· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro       #3089278 - 05/06/09 08:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am one very happy dude...... I took my counter weight shaft, the tail where it slides in/out, and my 4 eleven pound weights to a local machine shop and asked if they could: 1) bore out the hole the existing shaft comes out of to 1 inch and thread it for 1 x 16; 2) cut me a piece of 1 inch stainless steel (304) about 19 inches long; 3) thread it to fit in the hole created in step 1; 4) create a new toe saver (stainless again) about 1.5 inches wide; and 5) bore out the holes in the counter weights such that a delrin sleeve could be inserted and fit over the new 1 inch shaft. Can you say WOW...... The fit, amazing. The finish, brilliant. The feel, awesome. Oh, and by the way, NO play in the weights. They fit very snugly.... NO sloppin' about like they used to. I will post images later tonight -Jerry Post Extras:       John Miele Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/29/05 Loc: North Alabama Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089325 - 05/06/09 08:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jerry, How much $!? I want to do this too. Edited by John Miele (05/06/09 08:40 PM) Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: John Miele]       #3089589 - 05/06/09 11:05 PM Attachment (31 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   So, as promised..... First, the new setup - lower DEC nut to the toe saver NOTE: The shaft is 1 inch thick and 18 inches long. It weights in at about 5 pounds.... Edited by mtb.daily (05/06/09 11:11 PM) Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089590 - 05/06/09 11:06 PM Attachment (27 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Next, the work on the DEC nut. Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089591 - 05/06/09 11:07 PM Attachment (28 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That image was from the inside mount looking out. Here is the outside looking into the newly threaded, slightly larger hole. Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089594 - 05/06/09 11:08 PM Attachment (26 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Now, as you can see, the above image shows some of the flaws in the material used to make the EQ-6 components. Next, another view of the new DEC nut. Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089598 - 05/06/09 11:09 PM Attachment (25 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   OK... So now the actual tight fit can be seen here. Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089600 - 05/06/09 11:12 PM Attachment (24 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here are some details on the threads that the machinist cut. Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089603 - 05/06/09 11:12 PM Attachment (19 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   and a little closer..... Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089605 - 05/06/09 11:13 PM Attachment (23 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Now, for the other end.... The toe saver... Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089606 - 05/06/09 11:14 PM Attachment (24 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   the hole on the shaft Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089608 - 05/06/09 11:14 PM Attachment (21 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   In place... Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089611 - 05/06/09 11:15 PM Attachment (21 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   another angle... Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089620 - 05/06/09 11:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   John, you were asking $$$$ Well, you're down there in Alabama.... I am in Toronto.. (USD vs. CDN) Anyway, I paid $130 CDN buckerroos...... Thats about $105 USD.... Since the machine shop is only 5 minutes from where I live..... No shipping Now, you can go to TSS http://www.telescopestabilitysystems.com or got to Ruby Lith http://www.astro-rubylith.com -Jerry Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089624 - 05/06/09 11:23 PM Attachment (23 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   In addition to the shaft mods..... I had to open up the holes in the counter weights a little. All four 11 pound weights cost me another $120..... These *&^#(* things are made of Cast Iron.... Anyway the holes were lined with 1/8 inch delrin sleeves to protect the finish on the new stainless steel shaft. Here is a closeup of the new hole. Post Extras:       mtb.daily sage Reged: 09/19/07 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Re: New Shaft for an EQ-6 Pro [Re: mtb.daily]       #3089630 - 05/06/09 11:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Anyway... I am very happy with the results.... Next, the Altitude mod..... BTW: I have ordered the new bearings from Ruby lith (see note above) -Jerry Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 26 registered and 53 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Bowmoreman, bilgebay, iceblaze  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 277 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights LLC Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics