I broke my Venture actuator

[John]

Nice sketch! Can you post a picture of the axel with square part, which foes inside the cog-wheel?
And what is thickness of the material where the yellow dot is View attachment 152874

Here you go ... ** Please bare in mind Rima that there are other enquiries in progress at the moment

 

[RimaNTSS]

Please bare in mind Rima that there are other enquiries in progress at the moment

Do not worry, I'm just trying to build the fabrication process in my mind, without cutting any metal. Could you measure the material thickness where the yellow dot was?

 

[John]

Do not worry, I'm just trying to build the fabrication process in my mind, without cutting any metal. Could you measure the material thickness where the yellow dot was?

Sorry Rima, i did take a pic of that but forgot to post it - here it is

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[John]

Fired off a clarification request to them

Here's the clarification response - so need to add a shipping / customs charge as well so taking the cost up again ... Hmmmm ?.

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[moonbase]

Here's the clarification response - so need to add a shipping / customs charge as well so taking the cost up again ... Hmmmm ?.

Another option would be to go over to the mig welding forum and ask on there if anyone can cut you a cog to specification.
I have used the forum in the past for fabrication and lathe work and there are some seriously skilled metal fabricators on there with all manner of equipment.

One of the lads who did some work for me might even have had a cog cutting machine.
They are a friendly bunch, almost all are UK based and often consider stuff like this as a fun challenge rather than an earner.

 

[scopus]

Mine has failed this morning!!

 

[moonbase]

Mine has failed this morning!!

Does not give a great impression of these Ventures, I think this is the 3rd one to fail from the group buy?
At least it is a cheapish fix if appropriate cogs can be sourced (Rima or MIG Welding forum?)

 

[s-band]

This is getting me worried. This one is destined to be the elevation for a 2.4PF (it had been used for a 2.4CM offset). Is it the dodgy design featured in this thread?

 

[John]

Mine has failed this morning!!
View attachment 153020

Had it Froze up ? and put excessive stress on the plastic drive. A bit more of a pain to get to but check the back blind side of the Black cog for stripped teeth as well.
Might be worth thinking about running a heating tape along the tube and gearbox perhaps once repaired...

 

[scopus]

This is getting me worried. This one is destined to be the elevation for a 2.4PF (it had been used for a 2.4CM offset). Is it the dodgy design featured in this thread?

View attachment 153021

When I took the motor off the actuator arm itself, I had to free off the ball screw drive, it was extremely stiff..so keeping that well lubricated I think is the answer.
But as MB says, I expect them to last longer than what is it 10 years?? Considering the price we paid for them!!

 

[scopus]

Had it Froze up ? and put excessive stress on the plastic drive. A bit more of a pain to get to but check the back blind side of the Black cog for stripped teeth as well.
Might be worth thinking about running a heating tape along the tube and gearbox perhaps once repaired...

Don't know John, see my reply to S Band..I seemed seized where the motor drives the ball screw..now well lubricated and nice and free...

 

[Manikm909]

Don't know John, see my reply to S Band..I seemed seized where the motor drives the ball screw..now well lubricated and nice and free...

When I took the motor off the actuator arm itself, I had to free off the ball screw drive, it was extremely stiff..so keeping that well lubricated I think is the answer.
But as MB says, I expect them to last longer than what is it 10 years?? Considering the price we paid for them!!

what was the advantage of these over the QARLS - so all the failed ones reported, have failed bang on 10 years?
when @John one failed, it wasnt particularly cold was it?

 

[John]

>> when @John one failed, it wasnt particularly cold was it? <<
Thats true, wasn't cold or freezing and well within the ambient operating temparature - it was pulling the 2.2 off a Easterly position of around 50°E so would have had a fair load imposed on the gearbox but never had that problem when using a QARL actuator. They were purchased mainly i think due to their reputation of being a better unit !.... very debatable

 

[scopus]

what was the advantage of these over the QARLS - so all the failed ones reported, have failed bang on 10 years?
when @John one failed, it wasnt particularly cold was it?

I have found the pulse counting very poor on the Superjacks in the past, plus only two cogs to worry about, I think the heavy duty Superjacks have way more?, can't remember for sure..

The Venture was a breeze to work on in comparison. It's all up and running again, see what happens tomorrow, but I suspect it was more of a lubrication problem in the worm drive..

 

[Captain Jack]

Mine failed because I drove it beyond the limit and the power of the motor stripped the teeth. I still think these Ventures are amazing jacks and after many years now, there's is still no play in the drive (there would be a lot of rattling on any of the QARL stuff after about a year).

I really should service it though...

 

[John]

I have found the pulse counting very poor on the Superjacks in the past, plus only two cogs to worry about, I think the heavy duty Superjacks have way more?, can't remember for sure..

The Venture was a breeze to work on in comparison. It's all up and running again, see what happens tomorrow, but I suspect it was more of a lubrication problem in the worm drive..

Did you check the back side of the Black cog

 

[scopus]

Did you check the back side of the Black cog

Yes, it was fine..

 

[RimaNTSS]

If any of you with broken cogs have no any more ideas what to do, send me the parts and I will try to make it working again. As a material for a new cog, I think aluminum will fit OK.

 

[scopus]

Yes, it was fine..

@John...I've heard no more my re: the black cog...how about sending it to Rima??

 

[John]

Venture actuator freezing up precaution steps taken to install on both the AZ & EL motors for this winter..... hopefully to stop the expensive cog stripping disaster from last winters attack.
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