I'll definitely give the car wax a try see how it goes. I'll have a look at the teflon pads this weekend to see whether they need a clean or not (I have the argo encoders installed so will require bit more fiddling).
Would it be possible to move the altitude bearings on the skywatcher truss dob? Either way I think it wouldn't be possible to fix in this manner as the scope is top heavy and would require me to move the bearings further up, which is not possible due to them been set to their maximum height from factory on the lower tube assembly.
Thanks Alex
Quote:
Originally Posted by mental4astro
Actually, before picking up a hammer and saw, have a look at what you could do to improve the mount you have first.
Are the bearing surfaces clean? Give them a good and gentle clean and apply some good quality car wax to them. The Teflon pads only clean, don't apply wax to them! You will be amazed what a differnce a little clean and wax will do!
I just waxed the alt bearings of my bid dob, having being one year since the last clean and application. What a difference! Buttery smooth and just the right amount of 'stick' (which is bugger all, but just enough to both hold the scope in place, and move it with the slightest touch without bouncing or kick back).
If this fails to improve the situation, next look at changing the position of the Teflon pads to a more "textbook" one. Later to changing them to a more "textbook" size. It will be cheaper too. Teflon is inexpensive to buy if you cut it yourself. Easy to cut too, just like the plastic of and ice cream tub.
The last step, before totally building a new mount, if you've got balance issues in the alt., look at changing either the position of the current bearings ON the OTA (raise them if bum heavy, drop them down the tube if top heavy). You might find it an easier solution to make NEW alt bearings too, fitting them over the existing ones, making them larger in diameter too, and then modifying the rocker box to accomodate the new bearings. This is far less work than making a whole new mount.
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