|
Hi Dave, I wouldn't fret too much, it not difficult, tho Im not from the Peel Region WA, but cleaning scope optics is very common practice in astro community, most warnings of seeking experience help is to have peeps aware of just a couple of basic precautions. 1st is, Not to use strong solvent cleaners on optic surfaces - recommendation of a camera lens cleaner is fine with corrector lenses as on your C8, tho don't use it on you main mirror - main mirror if you decide to clean is done in warm water with a couple drops of dish detergent, and only very lightly swished with a cotton ball while mirror is totally submerged, then rinced of well with tap water, the rinced again well with distilled or clean rain water !
With taking off the corrector lens, youll need a very well fitting allan key wrench, if that's what needed, - mount the scope so that it is pointed slightly up any amount is fine, 20-40degs is ok, undo the screws around the corrector holder ring - Mark the ring at the 12' O'clock position before taking off, move the ring away a little at the 12 0clock top and mark the mirror in the same 12 oclock point & also mark the Tube at 12 oclock - these are you reference point to reassemble correctly . .
Clean your mirror this way ; in a cool shady place, inside house rather than outside to avoid dust in wind etc, using a camera lens cloth or clean 'micro fibre' cloth and camera lens spray cleaner.
Avoid spraying the Secondary Mirror with lens spray cleaner, ) I usually cover the 2ndary with a pressure pack lid while I spray, then take it away !
Spray lens very lightly with cleaner, don't soak it, just a quick spray to form a light mist all over, then promptly tho lightly with the lens cloth, start from the center of lens with a spiral motion to the outside, and that's it. don't rub as you might with getting a dry bug off your car windscreen - if you have a stubborn mark, maybe use a cotton bud, and spray cleaner onto the bud so its wet, and dab the spot a few times and allow time between dabs 3-5secs for spot to absorb the cleaner, if after a few times, try a little pressure with cotton bud to see if spot is moving, if so, promptly spray lens spot area again and wipe away to the outside edge with lens cloth, if spot remains, leave it there as it wont effect performance much at all if any !
Reassemble with care lining up your marks and all should be fine - tho, don't over tighten the screws as may crack the corrector, hand firm is all it needs...
Hope this is usefull
Rgrds
|