Buck's big scope Gears

Upgrade & Optimize Meade telescope drives

Significantly improve mechanical precision of both AZ and DEC drives
Improve PEC and reduce mechanical backlash
Replace damaged or low precision plastic gears where appropriate

DRIVE UPGRADE FOR MEADE 14″ LX200R, LX200 GPS AND ALL SIZE RCX400 MEADE TELESCOPES

Improve drive precision by replacing the molded plastic gears in your drive train with precision machined high strength stainless steel gears. Install a simple but critical worm engagement system that corrects a weakness in the drive design. This kit not only upgrades and adjusts the scope’s gears; it and addresses and tunes the full mechanical drive system for both axes.

Installation of this kit will:

1) improve precision in both RA and DEC drives minimizing Periodic Error Correction (PEC) that software can only partially address. Reduce or eliminating transfer gear backlash. Our Quality 10 precision cut gears hold dimensional tolerances of ±.0005″, while the molded Nylon gears they replace are no better than Quality 8 with a tolerance of ±.002″

2) Eliminate slop in the drive through unique Peterson developed adjusting methods to achieve proper transfer gear mesh.
Note – images to right are of smaller 12″ scope drive. 14″ drive gears are identical but hidden.

3) reduce wear on and prevent damage to the scope’s main worm gears by installing a unique Peterson developed fix that provides positive worm to worm gear engagement. The worm on this drive has a propensity to lift and partially disengage when under load – resulting in some inaccuracy and abnormal wear on the gears themselves. In severe cases gears can completely disengage damaging the primary drive gear and producing audible “chatter”.

4) eliminate the tendency of the plastic transfer gear teeth to break off when slewing the telescope at high speed, in cold temperatures, or when slewing a scope that is heavily loaded with accessories or is out of balance.

5) eliminate the tendency of the motor transfer gears to loosen on their axle, due to use of a larger securing bolt capable of much higher locking torque. Or the tendency of the plastic worm transfer gear to become loose and slip when drive torque is applied.

For a detailed independent analysis of improvement in Periodic Error see Geof Wingham’s study:

What do our customers say?

The kit consists of very detailed step-by-step photo illustrated instructions for upgrading the declination and azimuth drives, 2 pairs of precision stainless steel gears, special gear grease, wire wraps, special premium quality adhesive, replacement worm indexing springs, worm standoff pins, a set of top quality hex wrenches and a drill bit.

Note: During the Summer 2005 – Spring 2006 transition period from plastic to precision metal gears Meade was inconsistent in what they used for gears. Click the button for details before ordering.

$179.99 plus shipping

To order your Buck’s big scope Gears please select order button for proper shipping destination.

Ship within USA
$179.99 + $9.65 postage = $189.64

Ship to Canada
$179.99 + $25.10 postage = $205.09

Ship to all other countries
$179.99 + $32.15 postage = $212.14