Update: Out with the scope tonight after some mods. The optics is awesome! I have never seen stars so clean pinpoint in any reflector. Seeing is pretty good tonight too. I'm sure the pyrex mirror helps too, because despite dropping temps stars show clean Airy disks at 360x. I did fit a fan though, but have not been using it except briefly before sunset.
OTOH, I treated the sliding surfaces with Dry Glide (spray on dry lubricant). Azimuth is good (placed a thin plastic washer in the centre also) but altitude is sticky still. I think I'll have to replace the nylon bearing surfaces with teflon. The tube also needs rebalancing for telrad + ra-finder + heavy EPs.
I de and regreased the R&P focuser with while Li grease, tightened the top teflon slider supports to minimise image shift and fitted the Orion Accufocuser. There is still a bit of image shift and I don't like the motorised focuser. It's slow and tedious. The 10:1 GSO Crayford is much better IMO.
EP tray works for slim EPs only, plossls orthos but useless for big EPs like XWs, Stratus, big Naglers etc.
I'm really looking forward to Saturn.
