thecaretaker
Regular Member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2008
- Messages
- 265
- Reaction score
- 30
- Points
- 28
- Age
- 66
- Location
- Lat: 50.86021 Long: 0.52973
- Website
- www.thecaretakers.net
- My Satellite Setup
-
VU+ Ultimo, Duo2
85cm Fracarro Penta dish
Inverto BLACK Ultra QUAD
- My Location
- South East Coast, England
Well, I've just replaced my Super dark motor after just a year (or so). The problem was slack on the pole (backlash) and after several attempts of trying to adjust it, I decided to buy new.
Curious how the backlash adjustment was supposed to work, I decided to open up the lid. Expecting to see some springs and rods, I find it is nothing more than a wedge of aluminium that pushes against the motor housing.
The block is meant to slide (see photos) in and out when the screw is turned in the side. As you can see, the screw is broken. I originally broke the head while in use, but trying to remove the screw in the kitchen, I found out why it wasn't adjusting, it had fused itself hard within the block. Trying to turn it with pliers, it was so stuck that I managed to break the screws body.
There is no water seal on this motor between the body and lid, so as you can see, although the lid fixes fairly snug, water has made some penetration.
I've now purchased the Superior Dark Motor which claims to have automatic backlash adjustment. My observations are that apart from the method of adjustment, there seems little difference between the Super and Superior. I suspect that the backlash is a known problem with the Dark Motor which they have tried to address with the Superior model.
The amount of play on my Super Motor was frighteningly noticeable, but the motor did move quickly. The Superior motor is a lot slower which I suspect they have reduced the teeth gap on the motor wheel (again maybe to address the amount of possible play).
I've taken some photos for you and hope this post gives owners of this motor an idea how the backlash mechanism works. It's so basic the word mechanism is giving a little too much credibility lol
Curious how the backlash adjustment was supposed to work, I decided to open up the lid. Expecting to see some springs and rods, I find it is nothing more than a wedge of aluminium that pushes against the motor housing.
The block is meant to slide (see photos) in and out when the screw is turned in the side. As you can see, the screw is broken. I originally broke the head while in use, but trying to remove the screw in the kitchen, I found out why it wasn't adjusting, it had fused itself hard within the block. Trying to turn it with pliers, it was so stuck that I managed to break the screws body.
There is no water seal on this motor between the body and lid, so as you can see, although the lid fixes fairly snug, water has made some penetration.
I've now purchased the Superior Dark Motor which claims to have automatic backlash adjustment. My observations are that apart from the method of adjustment, there seems little difference between the Super and Superior. I suspect that the backlash is a known problem with the Dark Motor which they have tried to address with the Superior model.
The amount of play on my Super Motor was frighteningly noticeable, but the motor did move quickly. The Superior motor is a lot slower which I suspect they have reduced the teeth gap on the motor wheel (again maybe to address the amount of possible play).
I've taken some photos for you and hope this post gives owners of this motor an idea how the backlash mechanism works. It's so basic the word mechanism is giving a little too much credibility lol
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