BobH
super member
Reged: 01/03/08
Posts: 143
Loc: PA
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Got the ETX125-PE out for the first time in about 6 months. It has been sitting fully assembled inside an air conditioned room since last use.
Fired it up and it seemed to work fine except for the tracking. It tracks in obvious jumps or jerks, not smoothly. I can see and hear each little jump every few seconds. Irritating while observing and makes photography impossible.
Does it need lubricated somewhere? I loath taking anything apart. Might it just work itself back to normal with continued use?
Thanks,
Bob
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"Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise." - Cato the Elder
Meade 8" LX200 GPS
ETX 125 PE
Tasco 50mm x 600mm
StellarVue 115ST on MiniTower
Orion Astroview 100
Celestron 8x42 Outland LX
'03 Harley FXDL (oops, wrong forum)
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Quads
sage
Reged: 09/07/08
Posts: 296
Loc: Central Sands, Wisconsin
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My ETX 80 does that shortly before the batteries die, if that helps?
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I'm a "just for fun" photographer that also takes nighttime sky pictures.
Meade ETX-80AT-TC-BB
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Affordable Astrophotography
Powered by Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
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BobH
super member
Reged: 01/03/08
Posts: 143
Loc: PA
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Thanks, Quads, but I'm running off a fully charges power pack.
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"Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise." - Cato the Elder
Meade 8" LX200 GPS
ETX 125 PE
Tasco 50mm x 600mm
StellarVue 115ST on MiniTower
Orion Astroview 100
Celestron 8x42 Outland LX
'03 Harley FXDL (oops, wrong forum)
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Well, here's a check-list off the top of my head that may help:
- batteries/power supply fresh check
- ensure clutch locks for both axes aren't under- or over-torqued
- date & time (with daylight adjustment) correct for your time zone
- using scope in alt-az mode while using alt-az alignment method
- drives trained, motors calibrated recently
- firmware up-to-date
All else fails, try issuing a RESET command through the AutoStar and start from scratch, see if that clears the cobwebs any.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
 Updated: 09/16/2009
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Quads
sage
Reged: 09/07/08
Posts: 296
Loc: Central Sands, Wisconsin
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Is your powerpack old? Maybe the battery in it is starting to fail? If possible, check the voltage while it's running the ETX, under load.
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I'm a "just for fun" photographer that also takes nighttime sky pictures.
Meade ETX-80AT-TC-BB
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Affordable Astrophotography
Powered by Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
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BobH
super member
Reged: 01/03/08
Posts: 143
Loc: PA
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I'm pretty sure power supply is not the problem.
I've gone back through all the setup data, calibrated sensors, trained drives several times. Checked clutch locks and tried varying tightnesses. Did just about everything the average user can do except for a reset. I have a cable on order so I can update the Autostar.
Since this problem just started, it seems it would be mechanical, not firmware.
The scope moves in discrete little jumps like the second hand on a watch, ticking from one position to the next. I can even hear it!
Haven't called Meade yet, but I guess I'll have to.
Wonder if a Supercharge would fix this?
Bob
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"Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise." - Cato the Elder
Meade 8" LX200 GPS
ETX 125 PE
Tasco 50mm x 600mm
StellarVue 115ST on MiniTower
Orion Astroview 100
Celestron 8x42 Outland LX
'03 Harley FXDL (oops, wrong forum)
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grendel
sage
Reged: 04/12/09
Posts: 241
Loc: Canterbury, Kent, UK
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possibly a gearbox problem, or a stripped tooth on a gear. I would go to mike weasners site and ask the question, there is a lot of good info on his site.
Grendel
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astrowolf67
member
Reged: 12/15/07
Posts: 94
Loc: Western Kentucky
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I had this problem on my ETX 80. It was still under warranty at only 11 months old. A call to Meade, along with faxing them a copy of my original receipt, and they had it picked up and exchanged it. I never found what the problem was. When it started, it was very slight, and hard to notice. Within a couple of weeks, and about 4 outings, it became severe enough to prevent accurate goto's. The replacement has had no troubles. I suspect the clutch had somehow been contaminated with grease, causing the slippage.
