Thanks Kal, Bruce,

I never would have thought of this. I have read so much about how difficult
it can be to take these screws out but this could explain it. It's pouring
down rain outside right now. Hopefully I'll be able to give it a try
tonight.

Clearest skies,
Walt
http://members.cox.net/waltc/BLACKBERRY_OBSERVATORY.htm



-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: [M]: RE: Current service options for the LX-200 classic


Walt,

When this 'thump' happens, does the OTA just kind of flop around up and
down?
Or to put it simpler, when you have the Dec clutch locked, can you *easily*
move the OTA North and South a short distance, after which the OTA is firmly
stopped? If this is the case, then what I'd say is the most likely problem,
is
that the two screws holding the clutch face on, have become loose. When
this
happens, the amount of 'slop' within the holes with the screws allows for
maybe 15 degrees or so of very easy movement of the OTA.

If that indeed is the case, then what you want to do is to take the housing
off of the Dec side of the scope and then completely unscrew the Dec clutch
knob and remove it. You can then grab the middle of the clutch ..... the
'circle' part of the unit that fills the inside hole of the worm gear.. and
wiggle it
off. When you get it off, you'll see the two screws that I'm speaking of.
Usually they're held in by Loktite, but if the unit has ever been apart
before,
the screws can and will have a tendency to loosen.

Again, assuming all of this is true, tighten the two screws up very tightly
and put it all back together and you're all set.

Or it might be something altogether different. <G>

Bruce Johnston
<http://members.aol.com/ccdastro/astronomy.htm>

ENJOY ASTRONOMY!



<< Hi folks,

I have had my 12" LX-200 classic for about four years. I bought it used
and
it was about a year old at that time. It has given me very good service
doing scripted photometry, mostly of asteroids but of variable stars too.
I
have run into my first real mechanical problem and I would appreciate some
advice.

A couple of weeks ago I was taking flats near zenith with a light box when
the whole thing tumped forward. The clutch was as tight as I can turn it
when it happened. Since then I have had problems with the dec system. The
dec worm turns the worm wheel but the clutch does not hold well and so I
get
a good bit of slippage. My first thought was to get the Petersen kit to
tighten up the clutch but he doesn't sell them for the classic anymore. I
have read through a bunch of stuff on the MAPUG archive and found info on
tweaking worm/worm wheel contact and installation of ball bearings but
nothing about improving the clutch tightness. I'd also like to understand
why the system has so much slippage now when it did not before. I want to
make sure I understand what the actual problem is before I try to fix
something.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Clearest skies,
Walt Cooney
Blackberry Observatory
http://members.cox.net/waltc/BLACKBERRY_OBSERVATORY.htm
>>

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