I just received my brand new g11
The load is made by the following
Stellarvue 105?
sv60?
atik 314 + wheel
it should be a light load, but both Ra and dec are quite sticky and they don¡¯t move freely unless I heavily unbalance them
Even unbalanced the ra barely bounces
is it normal ??
i was used to my cgem that needed carefully balance and bounced like a pendulum for several seconds
thx
franco
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Re: Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
sounds like? good deal - perhaps too good of a deal?
i'd ask what are the latest installed updates, does it have spring-loaded worms, tucked in gearing and RA extension
ask why they are selling it
it's entirely possible this person is on this list as well :)
Brian
On Sat, Sep 28, 2019 at 1:45 PM scubaLee via Groups.Io <hfenner89= [email protected]> wrote: Hello all,
My first posting after several years of reading for information. I am interested in upgrading to a losmandy gemini mount system. While I have the encoders on the ftq, sky commander xp4, and sturdy manfrotto lightweight tripod, I want a tracking system. I live in a suburb of Cleveland, OH, and have light pollution always and clouds the majority of the time. I am mostly interested the moon and planets, thinking about entry level photography. I have a good dark site about a hour drive and super one in PA, Cherry Springs, about 5 hours. I have a celestron C80 refractor with several televue eyepieces. I also want to upgrade eventually to a larger scope as well.
I am interested in an used system and found one on Cloudy Nights with this description:
Up for sale is my Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2. I have all the latest updates installed. It comes with one of the motors upgraded to the newer style high speed type, and a Losmandy side by saddle. Also included are the upgraded captain¡¯s locks. Everything works perfectly just as it should. Also included is the GPS add-on and a non-illuminated polar scope.As a bonus I will include many other Losmandy parts and pieces including extra D size cradles and Vixen sizes as well.Comes with all the cables needed for operation as well as 3 20lb coutnerweights.Large CI-700 Tripod available for $75 + shipping extra if interested.Asking $1600 + shipping and PP fees.
Is this a reasonable deal? What questions should I ask the seller? Is the tripod worth getting? Thanks in advance!
?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Upgrading from Half Hitch FTQ
Hello all, My first posting after several years of reading for information. I am interested in upgrading to a losmandy gemini mount system. While I have the encoders on the ftq, sky commander xp4, and sturdy manfrotto lightweight tripod, I want a tracking system. I live in a suburb of Cleveland, OH, and have light pollution always and clouds the majority of the time. I am mostly interested the moon and planets, thinking about entry level photography. I have a good dark site about a hour drive and super one in PA, Cherry Springs, about 5 hours. I have a celestron C80 refractor with several televue eyepieces. I also want to upgrade eventually to a larger scope as well. I am interested in an used system and found one on Cloudy Nights with this description:
Up for sale is my Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2. I have all the latest updates installed. It comes with one of the motors upgraded to the newer style high speed type, and a Losmandy side by saddle. Also included are the upgraded captain¡¯s locks. Everything works perfectly just as it should. Also included is the GPS add-on and a non-illuminated polar scope.As a bonus I will include many other Losmandy parts and pieces including extra D size cradles and Vixen sizes as well.Comes with all the cables needed for operation as well as 3 20lb coutnerweights.Large CI-700 Tripod available for $75 + shipping extra if interested.Asking $1600 + shipping and PP fees.
Is this a reasonable deal? What questions should I ask the seller? Is the tripod worth getting? Thanks in advance!
?
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Tim is correct. Connect a standard USB to the ASIair, then into the larger square USB port on the Gemini. The thin USB port does not have input/output, only supplies power. Boot up the Gemini first and choose Warm Start from the CWD position. After you start the ASIair and connect it to the mount, use either the ASIair or the HC to slew the mount to a bright star position. Take a Preview image 1 to 5 seconds, and Plate Solve. When the plate solve results come, sel3ct ¡°Sync & Goto¡± and the ASIair corrects the mount model coordinates then centers the bright star. Although I have been able to shift back and forth between the HC and the App to find objects, I always check with plate solve whenever I am going to image. So far works without a hitch.
