[JimmyH155]

I am a bit confused about collimation procedures! Having become the proud owner of a Lightbridge 12”, I have used it a few times and have been reading all sorts of conflicting advice about how to collimate, when to collimate etc. When I first assembled the scope, I peered into the eyepiece hole as instructed in the Instruction Manual and couldn’t find anything wrong at all. Next outside to the star test, and last night (at last the Moon has gone) I put a 12mm eyepiece in and pointed at delta Crux. I defocused as instructed, and on one side of the focus, the black bit was dead centre, but when I turned to the other side of focus, it was a little bit out to one side. Does this mean I should fiddle about with the primary mirror a bit? The stars still look in focus ok – ie the Jewell box looks terrific and even the tiny stars look in focus…
Now my question…. In the Dec 2005 AS & T there was an article on collimating your Dob. The writer said that the 3 locking screws on the primary mirror are not needed and should be ignored. They even say take them out altogether. Other instructions on the Web, say loosen all three lock screws first before adjusting. The Meade Instruction Manual fails to mention what to do with the locking screws. As for the secondary, (Heaven forbid I should have to do that!), I have read how you must never touch the central screw, how you Must always undo it before adjusting the other three – which is correct? As for the primary, the mirror surely cant only just rest on the spring adjusters can it – it would bounce around as you turned the scope…..

HELP / ADVICE please.