Telescope Reviews: A few iEQ45 mods

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dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

A few iEQ45 mods
#5472054 - 10/15/12 06:26 PM Attachment (125 downloads)

I've been quite pleased with the iEQ45 mount - I wasn't sure if it would manage my 10" f/4.5 Newt, but it does, for visual use, in its "stripped down version" with the Ken Dauzat rings, which weights about 33 lb., with a Parcorr, Nagler 31T5, and TelRad. The heavier Parallax rings, at 39 lb., are manageable, but I didn't really enjoy it.

I have replaced the stock saddles with a the ADM Vixen/Losmandy type.

You'll note I am using the iEQ45 extension bar - with that, 2 weights will do more that 4 weights on the stock bar alone.

Edited by dvb (10/16/12 12:17 PM)

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5472059 - 10/15/12 06:29 PM Attachment (74 downloads)

A surprising annoyance of the iEQ45 is the tripod spreader, which is made of plastic, with "vanes" underneath - these cut into the hand while carrying the mount, and remove some of the benefit of its light weight.

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5472064 - 10/15/12 06:33 PM Attachment (77 downloads)

I happened to have a spare spreader from a Skywatcher mount. On its own, it is too wide to properly mate with the spindle of the iEQ45. One option would be to replace the spindle with something longer, but my dealer, Nick at Vancouver Telescope Centre, was kind enought to shorten the wings of the extra SW spreader so it is compatable with the stock iEQ45 spindle. Here is the shorter SW spreader (black) lying on a stock SW spreader (white).

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5472072 - 10/15/12 06:36 PM Attachment (88 downloads)

A final annoyance is the azimuth adjustment bolts - they are cold-forged, square-ended, which makes adjustment kind of "jiddery"; not very smooth:

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5472076 - 10/15/12 06:38 PM Attachment (68 downloads)

Nick at Vancouver Telescope was kind enough to round the end of the screw on his grinder:

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5472088 - 10/15/12 06:46 PM

I know there some other mods out there. For example, here is a link to a spreader made from wood:

http://tinyurl.com/ckkbwtp

A really nice job!

I'd be interested in other posts or links to mods folks might have to share.

Post Extras:

MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5472183 - 10/15/12 07:42 PM

Good stuff!

Post Extras:

Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: MRNUTTY]
#5472508 - 10/15/12 11:34 PM Attachment (55 downloads)

Finish off your azimuth mod by sanding the paint off of the contact surfaces between the mount and the tripod. Use painter's tape to mask off the surfaces you don't want to sand. I also put the mount in a bag to keep it clean. Put a thin film of super lube on the surfaces to help protect them and reduce friction. Makes it much easier to adjust.

I also put super lube on alt bolt and wheel.

Got the idea here:

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4198974/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/28/vc/1

Edited by Phillip Easton (10/15/12 11:39 PM)

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Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5472519 - 10/15/12 11:40 PM Attachment (58 downloads)

The bottom of the mount.

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5472525 - 10/15/12 11:45 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, Phillip!

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5472529 - 10/15/12 11:47 PM

Here's a link to an excellent wood accessory shelf that fits over the stock spreader, made by Midnight Dan:

http://tinyurl.com/cq62zg5

Edited by dvb (10/15/12 11:49 PM)

Post Extras:

Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5476519 - 10/18/12 08:24 AM

Okay, I finally got around to doing a polar alignment after doing azi and alt mods/tweaks and wow what a difference. After struggling with trying to do fine adjustments it was a huge difference! No more jerky motion everything was smooth as butter.

Summarize:

1 - Round off the azi adjustment bolts
2 - Sand off the paint and lube mount/tripod contact surfaces
3 - Lube the pivot bolts (at the back) for alt adjustment and the inside of the adjustment wheel.
4 - Use a longer bolt to put in the alt adjustment wheel. I found a long screw with an actual plastic knob on the end at Ace Hardware.

If you have an iEQ45 and do nothing else do these.

Cheers!
Phillip

Edited by Phillip Easton (10/18/12 08:26 AM)

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5476807 - 10/18/12 11:56 AM

Post Extras:

Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5477647 - 10/18/12 08:02 PM

Quote:

Okay, I finally got around to doing a polar alignment after doing azi and alt mods/tweaks and wow what a difference. After struggling with trying to do fine adjustments it was a huge difference! No more jerky motion everything was smooth as butter.

Summarize:

1 - Round off the azi adjustment bolts
2 - Sand off the paint and lube mount/tripod contact surfaces
3 - Lube the pivot bolts (at the back) for alt adjustment and the inside of the adjustment wheel.
4 - Use a longer bolt to put in the alt adjustment wheel. I found a long screw with an actual plastic knob on the end at Ace Hardware.

If you have an iEQ45 and do nothing else do these.

Cheers!
Phillip

Ditto the above...! Also, you can try some of these mods:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astronewb2011/sets/72157629679446064/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astronewb2011/sets/72157631021687076/

Thanks for the informative thread.

Cheers,

Paul

Post Extras:

Midnight Dan
Postmaster

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5477764 - 10/18/12 09:20 PM

Excellent advice, Phillip! I've put those mods on my todo list! Thanks!

-Dan

Post Extras:

Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5478580 - 10/19/12 10:55 AM

Quote:

Excellent advice, Phillip! I've put those mods on my todo list! Thanks!

-Dan

Dan,

No problem, I am glad I went back through that long thread I referenced and tried out some of the ideas. I could not believe what a difference it made in doing the polar alignment. My goto's were better that night as well. Going to be going to our club's dark site tonight so actually looking forward to setting it up again.

Cheers!
Phillip

Post Extras:

dvb
different Syndrome.

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Re: A few iEQ45 mods [Re: Astronewb]
#5480231 - 10/20/12 11:40 AM

Quote:

Ditto the above...! Also, you can try some of these mods:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astronewb2011/sets/72157629679446064/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astronewb2011/sets/72157631021687076/

Thanks for the informative thread.

Cheers,

Paul

Those are very impressive mods, Paul - I enjoyed the Flickr slideshows.

Post Extras:

Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: dvb]
#5496292 - 10/30/12 02:37 PM

Gents,

I updated my site with additional images for the mods/tweaks I have done in case anyone is interested.

http://www.the3dwizard.net/index.php/astronomy/ieq45

Cheers!

Post Extras:

Midnight Dan
Postmaster

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5496349 - 10/30/12 03:06 PM

Just completed Phil's list of mods and they make a very nice difference in smoothness of altitude and azimuth adjustments!

The only thing I did a little different was to completely separate the base from the mount head. That way I didn't have to put the mount head in a plastic bag to keep it clean while sanding the paint off of the base surface. Plus it opened up all the screws, threaded holes and adjusters for easy lubing.

-Dan

Post Extras:

Wembley2000
super member

Reged: 01/07/12

Loc: NW Ohio

Re: A few iEQ45 mods new

[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5496405 - 10/30/12 03:52 PM

I sent Aeroquest Machining my ieq45 worm and Jim made me a new one. When the skies clear, I will let you all know how it goes with pempro graphs.

Wem

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