Hey all - I've been fine tuning my setup and trying to get automation kinks worked out. My dome has a few rough spots it seems on transitions, I've got some molding epoxy to try out at some point but the main issue is my gear fails to engage in a few teeth on both the shutter side and on the rear side. I've tried adjusting them for what little play they have and really can't re-situate them so I think that's not the way to solve this; I've fiddled with wall- pole positions and affixed them to the floor with fasteners since I'm convinced its in a good enough shape (boy if only there were a template diagram for pole positions or relative position info!).
Anyway watching the gear jump around and disengage with the back, I'm convinced I need support closer to the gear that keeps it engaged with the track. Related there was a set screw a hole in the mount... what was it for? It seems too high to engage with the bolt and the gear at the same time?
Manual has this entry but I haven't figured out "how" yet:
TIP Use the pressure knob on the motor bracket to adjust the distant between the gear and track if you find the teeth don’t mesh tightly.
By the way any tips to reduce the squeak in the wheels?
Problem is fixed. Man was it hour intensive for so little. I picked up a dremel to help round out the errors or things in the way on the existing relief. The approach I took was just extend the relief with fasteners. I'll post the pictures in the original mod thread.
I've seen this problem before. Mine is close as well. It looks like your belt could be a little lower but probably not enough to solve the problem. I would suggest removing the nylon wheel from the mounting flange and re-install with a stack of washers under each screw to raise it up 3/8" or so. You may need longer screws. Alternately, and better you could have a local machinist make you a 3/8" or 1/2" thick disk the diameter of the mounting flange to use as a spacer.
I attached without the nut present, I also put the gear set screw in far so it would stop the gear when I pushed it onto the shaft so you can se how unworkable this is... the gears are not going to vertically engage if I put the gear against the shaft with the set screw's range. Anything stand out?
@Steven Green from what I could tell after playing around with it I only get the gear 1/3rd or so engaged vertically if I'm at the top of where the hex-key'd set screw in the gear is.
I'm thinking I will have to extend the relief there with some other piece of metal. I don't think theres any more travel in my gear and you can see it's not vertically engaged well, with me lifting it up high.
By the way you guys had found it slipping with this engaged to the wheel bolt? I find that surprising relative to where I currently am in this.
I agree with all the above. Also, remove the aircraft nut from the wheel, then screw on the hex coupler. This has to line up with the hole/bolt in the motor frame. The gear will be fairly far up on the motor shaft. If necessary you can put some washers under the screws that hold the mounting flange to the gear.
From what I see in your photo you have the rotation gear bottomed out on the motor spindle. If you raise it you can lower the motor housing down to fit the wheel hub with the hex coupler I did that before I drilled the mounting holes in the wall support post which helped a little to get it lined up to attach. My experience is it's a tight fit, so I threaded it onto the wheel bolt first, 1 or 2 turns then attached the rotator housing side. Turning the hex coupler down draws the motor and gear into the track.
Hope this is clear.
Steven
Actually I will have to contest that thread as the answer from @Stacey Mills 's setup - my kit's installation frame may have less portion available forh affixing to the wheel's bolt, the bolt position seems also off by 1/4th an inch, maybe? It seems very tough with what's there to have the set screw in the gear engage with motor shaft.
Speaking of that set screw, is there a set-key thing, a little piece of metal in that like on the shutter motor in any body elses?
It looks like this thread is the best answer:
https://www.nexdome.com/forum/modifications/fixing-azimuth-drive-disengaging-from-dome-cogged-belt