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Re: New Gemini II upgrade kit
Thank you Brian for the fast reply. I've got reading to do.
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Re: New Gemini II upgrade kit
congrats on the upgrade?
you might try starting here:
?
also often people guide via ascom, so the guide camera connects to the computer, which then connects to the gemini. even if you guide via st-4 you still connect?the computer to the gemini
Brian
Today received new Gemini II upgrade kit for my G11 mount. Having a hard time finding meaningful instructions about the ports on the device. For example, the Auto Guider port. What happens when I plug my guide camera into it? Also, there are two USB ports and Ethernet port. Can I connect the device to my computer using the USB instead of Ethernet? Finally, what is the USB-A port for? If someone can point me to detailed setup instructions regarding the ports that would be very helpful. Thank you.?
I've been using my G11 with manual setting circles for years. This is a big upgrade for me to the Gemini.?
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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New Gemini II upgrade kit
Today received new Gemini II upgrade kit for my G11 mount. Having a hard time finding meaningful instructions about the ports on the device. For example, the Auto Guider port. What happens when I plug my guide camera into it? Also, there are two USB ports and Ethernet port. Can I connect the device to my computer using the USB instead of Ethernet? Finally, what is the USB-A port for? If someone can point me to detailed setup instructions regarding the ports that would be very helpful. Thank you.?
I've been using my G11 with manual setting circles for years. This is a big upgrade for me to the Gemini.?
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Re: Belleville washers and Oldham coupler
Michael,?
I'm distributing OnStep kits world wide. I use a 6 X 4 x 1.5" box and they usually come in 5.4-5.8 oz. I ship them USPS 1st class international small package for under $15. Delivery is usually 6-10 days. Over 8oz jumps to $23.
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Thanks guys. I?ll try your suggestions when I get home again. I have to solve this cause it?s very irritating when it happens :) I?ll let you know how it goes. Cheers Erik Den s?n 22 sep. 2019 kl 21:27 skrev Erik Nordberg via Groups.Io <tierozi= [email protected]>:
Hi friends !
I have had a problem the last couple of years with the RA motor that stops working when tracking at star but when hitting the slew buttons on the hand controller the works as usual.
There is no stall warning in the display.
Often I can get it working again after pushing the buttons on the handcontroller but last night it did not work that way. I even shut down Gemini twice and after a restart the star was
OK and not drifting but when I center the star it immediatly starts drifting which means the RA motor has stopped. And never a stall warning in the display.
I know the that the stall warning does work when for example I adjust the wormwheel.
Is this a problem that any of you guys has encountered before ?
Rgds
Erik Nordberg
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Brendan's point of "motor drive energy is low" made me also think of this to check:
Make sure you are using a >12v power source for the gemini. it is rated from 12-18v but ideally you want 15-18v. 12v isn't going to be enough
[Edited Message Follows]
It¡¯s quote possible the motor is slightly bad for whatever reason.? Try swapping motors Ra to Dec etc
the reason it¡¯s bad at sidereal (I¡¯m assuming it¡¯s a G1) is the motor drive energy delivered is low.? At higher drive rates it¡¯s provided with more energy....it moves faster. it could be a bad ¡°H¡± bridge but I doubt it.? So try swap the motors over.?
If the system is a G2, you can enter the WEB interface and select¡±servos¡± page:
In this you can increase the servo motor tracking percentage ( increase energy) to the motor.? Try increasing it a little let¡¯s say 35%
it could also be as Michael said or a slipping motor pinion gear
If it is still failing....get back?
--
Brendan
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Erik
i also should have said.....take that bad motor off and start run system like it¡¯s installed. ?You can run it on a bench (non installed) it¡¯s just the axes won¡¯t move. ?
So start it up.....if it¡¯s a Ra motor, it¡¯s pinion should feel tight on boot right up till the HC displays ¡°cold boot at xxxxxxx¡± ?At this point the pinion will start rotating at its specified sidereal rate. ?It will have resistance to your finger pressure on the pinion aka ¡°not weak¡±. If it¡¯s a DEC motor it won¡¯t move till you command it but from start it will feel tight and resist rotating by fingers.?
