StellarDrive 5GT Mount (AZEQ5 GT)

How good is your AZEQ5-GT Mount?

Equatorial mounts by nature are precision made products. However, due to mass production and to keep the prices lower, they are often not adjusted to the best of their ability due to the variances in each mount. Various improvements can be made to transform the performance of your mount from what is a median production build, which may save you the need to upgrade to a more expensive mount if you are happy with the payload you have.

Check out how your mount compares in our performance charts.

EQ mounts are subject to being outside and often in the damp, so renewing the grease is often a first port of call with a better type more suited to our climate. It will also help reduce friction which means the motors can drive the mount more accurately, both unguided and guided.

Also, with more care in adjusting the worm-gears and motor drive train, they can often be made to run smoother and quieter, which also benefits better tracking and periodic error reduction. Mounts do need servicing and can be tuned, like any mechanical device. No-one as yet has designed a maintenance free mount!

This is also available as a NEW Built to Order StellarDrive™ mount - please contact us for pricing.

Single 900s test guided frame tuned standard hypertuned HEQ5 Reference Mount.

StellarDrive 5GT Notes:

The AZEQ5GT mount typically runs at 20-30 arcsecs from new unguided in independent tests and is said to be sweeter than the NEQ6 for astro-imaging. Once tuned our mounts run circa 4-6 arcsecs, and circa 0.2-0.5 ArcSec RMS guided for hours is often reported by our customers in independent tests. Also the mount will run much smoother and much quieter than before.

We also rework the crown rings for better fluidity and balance. This also means the mount is faster reacting to guide input.

Once tuned, consistent 15-30min subs are more than possible with this mount, with very few if any lost frames when guided and 5-10 mins unguided at circa 500mm focal length.

Work includes:

Every Mount is examined externally for any damage and owner notified for any extra-parts.

The Mount is stripped back in both axis to component level, inspected for damage or wear, and degreased and ultrasonically cleaned where applicable. Bearings are then replaced with low friction and super smooth Hybrid-Ceramic worm-gear bearings, that really do improve the responsiveness of this mount. All bearings are checked and spun before fitting. Over and above our standard rebuild extra work includes:

• StellarDrive-SPX™ High Precision worm-gears for RA and DEC axis.
• Both crown rings are precisely super-finished on a lathe and quality checked using a Specular Reflectometer. This is not a DIY option.
• More surface work on internal castings where required.
• WaveFormR™ axis testing based on our build data to ensure correct backlash adjustment.

Owners are notified for any extra-parts (charged at cost) and time if required if there is a need of repair, as other costs may be incurred.

Mount is reassembled using upgraded dampening greases and oils which operate in all temperatures from -30ºC to +125ºC (we use them in our Export Service and our own products so have been tested at these temperatures for over three years!).

The Mount is then bench tested and adjusted to remove backlash in the worm gears, and to ensure the operation of the mount is as cohesive as it can be.

GoTo Handset and Mount are checked for Firmware updates and updated with latest code as required and also tested for operation.

In the case of axis repairs and tuning we carry out a load test on every mount with either an 8 inch f5 Reflector or 100mm f9 Refractor - or 70mm Refractor for smaller mounts, and adjust so to ensure the mount is performing as it should under real-world conditions. 

Your mount is then readied for shipping/collection. Our two way UK Courier Service (collect and return)  is just £29 or our three way is £39 using a tracked service, if you don't have original box/packaging.

The mount is videoed/photographed during evaluation, disassembly and rebuild, with a soundwave check to confirm drivetrain signature - for our own purposes only. All work carried out is now covered by our 24 month limited warranty.

We are proud to announce that we now offer a 2 year limited warranty on all 
Sub-Arcsecond Hypertuned HEQ5, NEQ6 and AZEQ6GT EQ Mounts, 
re-engineered to our enhanced Bonneville Build Type.

TO USE OUR EASY  2 or 3 WAY OPTION AT £29 or £39 - PLEASE SELECT AT THE END OF CHECKOUT.


E&OE - Mount Build Specification and components used subject to change without notice. Example EQ mount tracking performance is not guaranteed, and is subject to the age and condition of the Donor Mount.