How to SUPER TUNE the Skywatcher EQ 5 mount Part 2

[@matthewfletcher]

Jesus. This is way more complex than I imaged! xD Thanks for the great tutorial!! :D

[@MPAstro]

Glad I could help!

[@astrojourneyuk]

This video is sooo helpful. I’m using it now to tune / fix my EQ5 pro mount. The 2mm grub screws are stuck on the Dec though. :(

[@MPAstro]

You know what gotta do, get that mount tuned-up!! Try a little WD40 on the 2mm grub screws, it should help loosen them off a bit

[@astrojourneyuk]

The solution in the end was to get a different Allen key and that did the trick! I think the Allen key was just rounded off a bit.

[@bramisheu8933]

Another great Vid....

[@MPAstro]

Thank you watching Rob and your support to A4B, Good luck on the NEQ-6 super tune project, hopefully I get a chance test my mount for once and prove that the super tune really does work.

[@stevengaber7977]

I thought my Orion Sirius EQ-G was the same as the Skywatcher EQ-5, but mine does not look like this at all. My EQ-G had a retractible counterweight bar that slides yp into the body of the mount. And the motors are contained within the mount body itself, not contained in plastic boxes. This one looks more like the Meade LXD-75 that i had long ago.

[@TerraeChannel]

How do you recon that the main bearing is trashed? How freely should it spin compared to a new one?

[@MPAstro]

Replace the bearing, I tried regreasing the standard bearing and it didn't nothing with the free play and wear. Replace them with SKF Bearings, you soon realise that these standard bearings are poorly made.

[@TerraeChannel]

@@MPAstro I figured it couldnt be so bad to change it so i ordered a new one. Thank you for your video!

[@MPAstro]

Not problem, you will soon realise the SKF bearings are massive upgrade, you will know how bad the standard ones are compared to the SKF ones!!

[@NMHC1978]

someone informed me to use nitril handshoes and i could remove the bearing and the worm gear. The only thing is that i need to replace the broken black thingy so someone has an idea what i can use to replace it

[@prodson1]

15:38 the only one that cannot find a small driver enough for this? pretty sure I'm even using a smaller allen key than him

[@jekanyika]

I just did it with a 1.5mm Allen key.

[@Bills_APCh]

Watching this disassembly, I would not be able to put things back together again in working order!

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

Is it possible to retrofit a GPDX/GPD2 Vixen with ball bearings?

[@MPAstro]

I'll be honest with you I don't know this mount, but if you brace enough to strip it out carefully, maybe you'll be able to size up the bearings yourself, you'll need the trusty Vernier callipers and micrometer to do this, visit the SKF website to size up dimensions of the bearings you require and the type of bearing is very crucial too. I have faith that you'll will achieve this.

[@nicksmith557]

Hi any news on the new grease yet ?

[@C40V15]

Excellent video! Do yoiu know the reference of the stepper motor drive? It seems like nema 14 or 17 stepper motor...

[@MPAstro]

No idea!! Sorry C40V15

[@NMHC1978]

I bought a secondhanmd EQ5 for not much. I saw that the RA was stuck. So i decided to do a hypertune and install a onstep system. But when i tried to remove the RA axis it would not come out. i needed to use a small rubber hamer. also when i got it out the closed bearing was stuck on the axis and was shitfted 1cm and i could not remove it, it is completely stuck, what can i do, i have ordered remplacements. Also the worm gear drive is also stuck, i cannot remove it. I removed the clutch leaver on the RA axis and i removed also the bolt of the clutch mechanisme. But then i saw that the black thingy on the bolt was broken in pieces. Im thinking with what i can replace it. I have a 3D printer so i clould try to print the same in hard plastic enhanced PLA. Any idea ....

[@MPAstro]

Unfornately you have to hit the RA bearing alot more, don't use a rubber mallet, or you'll be at it all day, use a good 2-3mm pin punch and a heavy club metal hammer. try a bit of WD40 and spray along the bearing, that may help lossen it off or use a blow torch and heat up around the area where the bearing fits, (be care not to burn the paint off), maybe a gentle heat, might be just enough to free off. With the worm drive, that is quite unusual for it to be stuck. The plastic part can be easily made with printed plastic, though I have no dimensions of it or own a 3D print design. Sometimes I'm very wary of secondhand mounts, as you don't know what sort of condition it is in, after the last owner has used it, I have heard so many horror stories from people who bought a second hand mount and found alsorts of problems due to neglect or misuse. Luckily my EQ-5 was brand new, and the 2 years warranty had ran out, so my mount was not mis used or abused. You have to be careful with secondhand mounts, if is a big risk, but if you get a good condition one, you got yourself a bargain!!!

