Losmandy G11 - Ovision retrofitPosted By Joe Conway |
One of the biggest problems with doing a retro for the worm block is the end blocks. There wasn't enough material to use threaded clamp rings to retain the bearings. If you attempted to thread the blocks for a threaded clamp ring it would break out at the bottom where the threaded mounting studs are.
In one of the pictures on the Ovision site of their retro it appears, maybe, that this is the case. They may have used metric bearings and had a little more allowance for this lack of material. Either way, the original bearing blocks were flimsy and could flex at the mounting studs. There simply is not enough metal at the bottom of the blocks where the studs are.
The end result was I went away from the larger bearings and spent the time I did researching smaller, 1/2 inch bearings. The bearings shown in the second picture, showing the end of my blocks, have an axial load spec. of 72lbs. They have a radial play spec. of 0.0001 inches. I did look at angular bearings that had a axial load spec. of 132lbs, but they were $125 a piece. Times that by 8 and you see the picture there.
It would've been way easier if Scott would've raised up the main gears some to allow for more metal at the bottom of the worm blocks.
In one of the pictures on the Ovision site of their retro it appears, maybe, that this is the case. They may have used metric bearings and had a little more allowance for this lack of material. Either way, the original bearing blocks were flimsy and could flex at the mounting studs. There simply is not enough metal at the bottom of the blocks where the studs are.
The end result was I went away from the larger bearings and spent the time I did researching smaller, 1/2 inch bearings. The bearings shown in the second picture, showing the end of my blocks, have an axial load spec. of 72lbs. They have a radial play spec. of 0.0001 inches. I did look at angular bearings that had a axial load spec. of 132lbs, but they were $125 a piece. Times that by 8 and you see the picture there.
It would've been way easier if Scott would've raised up the main gears some to allow for more metal at the bottom of the worm blocks.
