AstroAF - Tune Up Your HEQ5 Pro Mount As Good As Belt Mod! Adjust Dec and RA Axes & Remove Backlash

[@BillManley-p2r]

THANK YOU for this awesome video. I used it for my HEQ5 and my mount is so much better. I have also recommended it to several folks on Facebook. Best U-Tube instructional video on the subject in my opinion!

[@AstroAF]

@@BillManley-p2r Hey Bill! Thanks! That made my day. I’m really glad you were able to reference it with your mount tune up! Clear skies! Cheers! Doug

[@Astronurd]

Informative video. I opted for the Rowan upgrade kit which is excellent. So much quieter as well.

[@AstroAF]

@@Astronurd Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting! I have since installed the Rowan, a couple other vids on that. It is working perfectly. On my mount I did not notice a difference in loudness, they were pretty much the same for me. I think it depends a lot on the mount’s RA/Dec drive gear adjustment as to how loud they are. Cheers! Doug

[@ziggyfrnds]

Thank you for sharing this! You've made your mount purr :) Brilliant stuff!

[@AstroAF]

Hi Ziggy!! Thanks for stopping by and your comment! Yeah, still running great. The mount has reached the age of being ready for a more major tuneup and re-grease. I’ve decided to do a Hypertune on it. Hopefully will have that out next video in a couple weeks. Cheers! Doug

[@whatmattersmost6725]

Good to see you again Doug! First... Merry Christmas everyone!!

[@AstroAF]

Thank you! Appreciate your comment! Merry Christmas!! 🎄

[@DudleyEirich]

I want to thank you for this video. My HEQ5 (less than a year old) was noisy and both the Dec and RA axes were sticky, which made balancing more difficult. I didn't think that I had a lot of backlash and my guiding was pretty good, but once I opened it up to look at the gears and tested it like you showed in your video, I found about as much looseness in the meshing of the gears as you showed. Prior to doing anything, I watched a lot of videos on tuning an HEQ5 and yours was by far the best and clearest. I followed your instructions and the stickiness is gone, the backlash is decreased and the noise is dramatically reduced. I'm definitely going to subscribe.

[@AstroAF]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to write such a nice comment! I really appreciate that I’ve earned your subscription and wish you clear skies and a smooth running HEQ5! Cheers! Doug

[@elvisvelez6609]

Hello Doug, when looking through the polar alignment scope at night and the red light is lighting it up I can’t see Polaris unless I turn the red light back off , is that normal or is there a setting to turn the light down. Am I doing it wrong?

[@AstroAF]

@@elvisvelez6609 Hi Elvis! Assuming you are using EQMOD you can find it in the Development Testing pane. If you are using the SynScan hand control, it is in the setup menu. Access setup and press enter. Scroll keys to select LED backlight. Use left/right keys to adjust brightness. Press esc to exit.

[@scblue01]

Hi Doug, Thanks for the great vid, makes it all pretty clear. After watching I had to give my HEQ5 a quick check and yes, the Ded was really sticky, the RA tho seems fine. So I did Dec adjustment, great, smooth as silk. Then reattached the scope and it was way out of balance! Clearly masked by the stickiness. Now fixed, hopefully better guiding on next clear night. Regarding the gear adjustments, I think I'll need to find that bottle of brave pills I lost sometime between age 19 and 75.. I will find them...

[@AstroAF]

Hi SC! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! I’m glad the video is clear and you are trying the tune up steps! The Dec is a little more simple than RA on backlash adjustments. If you find those pills I’d start there. The gear adjustments aren’t hard, just super fiddly! It requires some patience because you have to sneak up on the adjustment without getting over tight. If you do, make sure and check for binding doing a 360 with hand controller. If you are going from inside to outside with the mount, let it acclimate and check for binding again. Cheers!

[@scblue01]

Thanks Doug, I'll give the mount a try as is, ie with loosened Dec & rebalanced, find that bottle of pills tackle the Dec backlash, and let you know how iI get on.@@AstroAF

[@chrisjordan4210]

Just about to take delivery of an HEQ5, this is a great help - the first things I'll check!

[@AstroAF]

Hi Chris! Thanks for the comment! Best of luck with your HEQ5, congrats!! I love mine. Great mount. Cheers! Doug

[@chrisjordan4210]

Thank's so much for the video, I've also ordered the Rowan belt drive mod, but I intend to carry out the adjustments you have shown before fitting it. I'm assuming your suggestions will make the fundamental improvements that the belt mod will "fine-tune" @@AstroAF

[@AstroAF]

@@chrisjordan4210oh nice! Please let me know how the belt mod goes. I’ve been really curious to put one on my mount. Cheers! Doug

[@chrisjordan4210]

Will do Doug. I think your adjustments will inform how good the mount is at dealing with backlash and hopefully the belt mod improves PEC. As an old LX200 fan it will be nice to have a mount that can be improved relatively simply! I find it a little strange that evidently all of the engineering precision is in place, but the manufacturer doesn't take advantage of it before shipping.@@AstroAF

[@AstroAF]

@@chrisjordan4210 IKR! They are doing the absolute minimum to get stuff out the door and on the trucks!

[@elvisvelez6609]

Awesome video man, thank you as I just bought a HEQ5 and was wondering about how to adjust it better. Gave you a follow...

[@AstroAF]

Thanks Elvis!! Appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment! I hope the video helps you get the most out of your new HEQ5! Good luck and clear skies!! Cheers! Doug

[@miguelmorales9667]

Merry Christmas Doug. Just want to let you know that I had just found your channel the other day, and that I am enjoying your videos very much. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@AstroAF]

Miguel, thank you so much! I really appreciate you and your comment! Merry Christmas to you! 🎄

[@sun3563]

Thank you.