Don¡¯t worry if you¡¯re fiddling causes a stall warning they¡¯ll clear next boot.?
Test the above
--
Brendan
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More on worm bearings... types, prices, testing...
Hi gang,
Quick report on the R4ZZ worm bearings from 2 different sources...
I finally received the ? ABEC-7 R4ZZ stainless steel ball bearings. I tried them with a magnet, and compared them to a few from?
I find them both about the same magnetically... weakly able to be attracted. ? Therefore I think they are all a stainless steel. ? The comment from Bocabearings to me that the McMaster ones were not stainless was... ? incorrect. ?
Of course, you can order all kinds of bearings from McMaster, and from boca. Some will be stainless and some will not.? It's stated clearly in the website what you are getting.
The new ones I just got from boca have no name printed on them.? They are in a plastic shipping sleeve and a paper label says they are ? R4ZZ ABEC-7. ? ? They cost ~$9.75 each.
The ones from McMaster-Carr are listed at $8.60 each.? The ones that I have are I think the same units.? They are stamped on the bearing "NHBB USA" ?? The plastic package of each bearing says: ?SSR-4ZZR
Spec A7P25LY75P Mfr 50294 ? MVCSD30 Date 1.26.2018 NHBB Chatsworth USA
Now:? what about testing them on a 1/4 inch diameter worm shaft?
The new ones from Boca the center rotating part can shift very slightly left to right (along the rotating axis). The side enclosures holding the balls in are not "tight," like the ones I got many years ago from Boca. ? None of the bearings seemed "rough" on rotation, but they must be compressed axially to keep the balls in the smooth races.?
?To prevent this axial movement, these bearings must have a Belleville spring washer to compress the balls into the races properly, and the bearings must be lined up with the worm axis so there is not a "pinched" ball that will cause PE issues.? (That is what the OPW worm system does: keep the worm blocks lined up with the worm so the bearings are co-linear with the worm). Without an OPW, you can line the blocks up with a metal straightedge, and this also works. ?
The bearings from McMaster seem as tight or tighter.? I cannot tell since they are still in their plastic envelope.
Bottom line: I think the stainless steel R4ZZ ABEC-7 from McMaster are likely as good as the ones from BocaBearings.com.? They are both stainless steel. ? With shipping considered the price may be essentially the same. ? The McMaster ones are stamped with a name, which I like over nameless units. ?
All the best, Michael --
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
It¡¯s quote possible the motor is slightly bad for whatever reason. ?Try swapping motors Ra to Dec etc
the reason it¡¯s bad at sidereal (I¡¯m assuming it¡¯s a G1) is the motor drive energy delivered is low. ?At higher drive rates it¡¯s provided with more energy....it moves faster. it could be a bad ¡°H¡± bridge but I doubt it. ?So try swap the motors over.?
If the system is a G2, you can enter the WEB interface and select¡±servos¡± page:
In this you can increase the servo motor tracking percentage ( increase energy) to the motor. ?Try increasing it a little let¡¯s say 35%
it could also be as Michael said or a slipping motor pinion gear
If it is still failing....get back?
--
Brendan
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Re: G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Hi Eric,
The most common reason is a loose Oldham coupler part.
Look at the drive metal parts of the RA Oldham coupler...see if one end is loose. They can get loose over time, and it might be temperature dependent.? If one of those ends gets loose, the motor will tell Gemini it is still turning (so no Lags message), but the worm will not be driven..so the axis will not move.
-----
I was going to say:
Try swapping the cables from RA to DEC (...the RA is shorter...might be difficult).
However, if the cable were faulty, I think the Gemini would say "Lags" or something like that.? I think the Oldham coupler is the most likely trouble.
Best wishes, Michael
On Sun, Sep 22, 2019, 12:27 PM Erik Nordberg < tierozi@...> wrote: Hi friends !
I have had a problem the last couple of years with the RA motor that stops working when tracking at star but when hitting the slew buttons on the hand controller the works as usual.
There is no stall warning in the display.
