LX200 computer drive advice

[Space Cadet]

Hi
I am looking at an 8" LX200 classic that the owner says has popped a three legged device on the computer board. I hear tell the original power packs were a disaster and handsets and tantalums are all common issues, so i am worried i could be buying something even an old tech might not be able to fix. Moving it around by hand is unappealing!

Also is there a way to tell the age from the serial number 126731
It is a 24 hr drive away so checking before buying is a bit tricky! :)
Any words of wisdom, would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

[Wavytone]

The only value in this is the OTA which can be removed from the fork and remounted on say a Skywatcher EQ6-R. To do this you have to remove the corrector plate (easy), drill some holes to fit a dovetail bar and replace the corrector.

The fork mount and electronics belong in the trash, frankly.

[billdan]

The "three legged device" is most likely a voltage regulator. Which would be a simple solder in replacement, but you don't know what other parts may have been damaged at the same time without an ohm-meter test..

If he is offering to you cheap, go for it, bearing in mind only the OTA is probably worth the money.

EDIT: A 24 hour drive away, does that mean you have to drive from Adelaide to Cairns to have a look?

Bill

[AndrewJ]

Gday Greg
Agree, it sounds like a VR, but if you can get them to send a piccy, there are lots of people who can help identify it, esp on the Yahoo sites.
Most people just replace the caps anyway, and there are lots of links on the site to what and where these are.
Also, if its dirt cheap, there is a vendor in the states who supplies a kit to replace the electronics with the later Audiostar. Not cheap but may be cost effective with a cheap mount.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LX200Autostar/info
Very simple to install, and ( with you being in Oz and a Tech ), im sure the vendor would provide info on how to test the motors first, just to ensure they are OK

Andrew

[jenchris]

Deforking is a good way to go.
I have a wide dovetail on one of mine that does not require removal of the corrector or drilling and tapping

[Merlin66]

When I was using the Meade SCT's the first thing I did was to replace the capacitors. Unfortunately when they blow in the handcontroller "The brick", they also do irreparable damage to the internal connection(s) ribbon.
It's very straight forward to de-fork the LX200 - I've done it many time and have a write-up available....just the added cost of a EQ mount.
(The 8" SCT sits nicely on a HEQ5 mount)

[jenchris]

eq6 works well too

[Space Cadet]

Thank you for advice all

So as is, what would be a fair price?

And yes i am in Adelaide and it is in QLD! :)
Are the old Meade OTA's that much better than Celestron?
The later is probably more within my shoestring/dental floss budget!