Re: Questions for QH/HH owners about my recently acquired Quarter Hitch
Hi Jeremy, ? My ? Hitch mount has 04096 tic encoders. ? With respect to your question about wearing due to the stainless steel pinion bearing directly on the anodised sector- I can confirm that on my mount the pinion did wear thru the anodizing on the ALT axis. It did not impair the use of the mount, but it did start feeling a little ‘rough’ when traversing over the worn section. The AZ axis seems OK, most likely as it is not having to overcome out of balance issues like the ALT ? You could try your idea of putting a rubber/plastic sleeve over the pinion shaft. It wouldn’t hurt anything and you can always revert if it doesn’t work out. I think it would slip, or feel lumpy – but no harm in trying. ? I think those 3 nylon screw heads were on the base to ensure positive contact on a flat surface. They were redundant on my tripod mounting arrangement too, but did not interfere with anything so I left them on. ? Regards Malcolm Bird ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Gastronaut
Sent: December 9, 2022 10:33 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [halfhitchtelescope] Questions for QH/HH owners about my recently acquired Quarter Hitch? HalfHitch AltAz Mounts Encoder Steps: ? (1) NovaHitch 08192 ? (2) SuperHitch 04096 ? (3) FTX 05000 ? (4) HalfHitch 04000 ? Hi all,
I have an FTQ mount I acquired directly from Charles about 8 years ago and I've really enjoyed using it. It's pure simplicity - no encoders (I think only a few were built without), no slow motion, just pure alt/az.?
Today, I received my second HH engineering mount - a decked out Quarter Hitch! Unlike my FTQ, this one has all the bells and whistles - slow motion, encoders, upgraded knobs, counterbalance with extension, finder bracket - it's really dolled up! I'm looking forward to first light with it but have a few questions for owners of this type of mount:
1.) There were three nylon screws in the base of the mount. They prevented it from being screwed onto my tripod, so I removed them. Does anyone know what they are there for?
2.) The slow motion controls appear to be driven by steel rods riding directly on anodized aluminum. My mount arrived in like-new condition, and I hope to maintain it as such. Does anyone have a lot of hours on their mounts that can report on the durability of this mating? I'm a little concerned that the steel rod will eventually damage the aluminum race. I'm wondering if putting some heat-shrink tubing around the rod would maintain the function and provide a replaceable sacrificial surface in between the steel and aluminum.?
3.) Does anyone know the encoder resolution? I set Sky Safari to automatically read it but would like to confirm.?
Thanks!
-Jeremy 
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Re: Questions for QH/HH owners about my recently acquired Quarter Hitch
HalfHitch AltAz Mounts Encoder Steps:
(1) NovaHitch 08192
(2) SuperHitch 04096
(3) FTX 05000
(4) HalfHitch 04000
Hi all,
I have an FTQ mount I acquired directly from Charles about 8 years ago and I've really enjoyed using it. It's pure simplicity - no encoders (I think only a few were built without), no slow motion, just pure alt/az.?
Today, I received my second HH engineering mount - a decked out Quarter Hitch! Unlike my FTQ, this one has all the bells and whistles - slow motion, encoders, upgraded knobs, counterbalance with extension, finder bracket - it's really dolled up! I'm looking forward to first light with it but have a few questions for owners of this type of mount:
1.) There were three nylon screws in the base of the mount. They prevented it from being screwed onto my tripod, so I removed them. Does anyone know what they are there for?
2.) The slow motion controls appear to be driven by steel rods riding directly on anodized aluminum. My mount arrived in like-new condition, and I hope to maintain it as such. Does anyone have a lot of hours on their mounts that can report on the durability of this mating? I'm a little concerned that the steel rod will eventually damage the aluminum race. I'm wondering if putting some heat-shrink tubing around the rod would maintain the function and provide a replaceable sacrificial surface in between the steel and aluminum.?
3.) Does anyone know the encoder resolution? I set Sky Safari to automatically read it but would like to confirm.?
Thanks!
-Jeremy 
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Re: Questions for QH/HH owners about my recently acquired Quarter Hitch
Hello Jeremy,
I am not sure about questions 1 and 2.?
In regards to question 3 please see my reply below.
Best Regards, Serge Antonov, Astro Devices.
Hi all,
I have an FTQ mount I acquired directly from Charles about 8 years ago and I've really enjoyed using it. It's pure simplicity - no encoders (I think only a few were built without), no slow motion, just pure alt/az.?
Today, I received my second HH engineering mount - a decked out Quarter Hitch! Unlike my FTQ, this one has all the bells and whistles - slow motion, encoders, upgraded knobs, counterbalance with extension, finder bracket - it's really dolled up! I'm looking forward to first light with it but have a few questions for owners of this type of mount:
1.) There were three nylon screws in the base of the mount. They prevented it from being screwed onto my tripod, so I removed them. Does anyone know what they are there for?
2.) The slow motion controls appear to be driven by steel rods riding directly on anodized aluminum. My mount arrived in like-new condition, and I hope to maintain it as such. Does anyone have a lot of hours on their mounts that can report on the durability of this mating? I'm a little concerned that the steel rod will eventually damage the aluminum race. I'm wondering if putting some heat-shrink tubing around the rod would maintain the function and provide a replaceable sacrificial surface in between the steel and aluminum.?
3.) Does anyone know the encoder resolution? I set Sky Safari to automatically read it but would like to confirm.?
