Quote:

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...I have exactly the opposite problem. I have a Gemini GI-1 and some meat head who had it before me tried to lap the gears. He totally trashed both worms. Luckily, the worm wheels are OK. The worms are trashed, though.

Steve

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Well, that's ONE way to create a double-throated worm wheel set. Not the way I would have used...

Charlie:

I agree with Steve. IMHO your wheel probably cannot be repaired for any reasonable amount of money. It would have to be taken to a machinist to be rehobbed, with a new worm; probably cost as much if not more than a new worm wheel.

Check your worm carefully. Is it tool steel, S/S, or bronze? If the first two, it's probably fine. If the latter, it may be damaged.

If you're getting good imaging results, I'd put everything back together and continue using it until a replacement worm wheel can be found. Back off on worm pressure slightly, and use the "east-heavy" balance trick to take up any RA backlash. Don't back off too much on the worm gap, though - with the damage your pic shows, I'd start worrying about slippage.

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In the Land of Eternal Light Pollution & Great Pizza (Chicago)

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