Vixen older style alt-az few questions

[NCRAW]

Hi all

I bought an older style vixen alt-az from another member and have a few questions hope you can point me in the right direction:

1) I have a Celestron Onyx 80ED which has the camera style dove tail with 1/4”-20 screw. I don’t want to go rings and was wondering what adaptor should I use (or maybe I need two) to attach it to the mount.

Here is a link to scope

https://astronomy.com/-/media/import...onyx_80edf.pdf

2) what would be a good tripod for this mount? The biggest I’m planning to go would be a takahashi 4” (my dream scope to own). It will be visual only no AP.

3) is there something I can use to get fast alt adjustment/quick release? Looks like I have to have a spanner with me at all times.

4) can I get shorter slow control knobs? Are they standard in terms of connection? Any specific ones I should look for?

5) I would like to get new wing nuts for the tripod bolts. Anyone knows the size and pitch? They look like brass ones with plastic cover

Many thanks.

[WynneP (Peter)]

You should be able to get shorter ones from scope shops. I got mine from Andrews Comms and they appear to be about half the length of those shown. (Must have originally been for a longer/high-f-number refractor).
I suspect that they are all a "standard" size and so interchangeable.

Peter

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

I have one of these mounts with an original Custom 60L on it. Yes it uses rings which are clamped to the end of the short bar. The only way you could use your 1/4 20 screw mount is to fix it to yet another aluminium plate the same length as the mount plate and use two bolts perhaps with wing nuts to fix it to that plate. This mount has limited slow motion movement, and has to be locked in azimuth to obtain that slow motion control. I suggest you make your own wood tripod for it. I use the Vixen one but have fixed the height at half way up and used through bolts in the legs to gain more rigidity.
I should add that the altitude should be set at such tension that the mount will swing up and down in altitude with a firm push. It should then hold so you can use the slow motion control.

[NCRAW]

Originally Posted by The Mekon

I have one of these mounts with an original Custom 60L on it. Yes it uses rings which are clamped to the end of the short bar. The only way you could use your 1/4 20 screw mount is to fix it to yet another aluminium plate the same length as the mount plate and use two bolts perhaps with wing nuts to fix it to that plate. This mount has limited slow motion movement, and has to be locked in azimuth to obtain that slow motion control. I suggest you make your own wood tripod for it. I use the Vixen one but have fixed the height at half way up and used through bolts in the legs to gain more rigidity.
I should add that the altitude should be set at such tension that the mount will swing up and down in altitude with a firm push. It should then hold so you can use the slow motion control.

Thank you for that. I saw a few adaptors having had a second look but want something not only locks to the thread but also slides in for a secure lock.

[NCRAW]

Originally Posted by WynneP

You should be able to get shorter ones from scope shops. I got mine from Andrews Comms and they appear to be about half the length of those shown. (Must have originally been for a longer/high-f-number refractor).
I suspect that they are all a "standard" size and so interchangeable.

Peter

Thanks Pete

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

Not sure what you have in mind for an adaptor plate, but this is my mount and tripod. As you can see I use a short fixed handle for the azimuth slow motion. My tripod I have limited to a height of 105cm, so I can easily move the whole scope and tripod through doorways. Can give you tips on tripod building if you wish.