[@jasonmcintosh2632]

You refer to your 4mm Alan wrench as the "4 mil". In the US, when you say "mil" it means 1/1000 th of an inch. Just an FYI.

[@martin09091989]

That should be a no brainer! If thats over your neurological capability, the only screw you should try to turn is the cap of your drinking bottles!

[@DrMoe.Lester]

Wow these are built to a price, no bearings on the dec axis and geared motor drives to the worm? Backlash and play must be huge

[@MPAstro]

Yep, The biggest weakness on this mount, why Skywatcher should have made the DEC Axis with bushes is beyond me??? (they should have designed it to run on taper bearings, the DEC axis would be much better, be able carry more load and run and track a lot smoother, hence why I need to do the super tune. Tracking performance on the mount after the super tune is greatly improved, seriously so far I've been tracking at 10 minutes unguided. There will be video coming soon to show how much the improvement, seriously so far I've been tracking at 10 minutes unguided.

[@DrMoe.Lester]

@@MPAstro Please post your results! What kind of accuracy and PEC are you getting now? I'm putting together a DIY mount and now realised that anything i make will be far better than any

[@fusion-music]

When you think what we paid for this mount, there is a lot if engineering in these for the money. Nice disassembly. Problem is, you showed a tool that I don't have.

[@alienevolvedpart3]

hi martin just watched your vid to do my eq5,just wondering if using ceramic bearings on the worm gear axis would make a difference,its more money but! thanx and subscribed

[@MPAstro]

I cannot see why not, as ceramic are lighter and hold the load better, self lubricating so no grease is required and they have very low friction which means they can spin better than SKF bearings, however as long as they fit on the worm shaft and casing you should be good to go. I've heard they perform miles better than steel ones. But be careful not damage them when installing them, they are hard but not as tough as steel bearings. So be careful.

[@alienevolvedpart3]

reason i asked you is i found a guy in ukraine that does the pulley kit,called eqdrive planning on a small refractor or side byside or 2 dslrs so no whoppin 200p!

[@MPAstro]

That is what I want for my EQ-5 mount, a uprated belt modification. However I've contacted Rowan Astronomy to look into a possible belt mod for the EQ-5 mount, I got a response but I've heard nothing from them on any updates, I would like to know considering there is quite a few EQ-5 owners in the Astro community.

[@alienevolvedpart3]

you can plug a handset in and use it eqdir

[@alienevolvedpart3]

maybe some ceramic hybrids would do better!

[@robertovolpini9359]

Hi Martin, really a very good job, three times thanks for sharing this video. I have an EQ5 where I have made a hand crafted motorization for RA and DEC, currently I have huge DEC backlash problems, measuring up to 18 seconds with PHD2, which does not depend on the rotation of the motor (I have checked and verified many times) but I think it depends on the adjustments of the worm screws, can you give me some advice or suggestions? it would be greatly appreciated, given your expertise. Ciao Roberto

[@MPAstro]

It's just difficult to tell on the backlash, I usually adjust it from the worm and gear, and then I make sure that you haven't bolted the motor drive to much that this will cause severe binding or it maybe to slack that you get freeplay. You said you made your motors for the RA & DEC, maybe your driving gear ratio is wrong?? Hence why I stuck with the standard Skywatcher motors to be sure.

[@robertovolpini9359]

@@MPAstro thanks for your suggestions Martin 😉👍

[@dedskinprodcerdj4273]

Hi, sir , its me you gave an advice to just this day , im the one with a lot of questions that does audio , going on watching your vids , just wanted to say , if you are not going to take my offer for audio , i have a studio , 15 years of studio audio work , im going to leave you here some advice . Simple for starts . Take a look at volume of your intro video , its too loud , there are tools for this , by you can do it by ear as well, just take it down a bit . Its called RMS Volume , not Voltage going out from your PC to speakers , but apparent loudness , what we actually hear . Would be good to take it down a bit . It starts loud , then wents in to vocal that is quieter , for headphone users , ppl with good speakers , this is inconvenient , i wouldn't tell you , if it was not a problem . Because im showing off here , its actually something that is bothering me , this is fine for casual consumer , for me not as much . But its not hard , one time adjustment and its fine . I can also show you some simple ways to improve vocal , but those are technical advice's requiring some work and tools so i wont go there . I might end up sending you audio from your video done by me . But if you want , i can take time look at your setup and how you work with sound and optimize the process for you, maybe give you easy to use , fast , good software you can use to improve the quality if you are in to it . ( dedskinproducer at gmail ) Already subbed , much appreciate the videos , thank you very much Paul (Producer ,Audio engineer )