I ordered a pinion, metal focuser knob and the Vixen dual-speed knob from Steve Massey a while ago to retrofit onto my FL102S for fine focus control. The items arrived today.
The pinion is the same ratio/mesh, so drops straight in. Steve also included a new spring plate, but after comparing the old and the new, there is NO difference except in colour, so I fitted the old hammertone green back on it. I then installed the cast-aluminium focuser knob - these items came from an AX103S I believe. I then fitted the dual speed knob, which is an absolute cinche! It seems Vixen has redesigned them since the previous type I had (which was a little fiddly with tiny grub screws hidden under BIGGER grub screws etc) - I had it on and tuned in about 1 minute.
The dual speed adaptor works a treat. As the Vixen instructions state, the single speed tension IS increased when this is fitted, so it SEEMS stiffer to rotate - a good thing in some ways. The fine focus is sheer velvet - MANY times better than any Moonlite dual speed I ever used (and the single stage feels about the same though).
So, the old FL102S now has a precision focuser on it, in my opinion nicer than a Moonlite by a good margin (and cheaper) This Vixen always came to focus PRECISELY - I am just hoping for that TOUCH finer sharpness
Oh, and since I ALWAYS am seated LEFT of the telescope, I put the dual speed on the LEFT side (as opposed to usual orientation), so I didn't have to reach ACROSS the telescope
Yes, I saved the old pinion safely in a box with other "Do not sell/discard" items
. The stainless steel custom knobs I had made for the old pinion now live on a VC200L.
