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Yaesu G-5500 - No Down Elevation

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:40 am
by VK4GHZ
Found this elsewhere, and is too good not to share more widely.

Terry Gaff
Aug 12 #13225

Hey all,

After a few mins tracking some sats, via my K3NG controller (not the issue BTW), or manually, the elevation will not go down... but it will however rotate upwards.

Up to this point, after I wait for maybe 10 mins or so, it works again.
I know the G-5500 Yaesu manual briefly mentions an operation time limit of 5 minutes.. is this actually 'timed' and 'controlled' by the control box ?
If so, why can it still rotate upwards ?
Any thoughts or ideas appreciated.

Terry
Spence M0STO
Aug 12 #13226

Classic over heating clutch.
I have 3 G5500 and 2 have the same issue.
The clutch operates as far as I can tell in one direction and that’s down.

Try stripping the EL rotator and on top of the motor you will see a 1.5” plastic cover.
That’s where I believe the clutch is.
I haven’t serviced mine because the antenna is really hard to get to.
I noticed when I last serviced it and replaced the EL pot that it was stiff in one direction and that led to overheating of the motor. Worth a try.

I’m pretty confident the motor is the issue as mine cools down and starts working again but it’s because the clutch engages on the down motion and causes this overheating.
Doesn’t quite stop but very very slow when hot....

De Spence M0STO

Re: Yaesu G-5500 - No Down Elevation

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 12:19 pm
by VK1JA
Thanks for sharing, Adam.

I've been meaning to give my g-5500 rotators a good internal clean and check over, bit it's such a process to get the antenna array down.