6 replies to this topic

[gitfiddle]

Is anybody else having an issue where when you loosen the knobs to release your scope from the clutches of the am5 shoe, that the clamps stay stuck? One of them I can tug with my finger and it releases, but the other I have to wiggle the scope to get the clamp to turn loose . . . and tonight that wiggling had to be vigorous enough that it turned the Dec axis a little. I know how to restore it to home position, but it should not be doing this.

 

Any idea how to fix this?

 

Thanks y'all,

Jon

[gitfiddle]

Even if you haven’t had this issue, if you have ideas about fixing it, I’m all ears.

 

thx!

jon

[calypsob]

I would take it apart, clean it up, and add some fresh grease. 

 

If the problem persists, maybe upgrade to a better saddle. 

[gitfiddle]

I would take it apart, clean it up, and add some fresh grease. 

 

If the problem persists, maybe upgrade to a better saddle. 

Ah. Saddle, not shoe. I’ve never tried taking one of these apart—is there a video anybody recommends, or is it pretty straight forward and unlikely that I’ll remove a screw that messes something up?

 

j

[honyi]

Have helped friends with theirs. Lay the mount upside down on some newspaper. Loosen the saddle clamps to the max they will go. Spray a bit of PTFE grease into the gap. Close it back fully, open it again, and spray a bit more grease into the gap. Lay the mount on its side, and open and close the clamp a few times. That should solve it.

you need to make sure some of the grease gets into the "rails" at the side of each clamp block.

Edited by honyi, 30 March 2025 - 09:41 AM.

[calypsob]

I doubt there is a tutorial. They are just screws, pressing into springs with some kind of washer.
A dry lube might be less messy than grease. I have a type of oil that contains WS2 which would probably work well. I think the biggest thing here is you have somehow completely dried out the internals and there is no lubricant

[joshman]

I doubt there is a tutorial. They are just screws, pressing into springs with some kind of washer.
A dry lube might be less messy than grease. I have a type of oil that contains WS2 which would probably work well. I think the biggest thing here is you have somehow completely dried out the internals and there is no lubricant

it's just a saddle clamp, i doubt they were assembled with any kind of lubricant.

 

When i ran into the issue with mine, it was just a case of pulling the clamp out and rubbing it down with some SuperLube (PTFE grease)