Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Backlash

[Starman73]

Hello all,

I have a new EQ6 Pro mount, only had it outside a couple of times. I have a 10" Meade ota from an LX200 classic on the mount. I noticed that when i press the right direction key (I am new to the describing directions etc) I am assuming this means in RA. Anyway, the scope moves, the image moves accross the eyepice but when I release the key on the key pad the image bounces back in the opposite direction. I have noticed once, that is also happens in the Dec drive too.

Is this an issue of backlash, I thought backlash was when you changed direction and it takes a little time for the movement to happen again in the new direction? I could be wrong.

Or could this be a balance problem, I have balanced the scope as best I can and there is no movement when I leave the mount with the Dec and RA clamps off?

If this is a backlash problem is it just an easy matter of making some adjustment to the Backlash settings?

Any help would be appreciated. I appologise if this has been discussed in the past.

Thanks
Paul

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Paul

What slew rate did you have it on?

[Starman73]

Hi Iceman,

It seems to be happening at all slew rates, it gets more noticable of course wth higher power eyepieces. Its not very noticable at the higher slew rates, but then again I am generally not using higher magnifications then either.

Paul

[Zuts]

Hi Paul,

This happens on my EQ6 pro as well. There is a backlash setting on the hand controller which can be set for +-RA, +-DEC. The more aggressively it is set the more it will jump. If it is set to zero it won't jump at all. Try setting smaller values or zero.

I have never worked out what it is for, but my guess is to compensate for a hgh speed slew where it may overshoot the target a bit.

Paul

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I'd imagine that any accuracy-related problems might also be due to poor balance in both RA and Dec. Are you positive that if you release the clutches completely and move the scope to any position at random that it will stay exactly where you leave it? If balance is out at all you'll exacerbate this problem. Worth checking...

Also - if you lock the RA clutch and GENTLY rock the scope itself, does it move much? My worm is so crook that no matter how much I try to adjust the meshing, the block that holds the helical pinion allows that pinion to rock back and forth along its shaft axis. If I try to work that out by adjusting the tensioning nuts at the end of the shaft it then binds up immediately. I hate to say it but one day the Chinese may actually do some precision work for once.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Zuts

Hi Paul,

This happens on my EQ6 pro as well. There is a backlash setting on the hand controller which can be set for +-RA, +-DEC. The more aggressively it is set the more it will jump. If it is set to zero it won't jump at all. Try setting smaller values or zero.

I have never worked out what it is for, but my guess is to compensate for a hgh speed slew where it may overshoot the target a bit.

Paul

yep reset the backlash setting to zero to start with, following that if it persists then see your EQ6 doctor to have it adjusted, or you can do it yourself if you are mechanically oriented. I would opt for the pro help if it continues.

[Starman73]

Hello all,

Thanks for your help!

Zuts and Houghy, I will give your suggestions a go, I wanted to get a little advice from some people here before I took the mount back to have it looked at. I didn't want to do that and look stupid if there was something I could do. Considering the mount has a 5yr waranty I think I will take it back if there is a problem, I am not mechanically minded, I deal with human bodies and how they work, I will take the sensible way out and go back if I need to.

Omaroo, I am sure the mount is all ballanced properly, I will do further testing on that though to make sure.

I will report back when I get a chance to take the scope out again, unfortunately i have early morning starts for the rest of the week.

Thanks again
Paul