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Main
Date: 07 Oct 2006 19:33:07
From: Tater
Subject: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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A freind of mine gave me a telescope free, I beleieve because he was
not happy with the mount and I have a better place for viewing.
anyway, I'll read off the info on it and you guys tell me something
about it please. here we go
science tech
dia 76mm
fl 900mm
had three eyepieces F=4 F=12.5 F=20 and an add-on tube 3x barlow lens
has a tripod that wobbles a LOT, so I think i'll rig something up a bit
sturdier for it (suggestions?) legs look fine, but the upper assembly
looks like it is not mean for such strain as this. I have a bigger
tripod for telescope, but I can bet that the weak links will be the
same. I think i'll be scrounging around for a big heavy automobile
wheel hub and weld some legs on it and use the bearings to support the
telescope.
stuck the F=20 in it and get the finder scope a little closer to being
on target. mmon looks a bit distane, but I suppose the F=4 will make it
look like I am 100 feet from it.
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Date: 07 Oct 2006 21:58:12
From: Rich
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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Tater wrote:
> A freind of mine gave me a telescope free, I beleieve because he was
> not happy with the mount and I have a better place for viewing.
>
> anyway, I'll read off the info on it and you guys tell me something
> about it please. here we go
>
> science tech
> dia 76mm
> fl 900mm
>
> had three eyepieces F=4 F=12.5 F=20 and an add-on tube 3x barlow lens
>
> has a tripod that wobbles a LOT, so I think i'll rig something up a bit
> sturdier for it (suggestions?) legs look fine, but the upper assembly
> looks like it is not mean for such strain as this. I have a bigger
> tripod for telescope, but I can bet that the weak links will be the
> same. I think i'll be scrounging around for a big heavy automobile
> wheel hub and weld some legs on it and use the bearings to support the
> telescope.
>
> stuck the F=20 in it and get the finder scope a little closer to being
> on target. mmon looks a bit distane, but I suppose the F=4 will make it
> look like I am 100 feet from it.
Barring anything wrong with the objective, it should be a serviceable
refractor.
-Re-inforce the mount
-Run the 3x barlow over with a truck
-Throw the 0.96" eyepieces down the sewer.
-Go get a 1-1/4" to 0.96 hybrid diagonal of decent quality.
-Get some inexpensive ($20/ea) 1-1/4" Plossls eyepieces and a decent
barlow from Orion, or Meade or Celestron. Keep the power (telescope
focal length divided by eyepiece mm size) at max of about 250x.
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 17:01:04
From: Ashbury
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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>
> Barring anything wrong with the objective, it should be a serviceable
> refractor.
> -Re-inforce the mount
> -Run the 3x barlow over with a truck
> -Throw the 0.96" eyepieces down the sewer.
> -Go get a 1-1/4" to 0.96 hybrid diagonal of decent quality.
> -Get some inexpensive ($20/ea) 1-1/4" Plossls eyepieces and a decent
> barlow from Orion, or Meade or Celestron. Keep the power (telescope
> focal length divided by eyepiece mm size) at max of about 250x.
250X's??...what a crock of crap...Rich is an asshole.
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Date: 08 Oct 2006 07:27:56
From: Tater
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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Fred Scharmann wrote:
> You have probably already done this, but when the mount wobbles at all, I
> have had to tighten the bolt from underneath.
>
>
the bolt aint loose! the thin metal "yoke" flexes too much it looks
like and the upper triangular part of the tripod that the legs bolt
onto does not stay solid. I think maybe adding washer to it to fill in
some gaps might help, but that is only one part thats weak. it looks
like the bolt is only a 1/4" and you really cant expect it to be able
to resist any flex from this 4 ft plus tube, even if only mounted from
the middle.
I think i'll drag out the welder, dig thru my pile of scrap iron and
see if i cant make a yoke that doesnt flex. wont be as pretty, but will
help keep things from wobbling when someone walks past.
looked at some other mount systems, including pedestals set in
concrete. might be a bit overkill, but no one said that I had to make
it weak :)
first I'll stack some washers where i can, and see if that can stiffen
some parts. thansk for the advise, feel welcome to add more
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Date: 08 Oct 2006 05:19:05
From: Fred Scharmann
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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You have probably already done this, but when the mount wobbles at all, I
have had to tighten the bolt from underneath.
"Tater" <tater1337@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1160274787.714944.73570@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>A freind of mine gave me a telescope free, I beleieve because he was
> not happy with the mount and I have a better place for viewing.
