The main problem, as I see it, with modifying the Az on the Intelliscope base is that if you get it wrong, and the Az encoder disc magnetic strip comes into contact with the encoder board, you immediately wipe out the two tiny electronic sensors that protrude slightly above the Az board!

The working clearance between the magnetic disc strip and the two electronic sensors is of extremely close tolerance anyway,for this system to operate properly, and there just isn't any margin for error.

This catstrophy occurs without any warning the instant that you rotate the base! The two tiny sensors, look like two black dots and are micro soldered to the Az board circuitry.

These are so delicate that they are actually wiped clean off of the Az board and usually leave a scrape in the Az disc black
strip. A new Az board and possibly a new magnetic disc must be ordered from Orion, as the COL function is now inoperative...Been there, Done that...LOL!

Just scratching the magnetic strip on the Disc. won't hurt it, but if you've bent the disc badly, you either have to try and straighten it out, or just order a new disc, along with the new Az board.

Two simple raised barrier strips, just a hair higher than the sensors, and glued to the board adjacent to each of these two miniature electronic sensors would eliminate this problem,making it physically impossible for the Disc strip to come into contact with the two sensors . A tiny piece of hard plastic or other non magnetic substance would do the trick!

I did contact Orion Tech support suggesting this fix, but I don't know if they passed the Info. on to the Mfg. of the Az board.

Bob

12" F/4.9 Intelliscope with COL

10" F/5.0 Coast Inststrument Treckerscope,circa 1956

Stratus 35mm( hand grenade

) Nagler 22T4, 17T4, and 12T4

BO/TMB 7mm and 5mm, TeleVue Paracorr.

Barlows: GSO 2"ED 2x, Orion Shorty Plus 2.2X, TeleVue 2.5x, Coast Inst. 3x