Often I can get it working again after pushing the buttons on the handcontroller but last night it did not work that way. I even shut down Gemini twice and after a restart the star was
OK and not drifting but when I center the star it immediatly starts drifting which means the RA motor has stopped. And never a stall warning in the display.
I know the that the stall warning does work when for example I adjust the wormwheel.
Is this a problem that any of you guys has encountered before ?
Rgds
Erik Nordberg
|
G11 RA motor is stalls when tracking but not when slewing
Hi friends !
I have had a problem the last couple of years with the RA motor that stops working when tracking at star but when hitting the slew buttons on the hand controller it works as usual.
There is no stall warning in the display.
Often I can get it working again after pushing the buttons on the handcontroller but last night it did not work that way. I even shut down Gemini twice and after a restart the star was
OK and not drifting but when I center the star it immediatly starts drifting which means the RA motor has stopped. And never a stall warning in the display.
I know the that the stall warning does work when for example I adjust the wormwheel.
Is this a problem that any of you guys has encountered before ?
Rgds
Erik Nordberg
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For ASIair, connect a USB cable from the Raspberry Pi to the USB port on the Gemini. ?If my memory is working, it shows up as /dev/ttyACM0 (that's the 'device' you tell the ASIair to use to control the Gemini) and ASIair does support Losmandy mounts (just make sure you pick it as the mount type).
Clear Skies,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sep 21, 2019, at 10:17 AM, Richard Paul via Groups.Io < rickpaul@...> wrote: I haven¡¯t gotten it yet. But I¡¯ve been buying the little stuff first!?
Would appreciate knowing how to setup the ASIair to work with the Gemini. Any special settings on either side? I love my ASIAir. I¡¯m actually a beta tester for it.?
--
Rick Paul
Tucson, AZ
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Ok Daniel.....Michael filled me in on the history of your issues. ?I¡¯m sorry to hear it¡¯s not going well.?
Scott has always been more than willing to assist users....as I said to Michael even upgrade old mount versions for free and much more. Replace old worms for free...
He¡¯s is not?intransigent, quite the opposite, so I am vexed. ?But I¡¯d admit I¡¯m out of this loop and best to stay out except to say are others having similar mount performance issues??
I have read of some of this previously, in the forums, but I haven¡¯t read nor seen enough to know. ??
Id like to so ill school up on this...
--
Brendan
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Re: Belleville washers and Oldham coupler
(Thanks to John Hobbs for his prompt...!)
Sounds like you want to get the CG11 to imaging level.? ?I have one and it's my workhorse, now having a 12 inch SCT for imaging. ?
? I upgraded it with the parts below...
...those parts below, plus an "original" (long version) Losmandy OPW on the RA axis, not listed below. Today, Losmandy sells a shorter OPW version today slightly different (shorter) in design, and less expensive than the original longer version.?
David Partridge in the UK got exceptionally low PE without an OPW... so though it may help, it's not an absolute necessity. ?
If you can get parts in Europe, that's great. ?
If not... I can get you parts from the US.? Here are some options to upgrade:
I have a small stock of the Belleville washers, and it's easy to just mail them in a standard letter, inexpensively.? Send me your mailing address and I can get you out a pair of them if that's all you want. ?
Any other stuff would need a package, costing a lot more to mail. ? Packages (larger than letters...limited in thickness) from the US can go to Austria, but require a customs form. It can be done.? Least expensive packages are now about $35 I think, using the US Post Office international rates. ?
So what else should go in a package?
The Oldham coupler you asked for... those should not wear out, but if yours is list or questionable, and you want some ordered, I can do that if you'll pay for shipping to me and then to you. I'm in California, so shipping from the LA McMaster-Carr website is not too bad.? Let me know how many, and what model you want.? Losmandy also sells them. ?(Note: the stock coupler is "short" but for the older longer OPW needed a "long" one. The new OPW used the original short Oldham coupler.? Best to measure the one you are replacing if you have it.)
