Meade LX90 10” RA drive issue

[Pedro724]

Hi all,

For a while i have had an issue with my scope both during setup and goto. Slewing to the 2 stars in set up at HBX speed 5 causes the image to jump with an associated scratching noise.

The HBX firmware is A1F1 patched via starGPS and drives trained etc.

With the speed at 8 or 9 movement is smooth but slewing to centre the target the image ‘stutters’. Sometimes it works perfectly but most times it misbehaves. After a lot of help from likeminded folks i took the drive our and sent it to Meade US. After i removed it I could see that there was a misalignment between the motor axis and the gears line. It also looked like the plastic moulding connecting the gears and the motor was cracked.

Just in case the original drive doesn’t get repaired/make it back from the US does anyone know where i can ‘buy’ a replacement?

Thanks
Pete

[Graeme1858]

Hello Pete.

Did you buy the telescope from new in the UK? My CGX had a number of problems and I ended up sending it back to the supplier. They arranged for the issues to be fixed, eventually, with varying levels of success! Although I raised an issue with Celestron, it was the supplier that was my first point of contact. Who was your supplier?

Regards

Graeme

[Pedro724]

Hi Graeme,

My supplier was Harrison down near you but it shipped directly from Opticstar. Yes - spoken to both n was pointed to Meade US who have been very helpful. I guess given Covid and brexit i was keen to see if anywhere local could help.

Thanks

Pete

[Pedro724]

Drive made it to Meade US and is being 'repaired' - hope to get it back in a few weeks and then see if this 'fixed' the problem.

[Lady Fraktor]

Strange they would refer you to Meade USA when Meade EU is in Germany

[Pedro724]

A quick update, New Meade US are shipping back to me my ‘repaired’ RA drive as I type. At least I have a UPS tracking number for something and have paid some bucks for the privilege. All of this is in spite of both Meades commercial troubles and of course CV19! Let’s hope I can get my scope working fully again after some 11 months+