I had previously asked for advice on my #1206 electric focuser. I got another
field test last night, and still had the problem. Having asked this list for
advice, and I tried several different things. Last time, I had tested in my
colder garage, so today, I brought the OTA/Fork assembly into the house, let
it all warm up, and hooked up the power. This time,
I pointed the OTA at the horizon.

Tinkering, I determined that my focus knob was much smoother after warming up.
No surprise there. Even still, the controls would not completely turn the
focus knob. It would reach a point and stop.

I reasoned and confirmed that the clutch nut at the gear and telescope
end of the focus motor needed to be much more tighter than I could do by hand.
After iteratively tightening, and testing several times, I finally reached a
point where the focus motor could steadily turn the focus knob.

Works like a champ in "summertime" conditions. Now back to the field to see
how much the cold affects things.

There was previous mention of the possibility that I may have gotten into a
mode where the focus button did not work. I did not exhaustively check all
submenu items, but I was able to switch throughout the five modes and check
the main submenus (TELESCOPE, OBJECT LIBRARY) that I tend to operate in, and
confirm that the FOCUS keys still function in those modes/menus.

I think previously, the clutch was loose enough that the motor would spin when
it was just too cold to turn the knob and I would hear nothing because no
gears turned (?).

Whatever the case, thanks again for the ideas, and maybe this update will help
someone else.

Leroy Guatney
12" #126548
N 39 39'/W 103 56'
http://home.rmi.net/~lwlg/SCI/astronomy.html

"Astronomy: General" mailing list
http://home.rmi.net/~lwlg/SCI/ag.html
http://www.egroups.com/group/astgen

"The best politicians are those that don't get elected. Think about the many
dimensions of that statement."
-- Leroy Guatney


____________________________________________________________________
Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1

View index by [date] [author] [subject]
Previous message: RE: [M]: Pictor 416XTE, Gregory Pyros
Next message: Re: [M]: Pictor 416XTE, Email address hidden