Tak collimation issues (new thread)

Exfso (Peter) · #1 28-09-2011, 09:59 AM

This is a follow on from my original thread which seems to have expired. The TOA130 is now winging its way back to Japan after the company in Australia stuffed it up. This is now in the hands of Consumer affairs, not holding my breath though. The Tak factory viewed the star test I did after the Aust company had 2 goes at it, and their response was, "maybe ok for amateurs, but certainly would not pass the Tak factory quality inspection". It has been an expensive exercise, but I have learned one thing, dont let Amateurs get their hands on Takahashi equipment, they have no idea what they are doing. At least I know that it will come back from Takahashi in new condition. The fact that the Aust distributor of Takahashi recommended this company certainly does little for their reputation. In the words of the guy I communicated with at Takahashi, very few people outside of Takahashi know how to collimate these refractors. The mere fact that there are 6 collimating screws should indicate that it is very complicated.

desler · #2 28-09-2011, 11:25 AM

Pete,

Mate, what can one say, In one way I'm happy that your going to finally resolve the issue, but, what a headache! and costly exercise.

Just hope she comes back as good as new and all goes well. Do you know yet how long it will take to fix?

Darren

Exfso (Peter) · #3 28-09-2011, 12:24 PM

Darren, it should be in Japan by the end of the week, reckon I should have it back in around a fortnight. They will have to check everything as the clowns that worked on it managed to loosen the focuser, they also disassembled the entire lens cell without me asking, all I wanted was for them to collimate it

. They also decided to clean the optics as well, did a hash job as well I noticed smudges on the optics when it came back from them. So Takahashi will have to give it a 100,000km service I reckon

At least Takahashi are "real professionals".
I have sent numerous emails to the company concerned and they just refuse to answer them. Looks like arrogance has kicked in. Hopefully the Office of Consumer and Business affairs will stir up some action. After all I paid money for services that were not performed correctly and the intitial problems were not fixed, if anything the problems have become worse. I know the first time the scope was returned to me, it was totally unusable, they said the front element had become loose in the cell, yeah right, who had the cell to bits. If they knew what they were doing this would not have happened, god knows what sort of other mischief they have caused. Not to mention the grief that I am getting from "she who must be obeyed"

desler · #4 28-09-2011, 12:40 PM

Not long to SV mate and you can get a respite hahaha.

Keep on consumer affairs, this shouldn't be aloud to just be forgotten.

Take it easy.

Darren

Exfso (Peter) · #5 28-09-2011, 03:07 PM

Thanks Darren, about time I had a change of luck.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #6 28-09-2011, 03:48 PM

Dammit Peter - I'll definitely never send anything to this mob for "adjustment". That probably goes for buying anything either. I can't believe the callous indifference. I sincerely hope that they see this and offer to pay for your extra trouble. Not likely by the sounds of it though.

I trust the scope will come back in pristine alignment - and with sparkly-clean optics. At least it is now it the best hands it could be.

mill (Martin) · #7 28-09-2011, 03:52 PM

Peter let me tell you that that tak has been very taksing and been collecting loads of frequent flyer points.

I just hope that this will be the last time the tak has to get operated on and it will be perfect when you get it back

Hagar (Doug) · #8 28-09-2011, 04:21 PM

Mate, you should start saving for 2 new purchases, maybe 3.
Firstly a frequent flyer membership for this scope. This could give you some benefit.
Next a nice glass case so you can mount this scope above the mantle piece where it can't hurt itself.
Lastly, buy another scope for everyday use.

I hope the trip to Japan gets it all fixed and returned safely to you.
PS. Try to make sure it doesn't come back during a customs strike or bagage handler strike. You might have it back by SV camp if all goes well.
Good luck Pete.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #9 28-09-2011, 04:27 PM

After all this, I firmly believe that Takahashi should look for and appoint someone new to distribute their equipment here - and make sure that they are trained to be able to maintain it locally for us. The incumbent supplier should not merely be pointing you to companies who misrepresent themselves. Having to ship your scope back to Japan is ridiculous!

Exfso (Peter) · #10 28-09-2011, 04:47 PM

Chris, you are spot on, but for some reason, Takahashi refuses to set anyone else up in Australia despite the inability of the current regime to be able to do follow up maintenance/repairs. Someone I know has already offered to do so but was told by Takahashi that they only have one distributor per country. A pity really.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #11 28-09-2011, 05:34 PM

Maybe a petition to Takahashi is in order.

Exfso (Peter) · #12 28-09-2011, 05:47 PM

I reckon that is a top idea Chris...

gregbradley · #13 28-09-2011, 07:43 PM

Wow, is this the same scope that you were trying to handle about 2 years ago on the Tak Uncensored Group?

Is this still unhandled after all this time?

Whoa.

Greg.

Exfso (Peter) · #14 28-09-2011, 09:32 PM

Greg, the same scope, but that time it got sprayed with insect repellant at Snake Valley and the optics were damaged.(not by me I might add). I seem to have a lot of bad luck with this scope. When collimated it cant be faulted though. This time all my fault though, I removed my guide scope and did not have the clutches done up tight enough and the assembly being very countweight heavy bought the scope up to the vertical when the roof of my obs was closed, the dew shield hit the roof quite hard before I could do anything about it. One to remember in future. Purely an accident.

Exfso (Peter) · #15 28-09-2011, 09:41 PM

Just for information, this 130 is not my original one, that was replaced by Takahashi as it had a faulty set of optics, there was some pinching going on and they were really great about it, no questions asked, they just sent me a new one. That all happened around 5 years ago, it was done under warranty.

gregbradley · #16 28-09-2011, 11:42 PM

I see. That's good Tak replaced the original pinched scope. This was the one I remember you had trouble with.

Greg.

Exfso (Peter) · #17 29-09-2011, 11:55 AM

Just been advised by the freight company that the scope arrives in Japan today, wow, that is quick...

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #18 29-09-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exfso

Chris, you are spot on, but for some reason, Takahashi refuses to set anyone else up in Australia despite the inability of the current regime to be able to do follow up maintenance/repairs. Someone I know has already offered to do so but was told by Takahashi that they only have one distributor per country. A pity really.

I know of at least two Takahashi dealers in the USA (granted, they have a larger population therefore a larger potential customer base)...so that line from Takahashi doesn't really make sense...maybe someone doesn't want the competition.

Exfso (Peter) · #19 30-09-2011, 12:52 AM

Hans, I believe you have hit the nail spot on the head mate.

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #20 30-09-2011, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

I know of at least two Takahashi dealers in the USA (granted, they have a larger population therefore a larger potential customer base)...so that line from Takahashi doesn't really make sense...maybe someone doesn't want the competition.

There are a few dealers in the USA, but import, distribution and warranty work is all done through Texas Nautical Repair (TNR).
They're pretty-sodding-hopeless too!