[amsat-bb] Re: Help Desperately with Rotator YAESU g-5400b

[James Jipping]

On 5/1/2011 11:46 AM, Vincenzo Mone wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> hope in an help to solve my problem with my Rotator Yaesu G-5400B.
> Today i was tracking the ISS, ad while i was tracking it  I got The AO-51 in
> AOS. As I am using the Trackbox, and i did not have under my eyes the
> control box, I heard the Trackbox passing from ISS to AO-51. I gave an eye
> to the control box and saw it was stuck at  35 degrees and it did not go
> down to the 0 degrees to start the AOS. I have pulled out the connector
> which connects the control box to the Track box and tried manually
> To bring down the antennas. I've tried to press the "DOWN" switch, but they
> did not move from that position.
> I've tried to press the "UP" switch and noticed that the antennas moves
> going up.
> Then i have tried also with the "RIGHT" and  "LEFT" switches of the Azimuth
> and noticed also that the antennas moves in both sides.
> At the end i can say that the antenna moves in all the positions except for
> down.
> Please anybody can tell me what is happened?
> As the antennas are now stuck at 45 degrees i am afraid that the wind can
> cause problems.
> I Hope in an help.
> Any help will be really appreciated.
> Thanks in Advance
>
>
> 73 de Enzo IK8OZV
> EasyLog 5 BetaTester
> EasyLog PDA BetaTester
> WinBollet BetaTester
> D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania
> Skype: ik8ozv8520
>
>
>
>
>
> 73 de Enzo IK8OZV
> EasyLog 5 BetaTester
> EasyLog PDA BetaTester
> WinBollet BetaTester
> D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania
> Skype: ik8ozv8520
>
>
>
>
>        **********************************
>        *******    GSM  +39 338 9749786    *******
>        ******       SMS  +39 338 9749786       ******
>        *****          FAX  +39 328 7244294          *****
>        ***          2nd e-mail: vimone at tin.it          ***
>        *********************************
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
IK8OZV:

I just had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me.  I took the rotor apart 
and discovered that the motor had failed. It would NOT rotate in the 
"down" direction.  I was able to free it    ---------  I put the whole 
rotor together   -------- only to have motor freeze in the "down" 
direction.  My conclusion was that the bearing in the motor had failed.

Fortunately, I happened to have another elevation rotor and replace the 
whole elevation unit.  I did not investigate whether I could purchase  
just the motor, you may wish to do that.

Jim Jipping, W*MRR
AMSAT 5512