Focusser I do NOT want a permanent mod to my scope

[ChrisV (Chris)]

Isn't it dangerous driving the 10:1 focuser knob rather than the main one. I've read that you can damage the gears - at least with stepper motors?

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Chris,
Don't know where you heard that....I've never come across any evidence.

I've been using the belt drive on all my gear for ten years.....
Nothing has gone wrong with the 10:1 gear drive.
As I said, no issues no drama.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by Ukastronomer

Nothing I can do about the blasted neighbours though

You are lucky in Sydney I am in one of those nice treed suburbs and get maybe 20 minutes to capture.

Nice movie I left a comment...when will youtube send you a cheque☺
I am going to pull down a remote vacuum cleaner that is a pain cause you spend si much time cleaning it and see what belts and gears it gives up.
I ran my set up and the fact is you dont need to move things much at all.
And thanks for starting this thread as you got me motivated and now I have an electric focuser on my80mm.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by ChrisV

Isn't it dangerous driving the 10:1 focuser knob rather than the main one. I've read that you can damage the gears - at least with stepper motors?

No worries if it breaks they meed to up their game☺
I cant see why there would be a problem do you have anything that offers a reason why there could be a problem.
Alex

[JimsShed (Jim)]

Jeremy, what Ken said. I’ve done the same and for me it’s a perfect solution on my Esprit. When I want to manually focus at the scope I can easily slip the belt off. Search for GT2 Closed Loop belts on eBay.

[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

Again many thanks and much appreciation to all of you

[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

I am NOT good at describing things so I have attached images, the FINAL belt used to drive the focusser from the Skywatcher unit

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astro...o-focuser.html

attached to the actuall scope focusser via home made (as I couldn't find one the right size) belt, from a cut down vacuum cleaner belt

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and shaped cycle inner tube repair kit

[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

https://youtu.be/o7VXcG6hmFA

Again thanks to everyone for their help, the wristbands gave me the final idea JA but all were MOST helpful

[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

I am making a modification to the 120Esprit brackets to take the Skywatcher focusser (electric)

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk...o-focuser.html

What I forgot to say was a warning.

I can't remember what forum he was on but a chap complained most annoyed that Vixen were a bad company" because they did not say that the screw holes in their tube rings went "all the way through" ????

Personally I have not found any that do not ?, so that people can mod/add components if needed, but no matter what people told him, he was adamant that because his scope was damaged due to using long bolts that he just kept screwing until tight, it was Vixens fault.

REMEMBER to measure depths of anything that relates to work being done where damage can happen.