moonbase
Small Dish Man
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2004
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Hi,
I have a problem with an IRTE polar mount in that it seems very stiff to hand swivel it East/West.
If I remove the declination plate, the top and bottom bearings rotate freely in their housings. However, once I put the declination plate back on the polar mount and tighten up the fixings the bearings do not rotate at all in their housings, the only rotation is that of the bolts passing through the bearings. My understanding is that the bearings should rotate in their housings and not the bolts passing through the bearings?
I am reasonably sure that I have put the polar mount correctly assemble but am not 100% confident on that point. I am puzzled why the bearings are not rotating in their housings when the nuts/bolts are tightened up? The bearing type looks to be a single ball in a housing socket rather than a circular array of small ball bearings enclosed in a round casing.
The bearing housings are square, surface mounted and riveted to the frame. I suppose I could remove the rivets and replace the bearings but if there is a simpler solution it would be preferred. Any advice to resolve the issue will be most welcome.
I have attached a few pics of the bearings.
I have a problem with an IRTE polar mount in that it seems very stiff to hand swivel it East/West.
If I remove the declination plate, the top and bottom bearings rotate freely in their housings. However, once I put the declination plate back on the polar mount and tighten up the fixings the bearings do not rotate at all in their housings, the only rotation is that of the bolts passing through the bearings. My understanding is that the bearings should rotate in their housings and not the bolts passing through the bearings?
I am reasonably sure that I have put the polar mount correctly assemble but am not 100% confident on that point. I am puzzled why the bearings are not rotating in their housings when the nuts/bolts are tightened up? The bearing type looks to be a single ball in a housing socket rather than a circular array of small ball bearings enclosed in a round casing.
The bearing housings are square, surface mounted and riveted to the frame. I suppose I could remove the rivets and replace the bearings but if there is a simpler solution it would be preferred. Any advice to resolve the issue will be most welcome.
I have attached a few pics of the bearings.