Most likely the encoders' resolution is 20,000 steps. There is however a possibility that they are 5,000 steps. Do not set SkySafari to get the resolution automatically - it never worked and also Nexus-II does not need to be configured for any particular encoder resolution. What you can do to check the encoder’s resolution is as follows: - set the encoder steps for both encoders to 20000 in SkySafari - position the telescope pointing horizontally - using a bubble level is highly recommended - turn Nexus-II on (the encoder tics will be set to 0 in Nexus-II every time you turn it on) - tap ‘Connect’ in SkySafari - you will see the telescope cursor located at the horizon in north - move the telescope slowly to point vertically - but watch the telescope cursor as it should just move to zenith: - if it reaches the zenith mark before the telescope is pointed vertically then the encoder steps set in SkySafari are too low - this is not likely the case for your mount as the encoders in your photo look to be the ones Charles installed and he did not use any higher than 20K encoders
- if it it does not reach the zenith mark when the telescope is pointed vertically then the encoder steps set in SkySafari are too high - try lowering the encoder steps to 5000, 4096 or 4000 - for the azimuth you can do a 360 degrees test - when changing the encoder steps in SkySafari please make sure to tap ‘Disconnect’ then change the encoder steps and press ‘Connect’ again; SkySafari will not use new settings if it communicates with Nexus-II
Thanks! -Jeremy  
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Questions for QH/HH owners about my recently acquired Quarter Hitch
Hi all, I have an FTQ mount I acquired directly from Charles about 8 years ago and I've really enjoyed using it. It's pure simplicity - no encoders (I think only a few were built without), no slow motion, just pure alt/az.? Today, I received my second HH engineering mount - a decked out Quarter Hitch! Unlike my FTQ, this one has all the bells and whistles - slow motion, encoders, upgraded knobs, counterbalance with extension, finder bracket - it's really dolled up! I'm looking forward to first light with it but have a few questions for owners of this type of mount: 1.) There were three nylon screws in the base of the mount. They prevented it from being screwed onto my tripod, so I removed them. Does anyone know what they are there for? 2.) The slow motion controls appear to be driven by steel rods riding directly on anodized aluminum. My mount arrived in like-new condition, and I hope to maintain it as such. Does anyone have a lot of hours on their mounts that can report on the durability of this mating? I'm a little concerned that the steel rod will eventually damage the aluminum race. I'm wondering if putting some heat-shrink tubing around the rod would maintain the function and provide a replaceable sacrificial surface in between the steel and aluminum.? 3.) Does anyone know the encoder resolution? I set Sky Safari to automatically read it but would like to confirm.? Thanks! -Jeremy  
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Re: Quarter hitch mount for sale
Hi Bryan - Here's a few pics.
Malcolm
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Re: Quarter hitch mount for sale
Hi Bryan,
Let me take a few pics this morning when the light improves.
Cheers
Malcolm
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Re: Quarter hitch mount for sale
Think I would be interested in this.? Can you please send me some photos?? Thanks!?
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Quarter hitch mount for sale
Hi Howard,
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I have a Quarter Hitch mount that I am thinking of selling. It comes with integral encoders and the folding computer shelf.
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Includes the Hitch issued dovetail plate and offset binocular (?) mount. Note: this is for the head only – no tripod.
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The only nit is that the previous owner somehow has managed to score the Alt axis sector and has worn through the anodizing. It does not impair the use of the mount but yhe ALT axis sometimes can feel a bit ‘grainy’..
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Otherwise, it is in as new condition.
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I gave it a fling, but have decided I’m going back into telescope building..
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There is not much purchase history to go on, but I would be looking at somewhere around $750USD incl. shipping.
Please see pics recently posted at the bottom of this page.
?
Thanks
Malcolm Bird
Canada
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I have been very fortunate to obtain one.? If I see another one, Spencer, I will be sure to let you know for sure.?
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You may have to wait for a whole Nova Hitch or FTX to come up on the classifieds that happens to have a TQR with it, and buy the whole set. ?Which of course is rare enough but a TQR on its own, even rarer. ?
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I've been advertising for one as well.? I wish I had two, I'd sell you one LOL
On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 1:02 PM Bryan R. < bross138@...> wrote: Hello, does anyone have a TQR they would like to part with.? I have been looking for quite a while now, with want ads on CN and Am, with no luck.? Would really like to get my hands on one.? I have tried to get in touch with Jake but no luck with return communication.? Thanks,?
Bryan Ross?
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Hello, does anyone have a TQR they would like to part with.? I have been looking for quite a while now, with want ads on CN and Am, with no luck.? Would really like to get my hands on one.? I have tried to get in touch with Jake but no luck with return communication.? Thanks,?
Bryan Ross?
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Re: Parts for Hitch mounts
Maybe you can try 3D print parts. That’s the only easier way I guess. My friend here can make CNC parts but he needs to have the drawing and it’s expensive.
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Re: Parts for Hitch mounts
That’s too bad. ? The Quarter hitch I just received has a score/wear mark on the altitude sector. It still works but is sometimes a bit ‘jumpy’.. ? Thanks Malcolm Bird – Canada ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Howard Gao
Sent: July 29, 2022 6:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [halfhitchtelescope] Parts for Hitch mounts? I think only ADM makes the dovetail plates. I also have a friend who made plates for me. No other company making the parts.
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Re: Parts for Hitch mounts
I think only ADM makes the dovetail plates. I also have a friend who made plates for me. No other company making the parts.
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Is there any company or individual making parts for the Hitch series of mounts?
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Re: User manual for quarter hitch mounts
Hi Malcom Welcome to the group. You can find all documents from Charles under “file” section of this group. /g/halfhitchtelescope/filesHoward
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User manual for quarter hitch mounts
Hi All,
New Guy here.
I have a Quarter Hitch inbound and I am trying to find information on this mount.
Can anyone point me towards a downloadable user manual for this mount (assuming Charles ever published such a thing)
Thanks
Malcolm Bird
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Gastronaut
Bryan R.
Spencer Pratt
Howard Gao