I've found it's virtually impossible to adjust out all the backlash in RA on my NEQ6 ( with belt mod) without it binding. So I decided to measure it and enter it into the Backlash setting on the handset.
Fortunately I have my scope set up in an observatory.
1. Pointed the Dec to the celestial equator.
2 move RA so that the scope is pointing at an easy accessible part of the wall
3. Mounted a laser pointer on the side of the dewshield and taped the button "on"
4. Gently pushed the RA. Axis one way and with a FINE sharpie put a small dot on the wall where the laser dot was.
5. Gently pulled the RA the other way and put a second dot on the wall
7. Measured distance from the centre of the DEC axis to the wall where the dots are(x mm)
8. Measured the separation of the dots (y mm)
9. Backlash ° = artan(y/x) approximately.
Mine worked out to be 05' 52.6"
If you don't have an observatory you could set up in a shed/garage or the lounge. No need to align, just make sure your Dec is set to 0°
You repeat for your Dec backlash by gently pushing and pulling the scope in the DEC plane.
Mine was 0°
Good luck.
Last edited by Starrymessenger; 02-03-2017 at 02:14 PM.
Reason: Mistake
That seems like a lot to me. Have you checked the worm end bearing play?
I recall when I did the belt mod on my Eq6 it had the same problem. I pulled it all apart again and found that I had quite seated the bearing fully in the RA housing even though the adjusting ring felt OK.
There WAS a small amount of tightening available as I'd knocked it back when I was trying to solve binding issues! Have nipped it up and there is basically no backlash now Many thanks for the suggestion Glen.
