Help! Skywatcher DOB GoTo Azimuth drive dead

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Has anyone replaced the azimuth drive motor on a skywatcher goto Dobsonian?

I have a second-hand 12" Skywatcher goto Dob, that I bought from the IIS classifieds early January this year.
I don't know where it was originally purchased (seller has not responded to my enquiry and has not been online since the sale).

In retrospect, I should have asked for (copy of) original receipt, if at least to confirm the assertion of it being less than two years old. But, as the exchange took place half way between our respective cities, it was overlooked.

My first thought was to get the boys at Bintel to do a repair or replace.
But they informed me that they do not sell these, and therefore they were unable to help me.

This was a surprise! (I considered myself a good customer of theirs having spent quite a bit there over the years).

But it is worth remembering when you are considering who to buy from.

So, I am looking to see if anyone has any information that may help me do the job myself, or who I might find that will be willing and able to do the job professionally.

Any advice welcome.

[casstony]

I think Andrews does repairs.

[raymo]

Hi Allan, I'm in the same general boat, but with a different specific problem. If your mysterious vendor is an IIS member you could try
to PM him, if you haven't already. It would be no skin off of his nose
to send you proof of purchase. Failing that, Andrews might be able to help you; and failing that Tasco are good with warranty problems,
so even if you can't claim under warranty, they might at least be able to sell you a motor, or direct you to whoever does their work for them.
The motor is probably fairly easy to replace, so if all else fails, you
could probably get one cheaper from the U.S. and install it yourself.
There will probably be a tutorial on youtube on how to do it.
Good luck
raymo

[glend (Glen)]

Allan I have sent you a PM with some internet research on sources. The German site actually shows the part on their website, but I think Andrews Comms is probably the easiest local source and as they stock heaps of Skywatcher stuff they can probably get one in for you. If not them, then the AstroShop shows Skywatcher mount drive motors and they could probably get one.

Try emailing Skywatcher Support and asking them:

support@skywatchertelescope.net

Will keep looking.

[Astro_Bot]

Tasco Sales Australia is the in-country Skywatcher agent. Their technical guy (Rob - he does the warranty repairs) is pretty good to talk to - he's given me good advice in the past.

You'll have to get through call reception to the service department, and I'm not sure if you can do that if it's not a warranty matter, but it's worth a try. Once you get through, talking to Rob is the easy bit.

[raymo]

As I understand it, if it was bought in Australia from any one but
Andrews, they'll handle a warranty claim, but looking on the Tasco website yesterday it says that they only give 12 months on Skywatcher
products. B.T.O.W. in Perth gave 6 yrs. Dealers in general seem to
offer 5; so what is the true warranty period?
Maybe you can borrow a Hand controller[as was suggested to me for
my problem], and see if the problem persists.
raymo

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Hi Allan,

I am pretty sure von Tom had a similar problem and has recently rectified it?
Bintel may not sell them now, but they use to sell them, i purchased mine from them, but without the receipt you don't know where it has come from. I think straight to skywatcher/tasco as suggested by glen and astro bot.
I believe they have a 5 year warranty I don't know when they came onto the market but can't be much more than 5 years??

Rusty

[Allan_L (Allan)]

OK.
The seller has responded and confirmed that it did come from Andrews.

Spoke to Andrews. They will look at it, but as it is not a warranty job (I am not original purchaser) they could not guarantee how long it would take.

So, before going into town, and as suggested, I will try to eliminate some (other) simple possibilities.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

I pulled the az motor control box apart again, checked all cables for firm contact, loosened off the slip clutch nut, reassembled and...

It seems to be working again.

So, admittedly, there may be some intermittent problem there, but I will hold off sending it away for now!
Luke did say many of these type of problems (this happens a lot ??) are caused by faulty cable, often from the Hand Controller.

Thanks to everybody for their input.

The weather will, no doubt, now return to its normal crappy mode.

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Great to hear Allan - its amazing the number of times opening up, jiggling cables, and giving a clean, can fix electro-mechanical objects. (I just did a similar thing with a noisy PC power supply unit + fan!).

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

good to hear Allan