I had a go tonight at improving the stiction on my heavy duty mark I Altair Astro alt-az mount – I was given the following advice by an engineer on the Altair Astro stand at IAS in Coventry, UK, 2018. I have got so upset by this stiction (jumping effect when try to nudge the scope at high power) that I have seriously considered selling it – particularly when trying to move around the solar disc during daytime observing with my Equinox Pro 80mm + Daystar Quark. The Altair Astro engineer told me the problem was all to do with the company’s choice of lubricant at manufacture and changing the lubricant would do miracles – unfortunately I cannot find the lubricant he advised so am trying an alternative.
NB For anyone with a Sabre mount who is wondering what the black plastic ring is on the photo below at the bottom of the mount – this is the top of a HEQ5/EQ5 extension tube which I use with my HEQ5/EQ5 tripod and the Sabre mount – this allows me to keep the extension tubes on the tripod closed to maximise stability in use.
Andy
How to improve lubrication and striction on Astair Astro Sabre mounts – instructions from Altair Astro engineer at International Astronomy Show UK 2018:
- Buy killiapoise lubricant
- Unscrew large screw on side
- This part I found I did not need to do as mount now pulled apart vertically: Inside delrin puck black plastic disk – get long wood screw with sharp tip – stick into delrin and pull out 2mm only to clear shaft
- Pull hard on top and pull it off
- Clean gloopy mess
- Put killiapoise on the shaft and reinsert
- For horizontal bar (altitude bar) undo dog screws couple mm. only on each side of bar
- Pull on sides of bar and shafts come off
- Remove top large bolt
- Pull shaft out
- Clean well
- Coat liberally with killiapoise
- Ensure do not get killiapoise on clothes
- Wipe off excess that oozes out
