That is great news....keep us posted. We have two terrific comets coming up in 2013 and you need to get your telescope up and ready for what might be the best show of our lifetimes!
Your description sounds very much like binding and not looseness. Nonetheless, there are TWO hex bolts that hold the entire motor/worm assembly onto the base of the telescope; one is easy to find, the other is hidden a bit behind some other items. Those bolts need to be very firm and the worm block (entire motor assembly) needs to be centered before tightening down.
Please do not start changing things nor turning/tightening bolts that you cannot identify; you will end up in worse shape than you are right now. If the shaft turning the screw gear (the one that is a long cylindet) is very tight, then the worm block assembly is likely forced too tightly against the large flat WORM gear and you have a bind or the worm block assembly is tightend at an angle to the large worm gear. Loosen the two large bolts and rock the scope back and forth gently with the RA lock engaged and the bottom off; you can visually determine the mid-point where the two gears should mesh. Hold at that position and re-tighten the two hex bolts and make sure they are very tight (do not strip however).
I do not like to find pieces of things that are not supposed to be there....check ALL wiring and connectors close to the worm gear and assure that the gear has not chewed something up; likely not, but be sure and check. Do NOT over-tighten the small adjustment screw. You must have at least 1/16th inch play in the worm assembly against the large worm gear. That assures you of even tracking and smooth reversals in motion. The main assembly has TWO large hex bolts that need to be firmly screwed into the base....that is the main concern.
On the transfer gear grease, YES apply a generous amount between all teeth but no excess that can splash around in the base.
Hi Ron... That bracket needs to be quite firm; if it is loose and you can see the motor assembly rocking as you move the scope clamped (rock by hand gently) then you must firm them up tightly. Note that one bolt is quite hard to get to and I recommend using a vise to bend a long Allen wrench at a 45 deg angle so that you can access this bolt.
Hi....I am not able to access my main computer right now, but if you will Google DON ROTHMAN for astro parts, he carries trailer loads of spare parts and used items; he is going to be your best bet by far..
A quick search should turn up his URL....call him....he likes to talk.
Interesting that you mention Hyakatake..... This comet is doing an approach, with pretty much the same angular displacement (motion in the sky over time) as did Hyakatake...not only that, but both comets will be very high in northern skies for a brief time, both with north-facig tails. during this time, the observer - even with the naked eye - will be able to actually SEE the motion of this comet as it slowly (actually on the order of 40,000 kph) drifts across the sky southward.
If everything pans out the way it appears, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime sight for nearly every one of us.
UPDATE DECEMBER 1 2012.... An interesting note: This date in 2013 will see Comet ISON (if predictions hold true) at MAGNITUDE -1.1 (as bright as Jupiter) in far SE and SW skies for lower latitudes; the comet will be very close to the sun, but can be spotted perhaps near twilight at both dusk and dawn. This could turn out to be a magnificent comet by later in Dec. 2013, still predicted to be HIGH OVERHEAD by Christmas week. On the 25th, the comet will rise due EAST about MIDNIGHT and be overhead in Hercules at dawn, just about naked eye brightness. A week later the comet will present a huge head and long northwest extending tail and will be circumpolar (in the sky all night for northern latitudes) in the constellation of DRACO.
HOWEVER....here is the clincher: in late NOVEMBER 2013, the comet will be overhead at NOON (roughly) and at magnitude -10 or -12 should be clearly visible in broad daylight if you can mask out the bright sun which willl be quite close to the comet as you gaze at it. More later!........... ***************************
UPDATE: Much information is still coming in, but worth noting early: We have a 17th mag. comet in the constellation of Cancer that was discovered last week and confirmed and announced today: 2012 S1 ISON (an observatory project name, not a person). This comet will pass the sun in November, 2013 and then approach even closer to earth by November 29.
Here is the "good part".....
The projected magnitude of this comet on November 29, 2013 shows it possibly to be nearly MINUS 7 (-7.0).
PRESENTLY the comet is in the constellation of Cancer, rising about 06:30 U.T. and being high in the eastern sky by dawn. Within the year the comet will remain in the northern hemisphere skies but dip into far southern declinations in October 2012 and gradually attain higher elevations from the southern horizon for northern observers. By the time the comet is brightest, it will be in the constellation of Scorpius with perhaps a very broad north-facing tail. At this date, the comet will be quite close to the sun, and perhaps could attain a brightness such that it would be a daylight comet.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 25: The comet will be circumpolar in DECEMBER beginning slightly after Christmas and until the New Year, attaining a very high altitude and visible all night for northern latitudes; at this time in Dec. 2013, the comet will be nearly "0" mag. and have a head perhaps as large as the diameter of the moon (about 28 arc minutues) with a tail many degrees long stretching to the north.
Hold onto your hats for more information!
Dr. Clay _____ Arkansas Sky Observatories MPC H45 - Petit Jean Mountain South MPC H41 - Petit Jean Mountain MPC H43 - Conway West http://www.arksky.org/
Given your location, horizons and sky conditions, this comet will likely be somewhere "around" a -2 to -4 brightness, but do not let the fireworks fool you....remember that TOTAL comet brightness (m1) is far different for any astronomical object than extended brightness. If the NUCLEUS (m2) of the comet were to be -2 or -4 that would be outstanding, but chances are that is not going to be the case. What I am seeing from the parameters of this comet is a very tightly composed and linear (compressed with long and narrow tail), with an m2 of about -1 at most. The tail length will change rapidly during perihelion, but should attain at least 30 degrees in dark skies.
Definitely increasing activity and most definitely interesting. Thanks for posting.....we get some pretty good coverage of solar activity on this forum....
Well that one certainly shows up. Took me a while to figure out what I was looking at, but what a gorgeous shot. Thanks....still trying to figure out what is going on here.
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