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MOUNT CARE, CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Like any fine piece of equipment, your mount’s longevity and performance are directly correlated with the quality of the
care that you give it. Handle it with respect, keep it as clean and dry as is practical, and perform a few minor maintenance
tasks, and your 1100GTO will give you many years of trouble free service.
Care
Although we build it to be rugged enough for field use, your 1100GTO is a precision instrument with very accurate worm
and wheel adjustments. Please be careful if you place the mount on a flat surface, i.e. the ground or trunk of your car. The
gear alignment may be affected if the R.A. and Dec. Motor / Gear Box assemblies sustain undue lateral force. This is true
of any fine instrument. We suggest that you transport and store the mount in a case or in a well-padded box. ALWAYS
disassemble the mount before moving it or transporting it. More damage can be done in a few careless seconds in transit
than in many hours of normal operation.
Try to keep your mount protected from dust and moisture when not in use. In warm, humid weather, be aware of the dew
that may have formed on the mount while in the field and allow the mount to dry out before packing it away for storage
once you get home. On the other hand, if it is cold and dry outside, keep the mount packed up when you bring it into the
house until it reaches room temperature to avoid “fogging it up.” (The same advice applies to telescopes, eyepieces and
other equipment in your Astro-arsenal.)
Cleaning and Touch-up
Wipe your mount clean with a soft dry cloth. If needed, you can use a damp cloth or a cloth that has been sprayed with a
mild, non-abrasive cleaner (window or all purpose cleaner – no bleach). Do not spray cleaners directly onto your mount.
If you use a cleaning product, follow with a damp cloth to remove the chemicals from the mount.
The painted surfaces of your mount may end up with scuff marks from repeated transport and assembly / disassembly.
Most of the time, these marks can be removed with a product like
Color Back
™
by
Turtlewax™
(automotive product).
Simply apply with a paper towel and buff out the mark. If your paint becomes chipped, touch-up kits are available for
purchase – please call us.
NOTE:
Paint touch-up kits can only be sold to U.S. customers due to regulations governing shipment of hazardous
materials.
Counterweight Appearance
Stainless steel is resistant to oxidation, but over time its appearance can degrade. Applying a good car wax coating will
help to maintain the pristine stainless steel finish of your counterweights.
Should cleaning need to be done, it is recommended to use an SOS detergent pad to clean the weights. Be sure to dry
them thoroughly, and then follow up with the car wax.
Routine Mount Maintenance
Under normal operating conditions, minimal maintenance is required. If the R.A. and Dec. axes are attached together for a
long time in outside
conditions (i.e. in a permanent observatory) then the mating surfaces should be lightly oiled or greased
- if you expect to get them apart again after 10 years.
Jostling and vibrations associated with transport to and from observing sites has had the effect of causing screws and
fasteners to work their way loose over time. We have worked very hard in both the design and assembly of our mounts to
alleviate this problem, but it is still a good idea to periodically (once or twice a year) inspect and if necessary re-tighten any
easily accessible fasteners. Additional maintenance information can be found below in the troubleshooting section and in
the Technical Support Section of our Web site.
Worm Wheel Maintenance
Using the entire worm wheel ensures even wear and extended life. Under normal use the mount moves back and forth
using only one half of the worm wheel...the other half is not used.
Here’s what to do: Send the mount to Park 1, unlock the clutches and push the mount to Park 4. Lock the clutches and
then power cycle the mount (power off and then on). Tell the mount to resume from Park 4. The mount will then be using