More importantly, for the CG11 PE improvement, you should change the original steel worm (at minimum the one on the RA) to a new Losmandy precision brass worm.? They are $100 from Losmandy... I'd get 2 of them and test each in the RA drive.? Then use the one with lowest PE on the RA drive...the other on DEC.? I can get them from Losmandy if you tell me what you need.? Your system might already have brass worms... so look at them to see the material. ?
You may want to replace the RA worm bearings model R4 with higher quality ones. There is a rating system...ABEC from 1 to 9.? There are ABEC-7 rated R4ZZ bearings for about $11 available here in the US, but you might find these in Europe also.? ABEC-5 have also been used with excellent results.? If you are going to put in Belleville washers, it's possible you may damage a bearing getting it out of its tight cylinder.? Best to have spares available just in case or to upgrade. ?(McMaster Carr has some abec7 rated R4 for ~$6, but another bearing vendor claims those are not stainless steel.).?
For imaging, clutch slippage is eventually an issue, but it can be eliminated.? First clean all clutch mating surfaces. That will work for a period of time.? Eventually oils from the lubricants can migrate and coat the plastic clutch disk.? So I suggest you replace the plastic clutch disks: They can be from 3.5 inch OD to 4.25 inch OD in that system. Losmandy only sells 4.25 inch plastic disks, though they can be cut by a scissors to smaller OD. The OD is not a critical factor, and as long as it is approximate it will work just fine. ? I make these clutch disks of higher friction material that will help seal out oils and hold the driven plate with lower clutch know force. Let me know if you want those and what OD sizes you need.
Many people like the newer type of clutch knob that has 3 beautiful handles around the circumference.? Losmandy makes these, in order to increase force on the (somewhat slippery) plastic clutch disk material. ? If you are going to order other stuff from Losmandy, consider those beautiful knobs too. ?(The system works better, and the parts last (forever?) longer with lower clutch knob force, so using the higher friction clutch material is a benefit. )?
Finally, you should give the existing parts and the internal needle bearings that hold the 1.25 inch shafts, a thorough cleaning in something like a strong degreaser.? There is a product called Berryman B-12 here in auto parts stores that works great...requires a metal pan and solvent protection gloves and mask.? The old greases tend to gum up the tiny needle bearing rollers that hold the shafts, and it will all work better if you remove the old gummed up lubricants and re lubricate with a Teflon based ( or other modern) grease.? You'd have to buy chemicals locally, of course.? The solvents are toxic, so should be used outdoors in fresh air. ?
Have fun with your CG11!
Best, Michael
Hi all,
i got an older G11 Mount, made for Celestron.
Some parts are missing and the mount needs some upgrade.
I tried to order Belleville washers (Belleville Disc Spring for Ball Bearings, Bearing #R4, .406" ID, .618" OD, .0216" High) and Oldham couplers from McMaster-Carr but they canceled my order as they would not ship to Austria/Europe.
Does anybody knows where i can These parts somewhere in Europe?
Regards,
Wolfgang
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Re: Belleville washers and Oldham coupler
If you email Micheal Herman : mherman346@..., he may be able to tell you about someone in England who might be able to help.
John Hobbs
hobbs_john@...
-----Original Message-----
From: vergolder <vergoldermeister@...>
To: Losmandy_users < [email protected]>
Sent: Sat, Sep 21, 2019 11:09 am
Subject: [Losmandy_users_io] Belleville washers and Oldham coupler
Hi all,
i got an older G11 Mount, made for Celestron.
Some parts are missing and the mount needs some upgrade.
I tried to order Belleville washers (Belleville Disc Spring for Ball Bearings, Bearing #R4, .406" ID, .618" OD, .0216" High) and Oldham couplers from McMaster-Carr but they canceled my order as they would not ship to Austria/Europe.
Does anybody knows where i can These parts somewhere in Europe?
Regards,
Wolfgang
|
Daniel Scott adjusts all the worms pretty much himself. ?He wouldn¡¯t throw or reject anyone with new mount issues. ? He stands by his products.?
If you have fiddled with it and it¡¯s not right I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll adjust it for you....you may have to pay shipping you won¡¯t need to send the whole mount.?
--
Brendan
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Robertson Miller
Michael Herman
Timothy Campbell