LewisM
21-03-2013, 09:57 PM
I was offered an older VC200L last week for a very good price - $450, including postage from Vic to here in QLD. Seller (an IIS member) did mention it had some issues - finder rear lens cell displaced, focuser issues, and seriously out of collimation. I took the gamble, since I was intending to probably modify it anyway, so what the heck.
It turned up today, triple boxed (in an OLD R200SS box mind you :) ), lots of bubble wrap.
First thing I removed was the finder scope and bracket. Indeed, it seemed like it had been dropped. I was not too concerned, as I have 2 spare old Vixen 6x30 finder scopes and brackets anyway, but decided to have a crack at it. The plastic housing DID eventually come off with some careful torsional twisting and unscrewing. I chased one line of thread a little, then voila! She screwed back in just like new! Checked it out against one of my spares, and it is even a little sharper picture than my others :) LOL
Then unwrapped the beast herself. OLD style alright, with the OLD decals, the piggyback SOLID mount on the rear cell, and all magnificent Vixen hammertone green cast parts (I love hammertone green). Not a scratch on the OTA, main mirror CLEAN and not even looking like any deterioration whatsoever, same with the secondary. I was rightly happy by now.
Went to the focuser - the pinion was bent (NOTE - I said WAS - it's straight now :) ) There's a small chip taken out of one of the rack's "teeth", so I took the drawtube out, and CAREFULLY filed and wet-stoned the rack - turned out perfectly, and after adjusting engagement height via the pinion cover screws, it's pretty schmick - not perfect - still feel a LITTLE bind when it passes the damaged point, but more than acceptable (until I can purchase a new or 2nd hand replacement anyway).
Integral field flattener was covered in drawtube grease "spray", so some careful cleaning with isopropanone and then some Bintel UHTC cleaner saw it good as new.
Collimation - yeah, it's out alright - with the visual back removed (looking down the drawtube), I can see perhaps 95% of the secondary at best - It's off to the left in a big way. I am just HOPING there are no sheared collimation bolts from whatever harsh drop this girl had (enough to shear one of the dual point eyepiece screws off). I'll TRY to collimate it roughly tonight before a friend and I do it at Sirius in Brisbane at the Saturday get-together. At worst, I'll check if there are any sus collimation bolts, that at least my mate Hugh can probably replace for me if need be. The main LOOKS secure, so it's not flopping around, and the secondary too - I just think it got the jolt of a lifetime.
All in all, for $450 I could not go wrong! If it has problems, it will be the source of parts for a custom build. If it's all OK, it's going to get used as is :)
Thanks to Peter again! She'll see again mate.
It turned up today, triple boxed (in an OLD R200SS box mind you :) ), lots of bubble wrap.
First thing I removed was the finder scope and bracket. Indeed, it seemed like it had been dropped. I was not too concerned, as I have 2 spare old Vixen 6x30 finder scopes and brackets anyway, but decided to have a crack at it. The plastic housing DID eventually come off with some careful torsional twisting and unscrewing. I chased one line of thread a little, then voila! She screwed back in just like new! Checked it out against one of my spares, and it is even a little sharper picture than my others :) LOL
Then unwrapped the beast herself. OLD style alright, with the OLD decals, the piggyback SOLID mount on the rear cell, and all magnificent Vixen hammertone green cast parts (I love hammertone green). Not a scratch on the OTA, main mirror CLEAN and not even looking like any deterioration whatsoever, same with the secondary. I was rightly happy by now.
Went to the focuser - the pinion was bent (NOTE - I said WAS - it's straight now :) ) There's a small chip taken out of one of the rack's "teeth", so I took the drawtube out, and CAREFULLY filed and wet-stoned the rack - turned out perfectly, and after adjusting engagement height via the pinion cover screws, it's pretty schmick - not perfect - still feel a LITTLE bind when it passes the damaged point, but more than acceptable (until I can purchase a new or 2nd hand replacement anyway).
Integral field flattener was covered in drawtube grease "spray", so some careful cleaning with isopropanone and then some Bintel UHTC cleaner saw it good as new.
Collimation - yeah, it's out alright - with the visual back removed (looking down the drawtube), I can see perhaps 95% of the secondary at best - It's off to the left in a big way. I am just HOPING there are no sheared collimation bolts from whatever harsh drop this girl had (enough to shear one of the dual point eyepiece screws off). I'll TRY to collimate it roughly tonight before a friend and I do it at Sirius in Brisbane at the Saturday get-together. At worst, I'll check if there are any sus collimation bolts, that at least my mate Hugh can probably replace for me if need be. The main LOOKS secure, so it's not flopping around, and the secondary too - I just think it got the jolt of a lifetime.
All in all, for $450 I could not go wrong! If it has problems, it will be the source of parts for a custom build. If it's all OK, it's going to get used as is :)
Thanks to Peter again! She'll see again mate.