EQ6 Pro counter weight shaft mod

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Hi all, finally carried out a little mod I've been meaning to do for some time.
EQ6 owners will know how the counter weight shaft doesn't lock rigidly when extended and I've often thought how when part way through an imaging run the shaft could slump to one side as it rises.
This a problem more so when imaging in the south as you may well start with the counter weight shaft almost at the six oclock position.

Well what I've done is made a threaded sleeve and press fitted it to the shaft clamp and then fitted a screw in shaft of 20mm dia so when screwed in place it's quite a bit stronger than the 17 odd mm shaft and more importantly very very rigid, no side slop.

The 20mm shaft came from an old Super Polaris mount I have sitting there it's also a tad longer when fitted.
The Clamp lever is there for show now as it doesn't do anything anymore.
Comments.

[UniPol]

Very neat Ken, you've inspired me to do the mod except I'll machine a new shaft out of stainless steel. Cheers.

[Bart]

I had my son machine a 20mm thread into the collar of my EQ6 and then purchased a 25mm(actually 1") stainless bar which he cut a 20mm thread onto the top and made a retaining foot to thread into the shaft at the bottom and bored the weights to suit. It is also longer and it is just awesome.

Before you all rush off to have one made etc, Orion sell an upgraded shaft that is worth thinking about. I have not seen it here in Aus, however you could still import one cheaper than paying a fitter and turner to mod your set up.

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-Count...t/p/102787.uts

Regardless of how you do this and not taking anything away from the OP, it is a worthwhile upgrade.

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Originally Posted by UniPol

Very neat Ken, you've inspired me to do the mod except I'll machine a new shaft out of stainless steel. Cheers.

Yes it's very handy to be able to it yourself saves dollars and adds interest to the hobby.

Originally Posted by Bart

I had my son machine a 20mm thread into the collar of my EQ6 and then purchased a 25mm(actually 1") stainless bar which he cut a 20mm thread onto the top and made a retaining foot to thread into the shaft at the bottom and bored the weights to suit. It is also longer and it is just awesome.

Before you all rush off to have one made etc, Orion sell an upgraded shaft that is worth thinking about. I have not seen it here in Aus, however you could still import one cheaper than paying a fitter and turner to mod your set up.

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-Count...t/p/102787.uts

Regardless of how you do this and not taking anything away from the OP, it is a worthwhile upgrade.

Wasn't aware that the upgrade was available, guess I didn't even look as I had everything at home to the job but that's a very reasonable price for what you get there for sure and a piece of cake to fit, just screw the old one off and the new one on, adjust the bearing preload and you're away.

[Astro_Bot]

The mod, and the Orion product, are very interesting - thanks, all, for sharing.

Originally Posted by Nico13

.. just screw the old one off and the new one on, adjust the bearing preload and you're away.

OK, I get the screw off/on bit as I've played around with my lower Dec collar and counterweight shaft on my NEQ6, but how does one adjust the "bearing pre-load"?

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

The mod, and the Orion product, are very interesting - thanks, all, for sharing.



OK, I get the screw off/on bit as I've played around with my lower Dec collar and counterweight shaft on my NEQ6, but how does one adjust the "bearing pre-load"?

The bearing preload is an old mechanics term as I'm an old mechanic and it basically is a matter of when screwing the lower dec collar on and doing it up far enough to remove any slop in the tapered roller bearings of the dec axis, when you think all the slop is gone you go just the little bit tighter to put the "preload" on the bearings.
This is done for one reason pretty much because if you only just took the slop out and left it that, when fully loaded with telescopes and counter weights that small amount of slop or free play in the bearings could return when it squeases the grease out from the bearing surfaces.

It's possibly only about an eighth of a turn past where you think any slop or free play has been adjusted out. If you go much more than that turning the dec shaft with the lock dissengaged would become tight and harder to turn.

That was a bit long winded wasn't it. Hope that helps.

[traveller (Bo)]

Nice work Nico

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Originally Posted by traveller

Nice work Nico

Thanks Bo, in the middle of changing things around and moving away from the side by side as well so it'll all look different next time you see it.

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by Nico13

Hope that helps.

It does indeed. Thanks, Ken.