Yeah, I'd forget about replacements. They are getting very scarce. A used Starfinder and two drives went for over $90 on eBay last week. Pull what you have off
For $100 you can get an ETX90 RA, or a Celestron/Tasco Nexstar/Starguide 4. Both are far superior to the 4.5 Newt optically and easier to use for someone
... The Starfinder controller can not expand the 1100 objects. It also holds Satellite, Asteroid and Comet orbital information, and that list -can- be changed,
You might check Meade's outlet center. Sometimes they put the parts up for sale there. Telescope Warehouse is the only other place I can think of. Bill Vorce
I have found these scopes problematical. Motor faults and runaways with different motor sets and handsets, even 497s. I tried the capacitor fix, it cut down