>
> anyway, I'll read off the info on it and you guys tell me something
> about it please. here we go
>
> science tech
> dia 76mm
> fl 900mm
>
> had three eyepieces F=4 F=12.5 F=20 and an add-on tube 3x barlow lens
>
> has a tripod that wobbles a LOT, so I think i'll rig something up a bit
> sturdier for it (suggestions?) legs look fine, but the upper assembly
> looks like it is not mean for such strain as this. I have a bigger
> tripod for telescope, but I can bet that the weak links will be the
> same. I think i'll be scrounging around for a big heavy automobile
> wheel hub and weld some legs on it and use the bearings to support the
> telescope.
>
> stuck the F=20 in it and get the finder scope a little closer to being
> on target. mmon looks a bit distane, but I suppose the F=4 will make it
> look like I am 100 feet from it.
>
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Date: 08 Oct 2006 21:30:16
From: Bob May
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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With a objective lens of 76mm, the most power you can really see with is
about 150 power. This means that the shortest FL for an eyepiece is going
to be about 900/150 or about 6mm. That 4mm EP is going to be a little
strong for it but will work.
Better is to go find a 1.25" focuser and apply that to the back of the
telescope and that way you'll be able to use some lower magnification EPs as
32mm is the biggest that you can really use with the larger focuser. I'd
really not bother with an adapter that allows the use of larger diameter EPs
as the max aperture at the EP end will still be only 0.8" or so and thus not
gain any further FOV gains.
As to the mount, almost anything you do to it, starting with just throwing
away the leg assy. will be a big improvement to it. Getting a better mount
is one thing although they generally start at several hundred dollars for
something decent. I'd probably make up a wood (I usually work in wood)
mount with a good solid set of legs for that scope.
I'll note that it sounds like a heavier Dept. store telescope, of which many
don't have anything really good to say about.
--
Yeppie, Bush is such an idiot that He usually outwits
everybody else. How dumb!
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 16:10:47
From: laura halliday
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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Tater wrote:
> Dude! english please, and in small words instead of acronyms :)
>
> oh, wait, EP=eyepiece? ok, why would i move add a focuser to the back,
> when the eyepieces are near the front? I take it the larger the EP the
> better the feild of view?
>
> remember this was given to me for free. so the guys that had all sorts
> of nasty advice about destroying parts aing gonna happen, might add,
> but probably not much. 20mm EP feels small to the eyeball, and at
> various angles the EP holder is awkward to get at, maybe a 90 deg prism
> attachment?
This sounds like a Newtonian.
The optics aren't the best quality (how can they be for a
telescope that retails for less than $100?), and excessive
magnification will show just how un-best the quality is.
I know you feel obligated, but you really didn't get much
of a deal. This is a classic Christmas Trash telescope,
sold to well-meaning folks who know nothing about
telescopes, by well-meaning folks who know nothing
about telescopes.
Keep the magnification low (which will also help with the
wobbly mount), and look at what you can.
Laura Halliday VE7LDH "Que les nuages soient notre
Grid: CN89mg pied a terre..."
ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Hospital/Shafte
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 15:16:27
From: Tater
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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Bob May wrote:
> With a objective lens of 76mm, the most power you can really see with is
> about 150 power. This means that the shortest FL for an eyepiece is going
> to be about 900/150 or about 6mm. That 4mm EP is going to be a little
> strong for it but will work.
> Better is to go find a 1.25" focuser and apply that to the back of the
> telescope and that way you'll be able to use some lower magnification EPs as
> 32mm is the biggest that you can really use with the larger focuser. I'd
> really not bother with an adapter that allows the use of larger diameter EPs
> as the max aperture at the EP end will still be only 0.8" or so and thus not
> gain any further FOV gains.
Dude! english please, and in small words instead of acronyms :)
oh, wait, EP=eyepiece? ok, why would i move add a focuser to the back,
when the eyepieces are near the front? I take it the larger the EP the
better the feild of view?
remember this was given to me for free. so the guys that had all sorts
of nasty advice about destroying parts aing gonna happen, might add,
but probably not much. 20mm EP feels small to the eyeball, and at
various angles the EP holder is awkward to get at, maybe a 90 deg prism
attachment?
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 16:00:26
From: Starlord
Subject: Re: got a free telescope, needs work, have questions
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Is that scope a reflector?
--
The Lone Sidewalk Astronomer of Rosamond
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
Sidewalk Astronomy
www.sidewalkastronomy.info
The Church of Eternity
http://home.inreach.com/starlord/church/Eternity.html
"Tater" <tater1337@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1160432187.126859.194130@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
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