[@AstroAF]

@@sun3563 Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting!! You are very welcome! Cheers! Doug

[@KJRitch]

I wish I could adjust my AVX mount as easily. Nice you can make adjustments as needed.

[@AstroAF]

Thank you for commenting! Yeah that is something I really like about the HEQ, I guess it can be a double-edged sword if you’re not familiar with the mechanics. But that’s why I made this vid!

[@nikaxstrophotography]

Nice work!

[@AstroAF]

Thanks Nik!! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment!

[@tostativerdk]

Very useful, thanks :)

[@AstroAF]

Hi and thank you for your comment. I’m happy you found this useful! Cheers! Doug

[@jimcarter2092]

Great instruction video! I have a new heq5 pro used a few times and notice very excessive play in the R/A movement like about a 1/4 inch play By moving the head by hand back and forth. the backlash between the pinion idle and worm drive sprocket are fairly ok and tried adjusting the set screws but to get that excessive play out, the stepper motor will shutter and bind up. (In one direction only) And on high speed but if i back off the set screws then i get the excessive movement, but the movement i am seeing, is the worm drive sprocket moves in and out. (From the case to the cover, direction) And to the point it doesnt equally line up with the idle sprocket. As i move the r/a head by hand, in adjusting the set screws cant find the best spot. I was an auto technician for 24 years and have rebuilt and adjusted differentials dozens of times so i understand the concept and process here but dont know how the inside componts are set up here. is it normal to have 1/4 inch play in the r/a left to right and the worm drive sprocket to move in and out so much? I know when i first tried the adjustment i did not have the worm carrier 3 allen bolts snugged But very loose at the time, and i need to go back and make sure they are just like you show in this video, but it almost seems like there is something more wrong, any feedback would be most appreciated Thank you!

[@AstroAF]

Hi Jim! Thanks for watching and your comment! 1/4” is definitely excessive. I’ve actually never seen that much play. If I’m understanding how you’ve described, I definitely feel this is not normal. Can you tell if the worm has excessive play in the bearing journals? Like if you move the worm away from the worm gear and back the stepper motor off, can the worm be moved back and forth laterally? Once you set the backlash on the worm gear, then you should be able to set your mesh on the stepper drive gear to the pinion. I almost wonder if the worm is not secured and is floating. I really don’t know. Cheers! Doug

[@jimcarter2092]

@@AstroAF hello doug. I just got done working with it for an hour now I got it tighter but still a bit of looseness in head I had to loosen the worm sprocket and push it on closer on the shaft. The worm gear shaft seems to loose in and out. when I physically move the r/a head I see the sprocket gear move in and out, so loosening Up the gear and pushed it in as far I could go then retighten the sprocket helped Then re adjust the set screw if I go a bit to tight the motor will shutter then bind up I think because if the adjustment is too tight then the motor hasn't enough power to overcome it, so I loosen the set screw adjustment so the motor doesn't bind Then the excessive movement is back I don't know how the worm gear inside is fastened and the whole internal set up But to me that shaft shouldn't move in and out like it does the motor binding is only in one direction. Looking at it from the weight Rod end, it binds when activated to right And not left. I received this mount from Amazon in January not sure what the return policy is I will check, unless it's something I could easy adjust or fix. I shouldn't have to If it's an internal issue, I will play with it some more here. It bothers me that the worm shaft moves in and out so much That's the first thing I noticed from pulling the gear case cover. Any suggestions Will help. Thank you very much for Your response, appreciate it!

[@AstroAF]

@@jimcarter2092 Hi Jim, feel free to email me, see my about. Perhaps you could send me some images or a short vid? Cheers! Doug

[@jimcarter2092]

@@AstroAF that was a thought I had, Yes I will try that. Thank you very much!

[@jimcarter2092]

Hello doug, ok, I figured it out, while trying to record a video I reset the worm gear sprocket back flush with shaft where it was originally to show you the excessive movement and after, i decided to just remove the sprocket/gear and look inside I noticed What looks like a bearing nut that has 2 slots to adjust with a spanner type wrench And proceeded to check it, and it was loose. I tightened it up and now no more in and out movement with the shaft, replaced the gear And performed the standard adjustment I've seen in yours and other videos, And all seems ok now, tomorrow I will add the weights and run it both ways 360 deg To make sure all is ok, in automotive I learned never assume it's fixed Thank you again for helping if there is Anything you need to add to the fix Here, please let me know I just wonder if They use some sort of thread locker when assembling, I'm not sure if it will loosen up again after many uses. Thanks Doug!

[@elvisvelez6609]

Hello all, can anyone tell me where I can get a new cover for the side that covers the gears? I've reached out to skywatcher and they are no help at all. Thank you everyone.

[@AstroAF]

Hi Elvis! I’m sorry to say I do not other than starting to search on Cloudy Nights or on EBay. Perhaps you can 3D print one?

[@peregrineeyases7332]

As an Engineer for 45 years I found so painful to watch, what the hell is hyper tune, plus they are locks not clutches , and all you are doing is putting side pressure on the ball bearings and that not good, I'm very sorry but you really don't know what your doing.

[@AstroAF]

@@peregrineeyases7332 “What the hell is hyper tune” 🤣 You made my day!! Cheers! Doug

[@peregrineeyases7332]

@@AstroAF That's ok I will look forwards to the turbo version 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AstroAF]

@@peregrineeyases7332 now that is something I’d love to see Sky-Watcher come out with!! They did just release strain wave driven mounts though and that is probably a stepping stone away from engineering a turbo version!! 😀