just on a side note, it was beautiful and clear when i got here, now it is cloudy ... that means i have sorted the issue. so what happened is that likely during my 400 point Tpoint model 2 nights back, moving back and forth the telescope slipped in the losmandy dovetail. i tightened it pretty good when i first put it on but it must not have been enough. the scope itself was hanging half off with the cabled preventing it from going further, not sure if it would have come off if they were not attached, probably not. the movement of the scope obviously put it way out of balance and when it went to home it got to a critical point the gears just slipped. luckily it was only really on the Dec axis. i have tightened the bolts up something savage now, and put a couple of cable ties in just for assurance. luckily it looks like the scope never actually hit anything. while clearly it is not great, it could have been a lot worse. i will sleep a lot better tonight !!
so, 2 hours back to Sydney now.
just on a side note, it was beautiful and clear when i got here, now it is cloudy ... that means i have sorted the issue. so what happened is that likely during my 400 point Tpoint model 2 nights back, moving back and forth the telescope slipped in the losmandy dovetail. i tightened it pretty good when i first put it on but it must not have been enough. the scope itself was hanging half off with the cabled preventing it from going further, not sure if it would have come off if they were not attached, probably not. the movement of the scope obviously put it way out of balance and when it went to home it got to a critical point the gears just slipped. luckily it was only really on the Dec axis. i have tightened the bolts up something savage now, and put a couple of cable ties in just for assurance. luckily it looks like the scope never actually hit anything. while clearly it is not great, it could have been a lot worse. i will sleep a lot better tonight !!
so, 2 hours back to Sydney now.
That's a relief - great news, Aidan. Hope you you get a chance soon to use that lovely scope. (I had no idea you were so far from your observatory).
Cheers,
Richard
thanks all for the concern, it is such a relief, i was so worried when i was opening the door to the obs but i think the outcome is about as good as i could have hoped for.
tell me about it Marcus, seeing the scope the way it was freaked me out!
great to hear it is all ok, could have been a massive disaster!!
strange how it happened hopefully you can problem solve that so it doesn't happen again!
the telescope slipped in the losmandy dovetail. i tightened it pretty good when i first put it on but it must not have been enough. the scope itself was hanging half off with the cabled preventing it from going further
I had this happenning to me once. The whole refractor slid down the clamshell. The only thing that stopped it from going further was the dewshield. The tube must have got smaller when it got cold.
I had this happenning to me once. The whole refractor slid down the clamshell. The only thing that stopped it from going further was the dewshield. The tube must have got smaller when it got cold.
Aidan,
I have fitted a safely clamp to my Losmandy dovetail on the C11 to make 100% sure it can't slip....you may want to consider this option as well.
Aidan,
I have fitted a safely clamp to my Losmandy dovetail on the C11 to make 100% sure it can't slip....you may want to consider this option as well.
I looped 2 zip ties through the versa plate and the ota which should stop any movement. Do you have any pics of the clamps , I would like to see the setup
Aidan,
The attached image shows the dovetail clamp - just to the left of the orange Geoptik saddle.
It works 110% and allows me to remove the OTA etc. and then reposition (for balance ) safely.
I see, the problem I have is that the versa plate is much bigger than my dovetail bar. I can only screw up 2 of the 3 bolts. For now everything is secure, I will investigate a more permanent option.
I see, the problem I have is that the versa plate is much bigger than my dovetail bar. I can only screw up 2 of the 3 bolts. For now everything is secure, I will investigate a more permanent option.
I think all Losmandy plates come with a little screw that stops the dovetail from slipping too far. I always use it with my C11. It weighs more than a dead donkey after all the mods. Once I had a nightmare that it did slip off the end while I was setting up and I clearly remember the noise of it crashing in the grass, with corrector, primary and all and I woke up in a cold sweat.
I think all Losmandy plates come with a little screw that stops the dovetail from slipping too far. I always use it with my C11. It weighs more than a dead donkey after all the mods. Once I had a nightmare that it did slip off the end while I was setting up and I clearly remember the noise of it crashing in the grass, with corrector, primary and all and I woke up in a cold sweat.
I will have a look into that, I just can't imagine what it would be like if the scope actually fell! It is a bit butt clenching just thinking about it now.
But the scope nearly slipping off the mount truly is the stuff of nightmares 
You're a lucky man!
but i think the outcome is about as good as i could have hoped for. 
