I have a quite old G11 (18yrs) with a brass RA and steel DEC worm which I got for $100 w/o weights or controller. With a complete clean/lube and Gemini-II w/new motors- I've used it for about a year now with very good AP results at 1000mm fl considering its age (.5-1" guiding on calm nights with good seeing).

That is with the exception for the need to adjust the seasonal temperature sensitive worm block positions and the nightly pause to add one or two 12oz magnetic weights when going over-the-meridian (with the associated backlash / bouncing).

After reading the latest attempts to solve or mitigate the issues with the legacy worm design w/o the wait or expense of buying the Losmandy upgrades, I decided to play with some ideas. While I do 3D modelling and printing, but don't have a machine shop, I am trying a super minimalist approach.?

I added? ~ 1/2" long, 1/4" wide, 1/16" thick piece of rubber band inside the post hole for the outside RA and DEC worm blocks. The DEC band is centered at 90° off the axis of the worm to push the worm directly toward the ring gear and the RA is centered at 45° to push toward both?the ring gear and back against the worm axis (keeping pressure between the ring gear teeth and the worm). The cushioned blocks are now slightly off snug tight and the other blocks are just snug, which gives the blocks some ability to move without being loose. I will need to keep an eye on them working their way loose, but the mount seems to be behaving at least as good as it was before, with visibly improved DEC backlash.

I will update this thread when I get more data on the mount's guiding behavior. While I don't expect to not need to use the weights, I am hopeful the sensitivity to temperature and over-the-meridian and backlash /bouncing is improved.