Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > Equipment Discussions
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 23-01-2012, 08:38 PM
brian nordstrom (As avatar)
Registered User

brian nordstrom is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 4,374
GSO 10 to 1 focuser.

Hi , I have a GSO 10 to 1 on my ED80 and its been there now for about 4 years .
right from day 1 it was usable but not very smooth in use .
After about a year I had, had enough of this feel as no amount of adjustement would make it feel nicer , or smoother , oh yes it was smooth without a diagonal or eyepiece fitted but as soon as a little weight was added it felt horrible
( not as bad as my 127 triplets focuser , but close , I now have a FT3035 R&P on that scope , but thats another story ) ,
so I spent a little time playing around with the adjustements and changed the goop the chinese use for grease and that helped a bit , but it was to fiddly to get right and the smallest knock caused it to revert back to the grumbler !! .
In the end I replaced the 3 ball bearings that it was made with , and what a joke these are , mild steel and non hardened !!! no wonder it was not smooth.
A quick measuire up and I found a NGN ball race with the same sized , accuratly sized , hardened balls , those with white lithium grease made the feel very good with my lighter eyepieces , but with my Naglers and humongous celestron Axiom LX31mm the grumbles returned , bugger !!
Then I found this little gem of info on the net . I cant remember where but here it is for all to see..

Rub candle wax into the shaft where the top rollers run and then down the bottom where the focus knob runs ,wind it in and out rub some more , use pressure , dont be shy , in and out a little more , wipe off the axcess and WOAW !! the grumbles are gone I could not bieleve the feel , almost as good as the FT .. well almost but what a differance a little candle wax made .
Give it a go if you have one of these GSO's it is well worth it .
Brian.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (DSC00032 (1000x669).jpg)
55.8 KB30 views
Click for full-size image (DSC00031 (1000x669).jpg)
61.7 KB27 views
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24-01-2012, 12:55 AM
wavelandscott's Avatar
wavelandscott (Scott)
Plays well with others!

wavelandscott is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ridgefield CT USA
Posts: 3,532
I just read the "wax" tip the other day too...I think it was in Sky and Telescope (or Astronomy)...but they were advocating it for mounts as I recall.

Glad it worked out!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 24-01-2012, 07:07 PM
brian nordstrom (As avatar)
Registered User

brian nordstrom is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 4,374
Yes it was , and thanks I could not for the life of me remember where I saw it , alt / az mount movements ? , thanks but it works very well on crawford focuses as well , I hope a few owners give it a go its a good fix.
And very cheep .
brian.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-07-2012, 07:22 AM
silv's Avatar
silv (Annette)
Registered User

silv is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Germany 54°N
Posts: 1,110
half a year with that candle wax in your GSO focuser, Brian,
does it still hold?
or did it crumble or smell rancid?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-07-2012, 11:11 AM
traveller's Avatar
traveller (Bo)
Not enough time and money

traveller is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,133
Quote:
Originally Posted by wavelandscott View Post
I just read the "wax" tip the other day too...I think it was in Sky and Telescope (or Astronomy)...but they were advocating it for mounts as I recall.

Glad it worked out!
Yes, I remember reading it as well, and they also used Chap Stik (lip balm).
Bo
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-07-2012, 11:55 AM
brian nordstrom (As avatar)
Registered User

brian nordstrom is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 4,374
Still good Silv , yep the movements are still smooth , if it does return to grumbles again its cheep and easy to put some more in . .
Its probably due to the fact that it does not get below 25 degrees up here so it stays soft .
I have also seen ,, somewhere that " Chapstick " will do the same thing in colder climates , like NZ .Brrrrrr.
Brian .
Quote:
Originally Posted by silv View Post
half a year with that candle wax in your GSO focuser, Brian,
does it still hold?
or did it crumble or smell rancid?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-07-2012, 03:35 PM
silv's Avatar
silv (Annette)
Registered User

silv is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Germany 54°N
Posts: 1,110
Cheers for the update.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 11:35 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement