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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts
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Yedgy
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 07/22/08

Loc: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Atlas EQ-G Tuneup
      #2807379 - 12/15/08 09:42 PM
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Can anyone point me toward some reputable businesses that can clean/inspect/regrease my mount's innards and upgrade the bearings and other components?

Thanks!
Tony

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Charlie HeinAdministrator
Postmaster
*****

Reged: 11/02/03

Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Yedgy]
      #2807383 - 12/15/08 09:47 PM
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Telescope Stability Systems has a good reputation.

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David PavlichAdministrator
Transmographied
*****

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Yedgy]
      #2807432 - 12/15/08 10:11 PM
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You might contact Doc Clay and see what he can do for you. He can sure make a CGE a good performer.

David

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Yedgy
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 07/22/08

Loc: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: David Pavlich]
      #2807493 - 12/15/08 10:52 PM
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Has anybody here had an Atlas "hypertuned" by Telescope Stability Systems? How long did it take and how happy are you that you had the work done?

Thanks!

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Strgazr27

****

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Yedgy]
      #2808008 - 12/16/08 10:10 AM
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Yedgy,

You've got a PM.........

I purchased my parts through Tim at TSS and have had a CGE tuned by Doc Clay. Both high quality people and operations although the TSS tuneup is a bit expensive but that's JMO....

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Bradley B
sage
*****

Reged: 05/14/07

Loc: Sacramento, California
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Strgazr27]
      #2808212 - 12/16/08 11:43 AM
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I don't want this to be seen as vendor bashing, but over on the TSS-Yahoo forum, it seems that the owner of TSS has been pretty non-responsive over the past several months.

Everything might be okay now, but just be careful out there.

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lawrie
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 01/31/06

Loc: Okanagan Valley
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Bradley B]
      #2808368 - 12/16/08 01:27 PM
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Has anybody used their (TSS) CD on how to tune up the mount?

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Yedgy
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 07/22/08

Loc: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Bradley B]
      #2808378 - 12/16/08 01:32 PM
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Thanks, folks! It looks like I have a few options to consider.

Bradley, thanks for posting links to the McMaster-Carr thumbscrews a while back! They look great and I just ordered a set to replace those dangblasted toggle bolts.

Tony

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Jeffrey Sugden
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 05/04/05

Loc: Akron, OH
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: lawrie]
      #2808391 - 12/16/08 01:36 PM
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Quote:

Has anybody used their (TSS) CD on how to tune up the mount?



Yes. I also got the replacement bearings and spacer kit from TSS. All shipped quickly (RA tapered bearing was back-ordered and I received it the following week). The DVD is great.

Next on my list is to do the latitude adjustment mod.

All in all, this is a great resource for a DIY tuneup!

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lawrie
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 01/31/06

Loc: Okanagan Valley
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Jeffrey Sugden]
      #2808629 - 12/16/08 04:02 PM
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Hey Jeff, have you done the upgrade yet, which bearings did you use?

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Strgazr27

****

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: lawrie]
      #2810130 - 12/17/08 09:43 AM
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The last few months have been a bit rough for Tim. He was working through a personal issue but when I last talked to him things were getting back to "Normal". If your doing the tune up the best choice when doing the mount would be a full bearing upgrade and using the 9 ball ceramic worm bearings. The CW shaft upgrade for a DIY is NOT cheap unless you already have access to the bit and tap that is needed for the shaft as well as the bit needed to drill out the CW's or a friend with a drill press and the required bits and tap. Having purchased the correct bits and tap I can tell you it's NOT CHEAP I paid $148 for all 3.

The DVD is very helpful but will not replace mechanical skills, the tools needed and clean working techniques. The more care taken when rebuilding the mount the better it will operate.

Here is the CW shaft. The weights are currently in my spray booth being repainted



Here is the AZ Mod. Yep...Keen eyes will notice I drilled the wrong sideplate Lol



Here is the current payload........39 pounds and PE is under 6 arcseconds peak to peak



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Strgazr27

****

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Strgazr27]
      #2810137 - 12/17/08 09:46 AM
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This is close to 50 pounds on the Atlas. Although I am shooting at relatively short Fl's it still tracks better than my CGE's did with lower PE.

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Yedgy
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 07/22/08

Loc: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Strgazr27]
      #2810306 - 12/17/08 11:48 AM
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That's quite the setup, Bobby! How does the mount behave in the wind (assuming it gets any in the observatory)?

Tony

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Strgazr27

****

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Yedgy]
      #2810374 - 12/17/08 12:15 PM
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Quote:

That's quite the setup, Bobby! How does the mount behave in the wind (assuming it gets any in the observatory)?

Tony



Tony,

Thanks! That's one of the nice things about having the Obs. I have more than tripled my imaging time over last year with roughly the same weather patterns. I have imaged in 25-30mph gusts without any real difficulty. At the zenith the tubes only stick about 8 inches above the edge of the wall line so wind is not an issue.

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dvb
different Syndrome.
*****

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Bradley B]
      #2811136 - 12/17/08 06:43 PM
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Quote:

I don't want this to be seen as vendor bashing, but over on the TSS-Yahoo forum, it seems that the owner of TSS has been pretty non-responsive over the past several months.

Everything might be okay now, but just be careful out there.



I sent TSS an e-mail some time ago to see if I could buy the parts to do the altitude-azimuth tune-up myself, since it seemed to make more sense than shipping the whole mount.

I never heard back, so bought the British kit.

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Yedgy
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 07/22/08

Loc: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: dvb]
      #2811146 - 12/17/08 06:48 PM
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British kit? Could you post a link to this?

Thanks!
Tony

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fetoma
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 09/26/06

Loc: Southern New Jersey
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Yedgy]
      #2811163 - 12/17/08 06:57 PM
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Tony,

I think that Bobby aka "Strgazr27" in the above post might do tune-ups on the Atlas mount. Shoot him a PM.

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Yedgy
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 07/22/08

Loc: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: fetoma]
      #2811179 - 12/17/08 07:05 PM
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Thanks, Frank. I'm in communication with Bobby now but still would like to see some options for sourcing the parts, as they are a bit pricey.

Tony

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dvb
different Syndrome.
*****

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: Yedgy]
      #2811711 - 12/17/08 11:13 PM
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Quote:

British kit? Could you post a link to this?

Thanks!
Tony




Here is the link to Astrodevelopments:

http://tinyurl.com/52z65r

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fetoma
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 09/26/06

Loc: Southern New Jersey
Re: Atlas EQ-G Tuneup new [Re: dvb]
      #2812004 - 12/18/08 07:58 AM
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Tony,

I got mine here:

http://www.vxb.com/

In fact, I have four ceramic bearings left from an 8 pack I bought to do my worms with just sitting in the package.

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