I have new worms running in both axis. I have no expedience to know how things change as they wear or how long that takes. To what extent are the one PHD2 tracking spikes a function of the worm surface? Does tracking improve or get worse as they wear in? Since I have a few worn worms I thought I might lightly buff one while spinning in an electric drill. I have to assume a polished worm has less friction/stiction.?
Another question I have is what effect do the needle bears have on the system. Do they have a frequency profile? I do have some axis movement. My rig is rather old, and I suspect these have never been renewed. However, it looks like a difficult job, not to be taken on lightly.?
Peter
Peter,?
Not sure if there is a set period for break in, but over time all meshing parts start to wear and smooth down as they loose metal on the tops of the tiny asperities on the surfaces. If you have ever changed the oil in your car after the first 500 miles, you will see the fluid is full of shiny metal fines, shed from the moving parts inside the engine. Same with the worm and rings gears wearing and smoothing over time. Of the worms I have used, my original 3 year old RA worm works the best, and has a noticeable depression in the center where the ring gear has worn it down. How to pre-wear or polish down a new worm is a good question, but doing it evenly and properly would probably involve precise machinist equipment and micro-measurement instrumentation not many have at home. If you polish it unevenly even much less than a thousandth of an inch, you are probably creating new errors. Most I think would love to hear about this if you can achieve it.
The main needle bearings, from my disassemblies, look like they were hammered or pressed into the main mount frames at the factory with perhaps hydraulics or a special knock-in tool which would fit precisely over the bearing races. How to knock the old ones out and replace I have not ever considered yet. With proper lubrication they look like they would last decades, IMHO.
Best of luck,
John??
