Pics: moved altitude bearings on OTA

[bytor666]

Hi there. I've just finished moving the altitude bearings on my telescope tube. Thanks to you guys here on ICE IN SPACE I took up the courage to move them. I recall one person saying "measure twice, cut once." Well this little adage payed off large because the bearings went on perfectly by doing so. I was the person that asked how I should go about doing this in another post of mine on CLOUDY NIGHTS forum. It was all about having my focuser on the right hand side instead of the left where ALL of the focusers seem to be on the Gso scopes, Syntas etc.
I needed to have the focuser and handle to my scope on the right-hand side because my left hand doesn't have a pivot bone in it and it feels uncomfortable to slew the scope with the handle on the left side, so here's a pic of the scope before and after I moved the altitude bearing.. Not only did I move the bearings. I also took up the duty of making my own finderscope rings,I had to also put screws into my telrad because I couldnt find any more of that double-sided tape once I took the other stuff off. Then I had to de-burr all of the excess steel bits once I had drilled 7 or 8 new holes. I then thought about one post I had read about the optics being slightly pinched in the cell and recall that mine probably was and just before I put the mirror back into the tube, I loosened up the mirror clips and you can now place a credit card in between the rubber and mirror surface if you needed to because you can see the small space in between. (I highly recommmend everybody do this , its a little intimidating at first but the mirror doesnt "rattle" in my cell so DO IT!!!).
Well here's the pic of the newly converted scope . Clear skies.

------------------------
Mark
12" Gso Scope

[rmcpb (Rob)]

I like the black square around the eyepiece. Will have to give that a go.

Cheers

[Thiink]

Originally posted by bytor666
I then thought about one post I had read about the optics being slightly pinched in the cell and recall that mine probably was and just before I put the mirror back into the tube, I loosened up the mirror clips and you can now place a credit card in between the rubber and mirror surface if you needed to because you can see the small space in between. (I highly recommmend everybody do this , its a little intimidating at first but the mirror doesnt "rattle" in my cell so DO IT!!!).[/B]

Exactly how tight should the screws in the clips be tightened? Last time I had the mirror out I tightened them back up so they were just nipped once the thread bit, and the clips were holding/contacting the mirror firmly enough so that it didn't move. Is that too tight, or should I loosen them right off? I'm taking the mirror back out again tonight/tomorrow anyway to check how accurate my center spot is now that I have a cheshire in the post (only $29 at Andrews!). I may as well find out how tight the screws are supposed to be now.

Also while the mirror is out it would be a good time to put the Icemods (tm) slew knobs on as well. The idea of metal shavings in my OTA has frightened me up until now, but it won't be so bad if I can do it while the mirror is out (the handle type on your dob reminded me bytor, thanks!). Would sitting the scope upside down with the mirror out be a good idea or is it not worth it.

This should give me something to do while I'm waiting for my board/programmed PIC from FAR to turn up.

[bytor666]

Yea Rob....that's there just for contrast so I have a black background around my eyes.

[bytor666]

Hi simon !!!....as far as how tight the clips should be.....Ill draw you a quick picture to show you how mine are right now ( I actually should have taken a picture of my clips after i loosened them but forgot to....grrrrr....LOL...), don't worry about the metal shavings....just put a towel or something in the tube to catch them as they fall. I was very worried about that too, but now I don't care. I've been modifying my scope ever since i got it in December/2004 !!!...well here's my crummy handiwork at the drawing of my mirror clips....I left about 1/16th of an inch in between the mirror itself and the clips. My mirror doesnt rattle in the cell but even if it does theres no need to worry as long as the clips stop the mirror from falling out, you'll be in business!!!!
-----------------------------
mark
12" CONVERTED GSO SCOPE

[bytor666]

Simon...ok...here's the pic of how your mirror clips should be..cheers!!!
---------------------------
Mark
12" gso scope

[Thiink]

Thanks for the pic, you must have drawn it up pretty damn quick!

If that's how the clips are supposed to be, then mine are way too tight. I'll loosen them off tonight when I get the mirror cell out again. Now to try and get off work early enough to get down to the hardware shop to grab some plastic knobs before they shut! Thanks for the inspiration.

[acropolite (Phil)]

....and where is your Iceinspace sticker Mark???

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Quite right , the mirror clips should NOT be putting any tension on the mirror, and are only there to stop it from falling out.
Incidently the gso scopes normally ship with the mirror clips way too tight, possibly causing astigmatism.

[MintSauce (Gordon)]

iceinspace stickers would be cool.....

great little eyepiece box mod you done there - I remember reading about it (or one like it) before - looks great.

[iceman (Mike)]

iceinspace stickers would be cool.....

So get some!