After some really unsatisfying guiding results in the last few weeks I saw me forced to find my luck in hypertuning my Sky-Watcher HEQ5 PRO.
Since there are already awesome instruction videos out there, i am not going to describe the process here. Instead I will link the videos I used as instructions.
My reasons for hypertuning
- I was no longer able to repeat good guiding results. Sometimes I did guiding <1″ and sometimes >1,5″.
- I had a lot of break outs. I was not really able so get any 5 minute exposures without guiding problems.
- I saw one of the reasons in difficult balancing due to phyical resistance.
- Backlash was not the issue.
Used material for hypertuning
- 4x ball bearings SKF 628/9-2RS1
- 6x ball bearings SKF 6006-2RS1
- 2x ball bearings SKF 30205 J2/Q
- Grease OKS 495
Used Instructions
- Astrobloke
HEQ5 Pro Hyper Tune. Get the best out of your Sky-watcher EQmount. Now guiding 0.4 total rms – YouTube - Frosth Astrophotography
SkyWatcher HEQ5 Pro hypertune – complete rebuild with SKF ball bearings – YouTube
I have nothing to add to this instructions, since they explained everything I needed.
The only thing not mentioned in both videos is doing a polar scope calibration after reassambling the mount.
Results after hypertuning
The first important result is, that the physical resistance is very much better on both axis than before. I got exactly the same results as shown in both instruction videos. The best part about it, in my eyes, is that it is a lot easier now to find a good balance on both axis.
At the first evening after hypertuning I was able to guide with <0,5″. I think it was worth it.
3 replies on “Sky-Watcher HEQ5 PRO Hypertuning”
[…] I wrote down my results and the parts (ball bearings and grease) I used:https://astrocamp.eu/en/sky-watcher-heq5-pro-hypertuning-2/ […]
Hi there 🙂
I just bought the same set of SKF bearings for my HEQ5 as you did. My 30205’s were all oiled up from the factory. Did you clean that out before installing them or how did you approach it?
Hi Per,
thank you for reading and response. I did not clean up any of the bearings. But mine were not oiled up. Maybe should should clean them from the outside?
All the best,
Thomas