Trying to get the best of my Celestron Astromaster 130EQ

[West83]

Thanks for the tip, I will do that. You reckon I should flock the focuser tube a well, I saw some doing it.
Not sure if I would know how, and kinda don't feel comfortable removing the secondary mirror and the vanes

[Lady Fraktor]

If you have the light shield a flocking I would say you would need nothing more than making sure the focuser tube interior is well blackened.
Krylon Ultra Flat black works very well as does Chaulkboard flat black paint.

[West83]

Hmm, I think that actually painting the tube interior might be left for another time.
I will go to check the velour flocking material on Monday, and hopefully it will be right. If that will be so, I will buy and try to stick to the interior of the tube. Which means I will have to remove the vanes and secondary. That is a bit scary for me
I hope it will be a noticeable difference.

[Lady Fraktor]

Just take your time and everything will go alright

[West83]

So an update is due I guess. I received the motor focuser, and it doesn't fit, the bracket is the wrong size for my focuser on astromaster. I tried some DIY to strap it on, but ended up damaging my focuser the jagged line which goes along the focuser tube is apparently of rubbish quality and a couple of the notches got skewed so instead of having a great motor focuser and experience, I now have a rubbish focuser which skips a few notches, resulting in a very un-smooth focusing and probably a ruined experience. Will have to see how I can replace that.

Does anybody know if that is possible with tthis scope?

thanks!

[OzEclipse]

So an update is due I guess. I received the motor focuser, and it doesn't fit, the bracket is the wrong size for my focuser on astromaster. I tried some DIY to strap it on, but ended up damaging my focuser the jagged line which goes along the focuser tube is apparently of rubbish quality and a couple of the notches got skewed so instead of having a great motor focuser and experience, I now have a rubbish focuser which skips a few notches, resulting in a very un-smooth focusing and probably a ruined experience. Will have to see how I can replace that.

Does anybody know if that is possible with tthis scope?

thanks!

Replacing the entire focuser is possible with almost any telescope. A good focuser is not cheap but is worthwhile. The cheapest focusers of decent quality are made by companies like Skywatcher, GSO.

This is the Agena page of reflector focusers:
https://agenaastro.com/parts-accessorie ... tml?cat=66
I have the GSO 2" Crayford Focuser for Reflectors - Dual Speed It is of decent not fantastic quality. There are focusers that cost a bit more than your whole telescope. There are some that cost 5-10x the cost of your scope. There is no point over investing in this telescope which is why I'd recommend one of the GSO focusers. Your scope probably doesn't have a big enough diagonal to use a 2" focuser and you will need to enlarge the hole in the tube to fit this unit. You may choose to get the cheaper $79 1.25" single speed focuser. I have not used this model but it looks to be of similar quality to the one I have. All these Crayford focusers move by friction not a rack and pinion gear track. On the focuser between the two focusing knobs, there are two screws. usually, the bottom screw locks the focuser while carefully tightening the top screw adjusts the friction of the roller.

Your telescope comes to a focus at a certain height above the tube surface.
Measure the height of the current focuser tube when the focuser is wound all the way down and when wound up.
Look for a focuser with the same or similar minimum height. If the maximum height doesn't match, this can be handled with something called an extension tube.

With a good smooth focuser, you should not need the motor. I find motor focusing painful because it can take a long time to make a big shift between different eyepiece types. Fine if all your eyepieces are parfocalised (focus at the same point).

Good luck

Joe

[Lady Fraktor]

Astroshop (almost all retailers actually) sell replacement focusers, email them with your telescope model and they should be able to tell you which one to use.

[Lady Fraktor]

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/pr ... ction.html

This focuser should fit your telescope but you may need a base plate for it so contact them and discuss it.

[West83]

Thank you for the replies. I can't order the GSO, since that store is in the US, will have additional expenses, so this one from the teleskop-express might be ok. I have already looked at it, but I also noticed that replacing a focuser on my scope involves cutting the plastic which is covering the base of the focuser opening in the tube, and drilling additional holes in the tube itself. So if I decide to do this I am looking at a whole load of work, and more importantly I lack the proper tools and experience with this. At this point I am inclined to ditch the whole thing and get another scope in the future, when the budget allows for it

[Richard]

Yes sometimes its not worth all the effort and cost to upgrade a budget scope as all the extras add up and eventually its cheaper to get a better scope, I dont know the market in Slovenia but must be better than RSA so a good used scope may be the answer .
I used to have this same scope and the only change I did was to replace the RDF with a cheap 8x30 skywatcher one and then sold it , I think the scope was fine as is but unfortunately a weak mount/tripod did not help

[Lady Fraktor]

Contact TS and see if they possible have a focuser tube or gear rack that will fit in a spare parts drawer, you can sometimes have some luck
If there is a local astronomical society one of their members may be able to help as well.

[West83]

I contacted FLO, hopefully they will get the replacement focuser

I also found some design to create the bracket specifically for the Astromaster 130, just need to find someone locally who can produce it for me Would be great to get it operational.

Thanks for the help everybody!

[Lady Fraktor]

That is great to hear, I am looking forward to your first night out with the new and improved telescope

[West83]

You and me both!

The weather doesn't seem to be willing to play along though, not for the next week or so

Yes sometimes its not worth all the effort and cost to upgrade a budget scope as all the extras add up and eventually its cheaper to get a better scope, I dont know the market in Slovenia but must be better than RSA so a good used scope may be the answer .
I used to have this same scope and the only change I did was to replace the RDF with a cheap 8x30 skywatcher one and then sold it , I think the scope was fine as is but unfortunately a weak mount/tripod did not help

Believe it or not, the market here is almost non-existant. The used scopes are 5-10% cheaper than the new ones, so no real value there, not to mention there is only 5 of them up for sale on the local version of buy/sell website.. I will try to stick with this scope, eventually get another one, but keep this one since it's quite portable

[Lady Fraktor]

I am not sure if it helps much but there is at least one shop still open in Slovenia
http://www.mojteleskop.si/

[West83]

I am familiar with it, I bought some things there. I found that bigger retailers have significantly better prices, wider selection of products and their customer support is better.

But thanks for this