Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
I have a GSO linear focuser on my SW ED100, replaced the original focuser as the original wasn't able to lift my diagonal, Quark (1.25 lbs) and 174mm cooled (1.25 lbs)
The focuser works fine with a regular 174mm (not cooled about 1/3 lb) but if I put the heavier camera in the train and try to adjust the tension the knobs just spin and if I set it tight enough to lift the train the mini-wheel (10-1) just spins and doesn't move the focuser up, it will move it down so I have to rough focus in past the point of focus and then back it out with the fine focus.
I am aiming up at about a 50 degree or higher angle as I try to image the sun. It works on the level but that is no help.
I am thinking I should dump the GSO for these heavy loads and get a Moonlight. But before I do I thought I would ask around for thoughts and ideas.
I might not always be right but I am never wrong, once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken...
Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #59 Free advice is seldom cheap
"Sometimes having is not so pleasing as wanting, it's not logical but it is true"
Commander Spock
Canon DSLR's R7, R6II, 5D, 7D2, 90D 21 lenses incl. 100-400L mk ii, 70-200L mk iii f/2.8, RF600/11
Lunt LS50 DS, LS80 DS, Lunt 102ED, Stellarvue SV80 APO, Orion ST80, 127 MAK, Skywatcher Evostar 120ED, 102 MAK, Celestron 8" Edge HD, 102AZ
Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
ZWO ASI071MC-cool, ASI174mm, ASI174mm-cool, ASI178MC-cool, ASI290 mini, ASI120MM-S, ASI120MC Revolution Player One mm (178 chip)
You can look to lighten the load - replace the Heavy Diagonal with a Straight Extender.
ES AR152 / ES 80ED Apo / Orion 8in F/3.9 / C9.25-SCT / C6-SCT / C10-NGT / AT6RC / ST-80 / AstroView 90 / Meade 6000 APO 115mm
CGEM (w HyperTune and ADM bling) / 2x CG5-AGT / Forest of Tripod legs / Star Adventurer / Orion EQ-G
550D (Modded-G.Honis) / 60D / 400D / NexImage / NexGuide / Mini 50 SSAG / ST-8300C / ASI120MM-S / ASI1600MM-Cool
Dark Skies in SW CO when I can get there, and badly light polluted backyard when I can't... (Currently Self-Exiled to Muggy Central Florida...)
As I mentioned on the other site, I have the same problem. Although the GSO LF is rated at 8 lbs, mine has trouble holding 4 lbs. Its replacement,a FeatherTouch, shipped yesterday. Also rated at 8lbs, but it is more likely to actually hold 8 lbs.
DSO AP:Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian Astrograph; ATIK 383L+; EFW2 filter wheel; Astrodon Ha,Oiii,LRGB filters; KWIQ/QHY5 guide scope; Planetary AP:Celestron C-11; ZWO ASI120MC; Portable: Celestron C-8 on HEQ5 pro; C-90 on wedge; 20x80 binos; Etc: Canon 350D; Various EPs, etc. Obs: 8' Exploradome; iOptron CEM60 (pier); Helena Observatory (H2O)Astrobin