I removed the scope from the tripod and could hear the same rattling sound coming from the AZ/RA drive. Of course, as Murphy's Law would have it, one of the tiny little allen screws is stripped so I can't remove the base cover plate.

Hmmm.....

Does anyone know if the RA motor is the same as the DEC motor?

I'm desperate enough to point the thing skyward that I just might have to turn off tracking and take some peeks before I send it in.