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David
"Seek the Spirit of the Wolf, for He holds the Secret of Life."
Edmund Astroscan/Meade DS 2000 tripod
Meade ETX 60
Tasco 60mm EQ
Meade 114 NT/LXD75
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JT5
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 576
Loc: Ozarks of Missouri
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Congratulations David. Maybe time to consider getting the extended Warranty.
John
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My wife shares my love of the night skies and tolerates all of my other hobbies.
Televue Pronto w/Starbeam pointer and Televue tripod
Meade 2045D, ETX-125PE, 12" Lightbridge
Celestron: 7Amp PowerTank, 15X70mm binoculars
Meade, Swan and Televue Lenses (33, 26, 20, 15 & 9mm), Televue Barlow
Catsperch Observing Chair
Member: Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri
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JT5
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 576
Loc: Ozarks of Missouri
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Bob--Have you followed the guidance of unlocking or loosening all of the clutches when you had it stored. The gears are plastic. Supercharging from Dr. Clay should be a good investment if the problem persists and a much better investment than a repair by Meade if you are out of warranty.
John
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My wife shares my love of the night skies and tolerates all of my other hobbies.
Televue Pronto w/Starbeam pointer and Televue tripod
Meade 2045D, ETX-125PE, 12" Lightbridge
Celestron: 7Amp PowerTank, 15X70mm binoculars
Meade, Swan and Televue Lenses (33, 26, 20, 15 & 9mm), Televue Barlow
Catsperch Observing Chair
Member: Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri
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1_old_dog
sage
Reged: 09/07/07
Posts: 435
Loc: Smoky Mnts
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Ya I agree that a Dr Clay supercharge would be a better thing to do than returning it to Meade for repair.
Before doing anything, look on Mike Weasner's site for more answers.
Weird power would be my first thought, but if this is not the problem "for sure" then before you spend money "reset" and retrain. This procedure has solved many irritating small problems for us.
od
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old stuff but good stuff
http://chu65nang67.us/nam/vietnam.html
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BobH
super member
Reged: 01/03/08
Posts: 143
Loc: PA
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Quote:
Bob--Have you followed the guidance of unlocking or loosening all of the clutches when you had it stored. The gears are plastic. Supercharging from Dr. Clay should be a good investment if the problem persists and a much better investment than a repair by Meade if you are out of warranty.
John
Oh dear. I didn't know about the loosening of the locks for storage. It wasn't exactly stored, just not used for about 5 months. Ok, semantics aside, I did know the gears are plastic and am pretty sure that's the problem.
Seems as though others here share my reluctance to call Mead. I'm out of warranty, so the Supercharge sounds like the way to go.
Does the Supercharge include replacing the plastic gears with metal?
Bob
--------------------
"Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise." - Cato the Elder
Meade 8" LX200 GPS
ETX 125 PE
Tasco 50mm x 600mm
StellarVue 115ST on MiniTower
Orion Astroview 100
Celestron 8x42 Outland LX
'03 Harley FXDL (oops, wrong forum)
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grendel
sage
Reged: 04/12/09
Posts: 241
Loc: Canterbury, Kent, UK
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also the gearboxes are prone to cracking on some of the smaller sections which can cause the problem described, I have sent a few spare salvaged gearboxes to people who have had similar problems, I only have a couple left though if you do find thats the problem, if you do need one give me a shout.
if it stiffened up lubrication, loosening up the clutches and running it from stop to stop might help redistribute the grease.
grendel
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JT5
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 576
Loc: Ozarks of Missouri
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BobH:
I do not know if Dr. Clay stocks any gears. You should check out his website. Also give him a call if you make a firm decision about having the scope supercharged so you know what to expect.
John
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My wife shares my love of the night skies and tolerates all of my other hobbies.
Televue Pronto w/Starbeam pointer and Televue tripod
Meade 2045D, ETX-125PE, 12" Lightbridge
Celestron: 7Amp PowerTank, 15X70mm binoculars
Meade, Swan and Televue Lenses (33, 26, 20, 15 & 9mm), Televue Barlow
Catsperch Observing Chair
Member: Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri
|
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