I broke my Venture actuator

[Captain Jack]

Whaaaahhhhh.......

While trying to find the limits during dish remount of the 24" ball screw actuator from Venture, I clearly overshot them, heard a crunching noise and prepared for the worst. The worm drive still moved but only every half turn.

Took the gearbox apart and found that the main plastic gear cog that drives the worm has broken. I've already emailed Venture to see if they have any spares but wondering if I can buy one off the shelf.

The cog is around 55mm wide on the outside and around 11mm on the inside gear (that broke). There are 84 teeth on the outside, slanted at an angle and 10 inside. Attaching a couple of photos, so you can see what I mean. Er...I forgot to measure the hole in the middle, will do that later.





Anyone know where I can even start looking for one and what they are properly called so I don't sound like an idiot when asking for one? @Vipersan ?

For now, I stuck my God-awful "SuperJack" on the dish - will keep me online at least.

 

[Lazarus]

I'd also get a spare spare as that component doesn't exactly look beefy.

Name? Splined Transfer Worm?

(I made that up)

 

[Vipersan]

Christina is still parked at 1W ...
At some point I will have to remove and examine my Venture also ..as I believe it to be damaged ..
If true ..then I can say without hesitation ..
Worse than ..and shorter lived than any actuator I've fitted so far..
I can understand your frustration CJ ..as these were not cheap ...nor easy to get them from the US ..
and sorry buddy ..
short of calling it a reduction or step gear ...I wouldn't know what to call it..
certainly looks cheap n cheerful ..
I'd suggest getting a few ..as we poor saps will probably need them ..
grrrr

 

[Captain Jack]

I emailed Rick Caylor - the guy we bought these from. He said he will see if Venture has those (they should). If anyone wants spares (@scopus and @John), I will ask.

I also asked for the main clamp as I have a bit of play there. Worm gear itself is good, though.

 

[John]

I emailed Rick Caylor - the guy we bought these from. He said he will see if Venture has those (they should). If anyone wants spares (@scopus and @John), I will ask.

I also asked for the main clamp as I have a bit of play there. Worm gear itself is good, though.

Bit of a bugger that CJ, thankfully it should not be an expensive part. The waiting time is a bit frustrating though.
That's a good idea about getting some spare cogs CJ and would like to get a spare one or two for my 36" model if that's possible please.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Whaaaahhhhh.......

The cog is around 55mm wide on the outside and around 11mm on the inside gear (that broke). There are 84 teeth on the outside, slanted at an angle and 10 inside. Attaching a couple of photos, so you can see what I mean. Er...I forgot to measure the hole in the middle, will do that later.

View attachment 107234 View attachment 107235

View attachment 107232 View attachment 107233

Anyone know where I can even start looking for one and what they are properly called so I don't sound like an idiot when asking for one? @Vipersan ?

For now, I stuck my God-awful "SuperJack" on the dish - will keep me online at least.

I will take a picture or two in the next hour or so from the parts bin, looks familiar.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Ah, fubared in nylon, but I had converted the major cogs to iron before putting the gearbox into storage. I'll try to find it, but it was some 12 years ago

ImageBam

 

[Captain Jack]

Yep that looks like it. There must be a source for these somewhere.

I had a reply from both, Rick and Venture though. Could anyone who wants these pm me the serial numbers of your jacks to ensure we get the correct part? I can probably use mine for 24 inch ones but I'd like yours John.

 

[John]

Yep that looks like it. There must be a source for these somewhere.

I had a reply from both, Rick and Venture though. Could anyone who wants these pm me the serial numbers of your jacks to ensure we get the correct part? I can probably use mine for 24 inch ones but I'd like yours John.

Will do CJ, first thing in the morning. Thanks.

 

[Vipersan]

Mine will be the same as yours CJ ..
mine was a 24 inch as well..

 

[Channel Hopper]

Mine will be the same as yours CJ ..
mine was a 24 inch as well..

OMG !
Must..... resist......

 

[Vipersan]

OMG !
Must..... resist......

Indeed you must ..
I also had to resist replying to the 96 year old ladies box thread ..
and I managed it ..but barely..

 

[scopus]

Count me in for a spare CJ, same as yours 24inch...
Pleased to report no probs or any play with mine...

 

[archive10]

Pleased to report no probs or any play with mine...

Increasingly difficult to not respond.
Hey wait ... I just did, didn't I?

 

[John]

.. For CJ, Just one cog for me please.

Details taken off my 36" Venture .
S/N: 9350196.
Model: MA-818B36.
5amps Max. @ 36 vdc.
Rated Load: 1500 lbs.

 

[Captain Jack]

Thanks John.

So I am getting:

2x John (36")
2x VS (24")
2x Chris (24")
3x CJ (24") - 1 to replace, 2 spare

I am pretty sure it wouldn't have broken if I didn't try and put the limits but it's incredibly tight trying to get from 58W to 57E - from PM's perspective (actual 'swing' is about 60W to 60E), actuator's (it's just about enough to reach both ends) and the fact that the actuator has quite an overhang at the back and is scraping the neighbour's wire fence.

 

[scopus]

Have you looked in the Superjack CJ to see if the part is the same??
Might get you out of the mire if it is, for now t least

 

[Captain Jack]

I did. Sadly, it's different. Similar but different. I am sure I can reuse a totally different gearbox for the worm drive but hopefully I can get this one fixed.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Just for curiosity, I've opened one actuator to see what is inside. It is not Venture, of course. But, Alex, if you need anything what you see on the picture, letr me know.

 

[Captain Jack]

Hi all,

After to-ing and fro-ing, I finally got the prices from Rick. The reduction gear (official name!) is $10 each, which isn't bad. All are the same part number for 24" and 36" motors. I guess only the tube itself is different between these models. Because we are ordering so many, it will no doubt take us over the import charge thing but will probably offset this by postage.

Will keep you posted.

Thanks
Alex