Meade LX200 Defork

[l3gendluk3 (Luke)]

Hi,
I'm looking to defork my Meade LX200 Classic and put it on a nice paramount, but I have no idea what to do when it comes to deforking the OTA. Does anyone have any good guides available?

Thanks,

Luke

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Here's something I put together a couple of years ago...may be of assistance.

[l3gendluk3 (Luke)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Here's something I put together a couple of years ago...may be of assistance.

Thanks for the guide! I just have one question. The small hex screw of the 3 on the stub rusted over and when I tried to undo it, it stripped the inside of the head. It is now too big for the allen key I was using but too small for the size above. Does anyone know how I would take it off now?

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

A steady hand and a high speed drill bit is the easiest way to get the screw detached.
just be sure of your angle when you drill

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by l3gendluk3

Thanks for the guide! I just have one question. The small hex screw of the 3 on the stub rusted over and when I tried to undo it, it stripped the inside of the head. It is now too big for the allen key I was using but too small for the size above. Does anyone know how I would take it off now?

There are three screws each side to remove. They are the ones with the slotted holes. However the pre-load on the thrusts will generally stop the tube sliding out. I usually put an adjustable spreader on the forks to relieve this pressure but it may be necessary to loosen the four bolts that hold one of the fork arms to the base.

If you don't use good quality allen keys the there is always the risk of damaging the hex hole in the screw. If you get one of those screwdriver kits they usually have star keys that are slightly over the size of the hole. I have had great success with a star key that can have its star points forced into the hex corners with a little persuasion and get a very positive grip that should do the job.

Barry

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Agree with the star key idea . I've done this myself.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

How did you go?
Manage to get the damaged screw out?

[l3gendluk3 (Luke)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

How did you go?
Manage to get the damaged screw out?

Yes thank you, I managed to get it out this morning! One of the accessory screws was so rusted that we had to saw a line through the middle and take it out with a flat head. Thank god the dovetail has spares.

Luke