called Aerquest produced higher quality gears and worms for the EQ6 and so I ordered a set of replacement transfer gears and a new worm.
To cut a long boring story short, the transfer gears did not cut it but the worm was a signifant improvrment on the one made by Synta.
At the time, I was following a discussion on the EQMOD tech group regarding modding the EQ6 to a belt drive system.
One of the members had had some success in doing it and so I decided to give it a go as well.
Now I haven't yet completed moding my mount but scrapping the transfer gears for a belt drive has been the best thing ever.
The difference in mechanical smoothness is to be seen and not heard to be believed.
Also, I went for a 4:1 pulley ratio to remove the PE synch problem caused by the 3.92... ratio of the normal 12/47 tooth gears.
The following photos should be enough to show what I did and how I did it.
In conclusion can say that for me it was quite an easy mod to do and I think it has real potential to significantly lift the performance of my EQ6.
Regards,
Luke
P.S. I have also included a photo of my observatory (probably the reason for the recent spate of bad weather).
