1 reply to this topic

[Darkskylooker]

My 8SE mount has gotten loose around the base... That is, I have the 8SE mount on a wedge, and when I place the ota on it, gravity rotates the mount so the ota is on the bottom.
Does anyone know where I can find instructions on disassembling the mount and doing cleaning & maintenance & adjusting on it?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Tel]

Hi Darkskylooker,

From what you describe, it sounds very much as if you've lost the "fixed" intermeshing of the two drive cogs which power the azimuth axis of your 8SE and that as a result and as you say, the axis is now in free rotation.

My guess therefore is that the cause is probably attributable to the loosening of one or both of the set screws which attach the motor drive cog to its shaft as the following link illustrates.

http://www.cloudynig...2309497/page...

Additionally this link, below, may also help.

http://www.nexstarsi.../N58Azimuth.htm

Note that the above link is somewhat older and refers to the Nexstar 8i's azimuth axis disassembly. The N8i's mount internals are however the same as those of the 8SE.

Hoping this solves your problem.

Best regards,
Tel

Edit: Noting from Fusion's experience, (see first link), that his azimuth axis was only moving about an inch, (still an excessive amount -- no more than ca. 2mm side to side "slop" being normal bearing in mine that to all intents and purposes this is a "fixed" axis), the cause might just lie with slackness in the large azimuth adjustment nut. Obviously check both this and the motor set screws ! !