Its that time again - actuator arms

Vipersan

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IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
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Well ...everything was going so well ...and then the problems start..
I've had approx 18 months service from my 24 inch actuator motor ..but then it does get some considerable use ..moved roughly every night accross the arc..
Well its developed a squeak and some play in its travel ..needing correction periodically..
Never really been happy with this one ..as the stock of the arm seems thinner than they were in the old days..
So rather than wait till it gives up completely I'm considering replacing it ...err...sooner rather than later.
This is getting to be a habit.
So ..I only have 24 inches of travel fully extended at this ...which probably accounts for the errors creeping in.
I'm considering a 36 inch motor and ...but I'd first have to check clearance to the wall behind it as I need to get to 58 west fully closed ...and 62 East fully open..
Ideally a 36 inch motor would leave some of the arm inside the sleeve ..but this might not be possible ..
This being the case ..its yet another 24 incher
Now ...what I really want is something more reliable and sustantial instead of these rather 'thin' affairs which appear to flood the markets these days ..
My last one was from S-satellite ...and I wanted a Jaeger ..but had to settle for this superjack ..if indeed that was what it was..
So minimum 24 inch ...substantial ..long lasting and reliable with a good accurate pulse count and NO play ....
..finally at a price that wont break the bank including postage.
Recommendations are what I'm after..
Can anyone recommend one from personal experience ...preferably available in the UK ..as shipping from the states etc ..would be a killer.
I noticed a new kid in town ...HARL ...
these any good ???
rgds
VS
 

wod

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If you only need 24 then you can get them in heavy duty version which costs more.

I'm sure super jack is jaeger as I have some actuators in the shed only 12inch of your wondering vs and it has jaeger superjack on the boxes.
 

RimaNTSS

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If you have limited space behind antenna than 36" actuator could be too big. New 24" heavy duty actuator coast about 70 bucks (I just phoned to my favorite sat-shop).
 

Vipersan

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IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
Below are the specs for 2 X 24 inch super power jack motors..

Both are heavy duty ...but one is twice the price ...
There are differences ...but do those differences justify a doubling of the price ..
See if you can guess which is which..
I suspect its not really so much build quality ..as market forces at work..
Less demand = higher price..
rgds
VS

•Anti-rust: Epoxy power coated steel tube/high grade plated hardware -
•Excellent waterproofing: Provide 2 seals and 3 drain holes -
•Sensor: Ruthenium plate contacts ensures longer sensor life -
•Stroke Length: 24" -
•Reed Sensor Type -
•Mini Low noise actuator -
•Dish size limit: 2.4M-4.8M -
•Static Load: 3000 LBS -
•Dynamic load: 1200LBS -
•Resolution(reed): 32 pulse/inch -
•Speed: 5.2mm/sec



•Anti-rust: Epoxy power coated steel tube/high grade plated hardware
•Excellent waterproofing: Provide 2 seals and 3 drain holes
•Sensor: Ruthenium plate contacts ensures longer sensor life
•Stroke Length: 24"
•Sensor: Reed Switch
•Suggested Dish Size: 1.2M-3.6M
•Load Capacity: 2500N
•Static Load: 4500N
•Speed(Full Load): 4.2 mm/s
•Input Voltage: 36 VDC
 

RimaNTSS

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I think it is market trick. Doubling of price does not mean that life expectancy of both of them is different. Take the cheaper version.
 

jpsr

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1.2 channel master, cm polar mount, 12 inch actuator, Andrews feedhorn, Inverto lnb, Superjack positioner, Dreambox dm 500s, Protek 9600ip, 1m channel master with black ultra & 1m gibertini with technomate twin output lnb on astra 1/2, TM 5200 & 1000
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How long should an actuator really last.
 

Vipersan

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IP9000HD +
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66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
jpsr said:
How long should an actuator really last.

Many factors determine this ..
Build quality and regular servicing with grease etc being but 2
Then there is good weather sealing ...and of course the weather itself ..
Constant rain does 'em' no favours..
then there is the amount of use they get ..
Constant use = more wear and tear..
and finally loading ...
..dish size relative to build quality ...
..wind loading and/or constant buffeting ..
My first one lasted over 10 years ...but then ..
They were built better to last longer back then..
nowadays ..I'm lucky to get 2 - 3 years out of one..
But then I recently upped the dish size ..and the weather has been a nightmare...
How long do they last ..??
How long is a piece of string ???
rgds
VS
 

jpsr

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1.2 channel master, cm polar mount, 12 inch actuator, Andrews feedhorn, Inverto lnb, Superjack positioner, Dreambox dm 500s, Protek 9600ip, 1m channel master with black ultra & 1m gibertini with technomate twin output lnb on astra 1/2, TM 5200 & 1000
My Location
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Mine is a 12 inc superjack actuator on a cm polar mount moving a 1.2 channel master, i installed it myself in april.
Its my first 36v intallation, before that i had many diseqc motors on different dishes.

The dish is blocked from wind as there is a fence behind the dish and a wall to the right.
Where should i grease the actuator, does it have to be takin apart to grease it.
 

Vipersan

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My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
Not a great deal you can do ..nor indeed should have to during its life ...unless problems occur..
Personally I like to use a thin coat of oil or grease on the shaft when fully extended ..
Most men would be familliar with the action ..err ..not the oil
;)

and a blob of grease applied at the ball /swivel joints as these can seize if stood without movement for a while..
The gearing itself is not really accessible for geasing ..as inside the casing ..and shouldn't really give problems other than wear with use..
Make sure the actuator is mounted the right way up ..so that water can exit the drain holes ...and thats it really..
 

jpsr

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1.2 channel master, cm polar mount, 12 inch actuator, Andrews feedhorn, Inverto lnb, Superjack positioner, Dreambox dm 500s, Protek 9600ip, 1m channel master with black ultra & 1m gibertini with technomate twin output lnb on astra 1/2, TM 5200 & 1000
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I have put wd 40 a few times on the ball/swivel joints.
Would wd 40 be ok for the shaft.
 

Channel Hopper

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Use a fork gaiter, commonly found on trials bikes to protect the sliding part of the front suspension from gravel damage.

About £10 including delivery (and you get a pair so you can find something else to do with the other one)
 

jpsr

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1.2 channel master, cm polar mount, 12 inch actuator, Andrews feedhorn, Inverto lnb, Superjack positioner, Dreambox dm 500s, Protek 9600ip, 1m channel master with black ultra & 1m gibertini with technomate twin output lnb on astra 1/2, TM 5200 & 1000
My Location
Mullingar, Ireland
A fork gaiter is an option.

I also was looking at a tube of silicone grease on ebay.
It says can be used on plastic parts were there is friction, would silicone grease be the best grease to use on the actuator arm.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
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My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
jpsr said:
A fork gaiter is an option.

I also was looking at a tube of silicone grease on ebay.
It says can be used on plastic parts were there is friction, would silicone grease be the best grease to use on the actuator arm.

Any kind of grease that is fairly thin and lightweight ...and doesnt get scraped off in use ..and isn't subject to hardening or washing off in heat or rain..
A gaiter is a good idea if you don't need to close the arm entirely ..
I can't use one as I need the actuator fully closed to get to 58West...thus there isn't much left to attach the top end of the gaiter..
But thats just on my setup ..
CH 's idea is excellent for the most part.
rgds
VS
 
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