Advice on dilapidated CGE Mount

[Simon_W (Simon)]

Gday IIS legends,

I have gotten to the point where I need to move on some of the astro equipment I have acquired over the years.

Some time ago, I purchased a dilapidated Celestron CGE mount (along with some other tired equipment) from a family friend, and I would now like to part with it. I would like some advice on whether I can expect to sell it, or am I better off to try and donate it to a local society?

The mount unfortunately has never worked while I have owned it. It is exceptionally heavy and I believe it is the original CGE version. I have the legs and the counterweight holder rod that comes with it, and all the internal electronics seem intact. Unfortunately, I don't have the hand controller, power supply, or even the ethernet cables that run to each motor. I believe the owner before me was about to upgrade to bendun cable kit (https://bendun.net/RA-DEC-CABLE-KITS.html), as the board that connects the stepper motors to the main board is separate (in good condition). Both RA and DEC rotate freely when disengaged so they're not seized. It looks to me like a great mount, much bigger than the AZ-eq6 I use, and I would love to see it go to a good home and have another life.

Looking forward to any input.

Kindest Regards
Simon

For context, I did manage to revive some aged and fungus-ridden optics that I also received, and have got great use out of them, but my electronics patience fails me so I cannot invest the time into getting this wonderful mount up and running again.

[Davros (Lauren)]

Surely someone clever with keeping the smoke in electrical systems could bring it back to life. It deserves a monster Newtonian riding on it.

[ChrisV (Chris)]

That looks like a great beginning for an Onstep project! assuming the mechanics are okay and just need some TLC. I'd be tempted but have a family of old scopes that have undergone Onstep surgery ...

Put it up for sale. There's plenty out there who'd be interested

[AlexN]

I know a guy who might be interested in taking on a restoration project...

These CGE mounts were a weapon in their day - based pretty heavily of the Losmandy G11.

Prior to the CGE, Losmandy produced G-11's for celestron that were branded as the Celestron CG-11, with a little subtext on the side of the mount (By Losmandy). I have one and its an absolutely brilliant mount. The CGE is a more 'end user friendly' version, with the motors moved into the mount housings, and less external componentry like the Losmandy Gemini system, where your motors are external to the mount casing, the computer is a separate unit that mounts to the tripod's integrated pier...

As Chris said - an OnStep conversion would do away with all the internal electronics, and provide a direct USB connection.

These mounts were sold carying C14's - and are remarkably stable with something like a 10" SCT/RC/Newtonian or 6" APO on them.