Peterson Engineering Precision Gears for 14" Meade LX200GPS

Note that these gears do not fit the LX200 Classic scopes. The Classic scopes have a completely different drive train.

Replace the molded plastic gears in your 14" drive train with precision machined high strength stainless steel gears. Install a simple but positive worm engagement system. This kit not only upgrades and adjusts the scope's gears; it addresses and tunes the full mechanical drive system for both axes.

Installation of this kit will:

1) improve the drive precision in both RA and DEC drives while reducing 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) reduce wear on and prevent damage to the scope's main worm gears through installation of kit parts that provide a positive worm to worm gear engagement. As a by-product of this fix the kit will reduce gear drive "chatter" - a noise that indicates that the worm is pushing away from the worm gear.

3) eliminate the tendency of the scope's transfer teeth to break or strip off of the plastic gears 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.

4) 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.

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 and a set of top quality hex wrenches. To correct those scopes where the gears do not mesh closely but are only touching tooth tip to tooth tip in a cogging kind of action, the kit also includes a drill bit.

These gears were originally developed by Buck Harley. Many LX200GPS users know Buck from Yahoo's LX200GPS group. Buck did the development groundwork strictly on his own for the good of the astronomical community. He offered his gear design to PE Corp. with no compensation to himself simply because of our distribution ability and our experience with this type of a kit.

Although the instructions provided are crystal clear, the installation of this kit is slightly more complex than that of the EZ Focus kit or the EZ Balance kit. If you had trouble with either of our other kits, or if you consider yourself not to be mechanically inclined, please consider arrangements for someone else to perform the installation for you.