H180 motor stuck far West on the arc

[Vitruvius]

Oh no... my H180 motor for the 6 ft Fortec has gotten stuck looking west at the end of its arc. I have all the equipment in my signature and was trying to get 139 sat signals and I guess I moved it too far. In looking at the motor, it does look like it could move about another 12 degrees on its arc, but it is stuck. I am wondering if the very cold weather has anything to do with it. It got below freezing around here this weekend.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get the motor moving again?

[pmb1010]

[Vitruvius]

Pmb... LOL. I knew you would have a remark claiming the motor is junk. I have had it (second one) installed since spring and it has been pretty good...

So if anyone has any positive advice I would appreciate it.

[William Eng]

Your motor could be at its limit. If there is a east-west switch on the motor itself. Press the east while at the same time lift the dish towards the east.

[Vitruvius]

William, There are no buttons on this motor. I am wondering if the 'reed' switch got damaged somehow...

[William Eng]

Then have someone move the satellite from your receiver and at the same time you can physically help it by lifting the dish.

[William Eng]

Remember that commerical. I've fallen and I can't get up!!! The motor needs your help. Drastic option: Take the dish off the motor and try again. Then put the dish back on.

[pmb1010]

- make sure whatever you're using to drive the dish is still putting out voltage? (use a meter at terminals)

- try using car battery to manually move the motor?
Even though the motor requires a higher voltage it should try to move the dish one way or the other (reverse polarity for one way and other)

[Vitruvius]

Thanks guys... I'll try those options. Now PMB, there is some constructive advice... thanks... LOL.

[Vitruvius]

Ok, after fiddling with the motor for the second or third time I found the problem and fixed this motor. I finally had time to re-examine it and tinker a bit. I found that I could send enough juice to the motor since I heard the motor moving and whining. The dish just didn't move. I was stuck way west with the dish. So I pulled off the motor's cover and by turning the gear that moves the spiral gear with a screw driver I could move the dish in very short increments. There are about 12 gears attached to the motor that gear down the rotation of the spiral gear which is fastened to the bottom plate of the assembly. I noticed that with all the motor spinning the dish spiral gear was just not moving. The whole motor and 12 gears are a separate assembly anchored to the base plate with two bolts. The whole motor was shifted just enough that the teeth of the two gears that are suppose to transfer the spinning were not touching. I guess when it got to its most western position, and I kept pressing the remote on the VBox 3000 to move west the motor separated just enough to disengage the two gears. It was either this or when I tried to help push the dish with the motor going that threw the motor assembly askew enough to disengage the gears. So I loosened the two bolts anchoring the electrical motor assembly and shifted it to engage the spiral gear's gear and tightened the bolts. This did the trick and the motor now drives the dish. Yeeeehaa.

So now my motor is working and being controlled properly by the VBox. I am so very happy. Thanks for your posts guys. My perseverance was motivated by the fact that if I wanted a motorized C-Band system I would have to dish out over $300 for a new dish and actuator. In the process of tinkering with the setup I sent the system out of alignment and will have to spend a load of time re-tuning it, but I am very very happy that this motor is still working.

[Vitruvius]

Ok... PMB, you were right. The motor is not designed correctly. The entire base snapped in two. The wind was not exceeding the limits and I have the lightest installation possible. Unbelieveable...

Amazing... snapped right in two. It separated the motor from the gears... Piece of junk now, for sure.

What to do? I'd like a polar mounted dish, but Sadoun does not sell the polar mount separately.