MT-160 / Tak Motorfocus?

[Lognic04]

Hi all,
I want to get a motorfocus for my MT - because to be honest the focuser is a bit crap (Who puts a one speed on a tak?!?!) All i can find are retrofits/motorfocusers for epsilons and refractors - not MT's
Any way i could make one myself even?
:question::thanx:

[LewisM]

The MT's focuser is the same as the Epsilon etc. I can slick up a Tak focuser in about 20 minutes - there is absolutely no need to go down the Feathertocuh, Moonlight etc route, AT ALL.

Nothing has changed at Tak for 30 years (well, some of the higher end reflectors have electronic focusers from the factory).

Or you can fit the Tak dual speed add-on to the focuser for a bit over $300 (called the MEF-3 for yours)

Dual speed focusers are a modern trend - back when the MT was made, VERY few used them if any!

[multiweb]

I bought a MEF-3 if I recall 7:1 micro focuser for my old Q and coupled the motor to the small pin. See pics here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=138138&highlight=Sharpsky).

[Lognic04]

What would be the best autofocuser for the 2.7" focuser? (hopefully not too expensive too :P )

[Lognic04]

Oh and i forgot to mention there is a large image shift when locking down the focus, that is really annoying and might wreak havoc with tilt!

[LewisM]

Sharpsky Pro is BRILLIANT - everything in one package - motor, hub (with dew heater outlets included), 2 x temp probes, hand control if you want to focus manually, mounting plate (you drill the holes yourself of course) and so on. All for around $500 AUS delivered.

Image shift in a Tak focuser is EASY to remedy. Need to adjust the teflon pad tensioner screws on the top of the focuser, and then the brass pinion plate (under the green cover on the bottom). Kind of hard to explain, but so easy to do (and yet so many simply have no clue, give up and buy the expensive and not-worthwhile FT/Moonlite "upgrade". IF you are willing to remove the focuser from the tube and post it up to me, I will adjust it free of charge - just pay the postage.

If I had your MT here, I could fix all it's woes SO quickly!!! It's criminal it was sold to you like that by a DEALER! Absolutely NOT a beginners instrument, especially in the condition it is in.

[Dave47tuc]

Hi Logan,
I have read your problems with your scope pity! if its my old scope this is how i sold it to Cris! see photo's!
you should have brought it the same way!!
Maybe check serial No first ?

Not that all helps you now but i had no problems with the scope when i had it.
But of course i did not do any imaging with it. Also I purchased the OTA of Lars in NSW!!
But My thoughts are that scope its a bit old and dated for what you may want to achieve.

Good luck :)

[LewisM]

David,

I just checked the serial of Logan's scope (we were discussing trading a while back) and it is indeed your old scope - BUT you should see how it has transformed since you owned it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FT micro pinion gone and replaced by a bent Tak pinion and cover (green, not grey), original finder gone and replaced with a bodgy Explore Scientific base and a Telrad base, and a bunch of silicon holding the reducer/flattener into the adapter etc.

Truly sad, as I remembered how yours looked! I want to restore it SO badly, but I just bought an as-new TSA-102, so that's not happening (and I sold the Esprit 80 too)

[LewisM]

My offer stands - but now I will go further and say if Logan posts me up the scope, I will restore the entire scope - tube, focuser etc - labour/time cost free- simply pay postage and cost of the paint (about $50 for professional automotive mix paint and top coat).

Plus let me use it for a night :)

[LewisM]

I also agree with you David - Logan would be better suited with a modern SW/GSO 8" Newt and go from there. Or a decent refractor.

The MT-160's mirrors will be starting to need refurbishment, not to mention the rest of the scope.

[Lognic04]

dave, all i can say is: OMG! what did Cris do?! :sadeyes:
Compared to your pictures the state of my scope is appalling!

[Dave47tuc]

Sorry this has happened to you Logan , lesson learned by you and warning to others then. Good luck.

[LewisM]

I hope Logan permits, but this is the focuser area NOW.

Basically, all the good and valuable/rare parts were removed and replaced with "other" stuff.

[multiweb]

Looks like a GSO rack and pinion. That original TAK's been cannibalized for parts. Hope he didn't pay premium price for it... :rolleyes:

[Lognic04]

Marc thats an original focuser.

[multiweb]

ah ok. I thought the other photo was the focuser the scope came with.