Celestron diagonal question

[Spidy]

Can anyone tell me if the telescope side of the Celestron diagonal (https://www.celestron.com/products/mirror-diagonal-with-xlt-coatings-2in?_pos=3&_sid=846d6529d&_ss=r) can be unscrewed (the bit that screws to the visual back and to the triangular diagonal)?

[Sunfish]

My very old Celestron diagonal is one piece but my Baader comes apart . It is fairly clear I think. Maybe post an image.

[Spidy]

There's a photo to the link in the message. There is a crisscross pattern on it. Makes me think it's removable.


Edit: Not sure what happened to the link. Here it is again:


https://www.opticscentral.com.au/celestron-2-mirror-diagonal-with-xlt-coatings.html?___SID=U#.X0NVNTURU-U

[Merlin66]

Phil,
The standard SCT diagonal will fit the rear thread of the SCT.
The knurled floating ring is not removable, just ther to fit the SCT thread.

[Spidy]

Damn.


Thanks Ken. The reason I ask is because I want to use it with the Baader cliplock system.



Looks like I'll be buying something like this (https://www.ontariotelescope.com/2-Mirror-Diagonal-with-2-Twist-Lock_p_376.html), or similar.

[Sunfish]

Usually a separate Celestron visual back will accept an adapter for an eye piece clamp or any other type of adaptor. Perhaps you should use an SCT visual back or SCT adaptor which is separate from the diagonal.

[Spidy]

I've already bought the Baader Clip-lock adapter, hence the question.



Apparently it comes with an adapter that can be used for my purposes.

[Don Pensack]

LOL.
The chrome adapter is supposed to be threaded into the body of the diagonal in the place of the SCT-threaded one. It is not supposed to be threaded into the ring on the SCT attachment.
First, unscrew the SCT part with its ring, then thread the chome barrel into the diagonal body. By so doing, you convert an SCT threded diagonal to a refractor style and it yields a larger clear aperture through the diagonal.

[Spidy]

Thanks Don. That was my original question but no one could answer. The small crisscrossed grip is difficult to grab and the thing is on there tighter than a.....well, we all know the metaphor.



So you can confirm this part is actually removable?

[Don Pensack]

It's removable or they wouldn't have packed the chrome barrel with the diagonal.
Look carefully at the inside around where the SCT barrel would thread. If you don't see setscrews, then it's just on there tight. After all, the body is not machined in one piece with the barrel, like TeleVue, so they threaded it in at some point. I don't recall any setscrews in that unit.
You might try a pair of rubber gloves to increase your hand strength or use a strap wrench. Either way, it'll unscrew. The thread in the body is the same 2" SCT thread as the ring on the SCT thread-on tube. That's why the chrome barrel threaded into the ring.

[Outcast]

Hi Spidy,

My GSO 2" diagonal had a similar arrangement & it was tighter than tight...

I ended up having to use a set of grips & even with some padding, I managed to do some minor damage to the aesthetics of the knurled ring but, that was the only way it was coming off...

I didn't post earlier as I wasn't sure if the Celestron one would be removable but, after seeing Don's post, thought I would share my experience with the GSO one.

Cheers

[Spidy]

Thanks Don and Carlton, appreciate the responses.


Looks like I'll be using the strap wrench I used last night to remove the SCT adapter plate to install the .7 reducer.


I'll report back tomorrow.

[Spidy]

Don and Carlton you are indeed correct, the piece does unscrew, with some persuasion. ;)