Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

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king_everything
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Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

#1

Post by king_everything »


My kids are just now getting old enough to really appreciate some backyard astronomy and I still have my old Jason 400x Explorer, but years ago, the vertical fine adjustment knob broke.
I'd love to dust it off and get the kids as enthused as I was at their age, but for the life of me, I can't find a replacement for that part. If I understand correctly, Jason was or is a Bushnell subsidiary?
Has anyone had any experience with replacing one of these? Or rigging one together with a trip to Lowes or Home Depot?
What are my options?

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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Hello and welcome King everything :)

A wonderful classic refractor you have! Is it still in good shape?
The knob could possible be have something cobbled together from various parts.

Meade copied many of these telescopes over the years and Telescope Warehouse seems to be able to find these small bits of telescopes for a reasonable cost.
If you are thinking of doing observing on a regular scale, you may want to consider purchasing some tube clamps and dovetail along with a sturdier mount/ tripod.
Scopestuff sells varioius rings and dovetails at good cost.

I you require 0.965" eyepieces some shops still carry the Antares 0.965" Plossl and Siebert Optics still makes this size as well.
Member thefatkitty also have a modification of the drawtube to allow use of more standard 1.25" eyepieces.

Enjoy your telescope and let us know if you have any more questions :)
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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StarBru United States of America
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Re: Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

#3

Post by StarBru »


king_everything wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2020 12:09 am My kids are just now getting old enough to really appreciate some backyard astronomy and I still have my old Jason 400x Explorer, but years ago, the vertical fine adjustment knob broke.
I'd love to dust it off and get the kids as enthused as I was at their age, but for the life of me, I can't find a replacement for that part. If I understand correctly, Jason was or is a Bushnell subsidiary?
Has anyone had any experience with replacing one of these? Or rigging one together with a trip to Lowes or Home Depot?
What are my options?

Image
I think I might have that part! When I get home from work, I will check. If you still need it, I can send it to you. It's not doing me any good!
Thanks!
Bruce

Refractors: Meade AR-5 127mm f/9.3, Meade ST-80 f/5 and Meade 60mm f/12, Jason 60mm f/15 #313, Jason 60mm f/12 #306 S7, Bushnell Sky Chief III 60mm f/15.
Reflectors/Catadioptrics: Meade 10" F/4 Schmidt-Newtonian, Galileo 120mm f/8.3 Newtonian, Meade 2045D 4" f/10 SCT, Meade ETX-90EC f/13.8 & Sarblue 60mm f/12.5 Maksutov-Cassegrains.
Mounts: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro & Meade LXD55 Equatorial mounts, ES Twilight II and Meade 2102 ALT/AZ mounts, a modified 10" SkyQuest Dobsonian mount, various 60mm EQ mounts.
Misc: Celestron 20x80mm binoculars, Revolution II Imager/accessories, & lots of optical accessories/eyepieces.
Projects: 8" f/2.9 and 65mm f/10 reflectors, Dobson-style binocular mirror mount.
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Re: Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

#4

Post by StarBru »


King everything,
I found these 2 vertical fine adjustment knobs. The smaller one is 7 and 1/8" long and the knob is 7/8" wide. The larger is 7 and 1/2" long and the knob is 1" wide. The rods on both fit the screw with the hole in it and I'm not sure what the chrome knob is for?
Let me know what you want, and if you pay for the shipping, it's yours!
Attachments
IMG_20210415_200122945.jpg
Bruce

Refractors: Meade AR-5 127mm f/9.3, Meade ST-80 f/5 and Meade 60mm f/12, Jason 60mm f/15 #313, Jason 60mm f/12 #306 S7, Bushnell Sky Chief III 60mm f/15.
Reflectors/Catadioptrics: Meade 10" F/4 Schmidt-Newtonian, Galileo 120mm f/8.3 Newtonian, Meade 2045D 4" f/10 SCT, Meade ETX-90EC f/13.8 & Sarblue 60mm f/12.5 Maksutov-Cassegrains.
Mounts: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro & Meade LXD55 Equatorial mounts, ES Twilight II and Meade 2102 ALT/AZ mounts, a modified 10" SkyQuest Dobsonian mount, various 60mm EQ mounts.
Misc: Celestron 20x80mm binoculars, Revolution II Imager/accessories, & lots of optical accessories/eyepieces.
Projects: 8" f/2.9 and 65mm f/10 reflectors, Dobson-style binocular mirror mount.
king_everything
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Re: Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

#5

Post by king_everything »


Absolutely! That's precisely what I need. If you're willing to part with the longer one, just let me know what I owe.

I saw your email as well. We can communicate via that thread off the message board regarding payment and address.
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StarBru United States of America
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Re: Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

#6

Post by StarBru »


king_everthing,
I sent you a private message (PM).

Clear skies!
Bruce
Bruce

Refractors: Meade AR-5 127mm f/9.3, Meade ST-80 f/5 and Meade 60mm f/12, Jason 60mm f/15 #313, Jason 60mm f/12 #306 S7, Bushnell Sky Chief III 60mm f/15.
Reflectors/Catadioptrics: Meade 10" F/4 Schmidt-Newtonian, Galileo 120mm f/8.3 Newtonian, Meade 2045D 4" f/10 SCT, Meade ETX-90EC f/13.8 & Sarblue 60mm f/12.5 Maksutov-Cassegrains.
Mounts: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro & Meade LXD55 Equatorial mounts, ES Twilight II and Meade 2102 ALT/AZ mounts, a modified 10" SkyQuest Dobsonian mount, various 60mm EQ mounts.
Misc: Celestron 20x80mm binoculars, Revolution II Imager/accessories, & lots of optical accessories/eyepieces.
Projects: 8" f/2.9 and 65mm f/10 reflectors, Dobson-style binocular mirror mount.
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Re: Jason Explorer 306 S-7 - Vertical Fine Adjustment Knob?

#7

Post by StarBru »


king_everything,
I sent you an email and a PM 4 days ago.

I still haven't heard from you through PM or email regarding your address and name, so I can send these parts to you. Please do not give that information here, but I can send them to you tomorrow, if you send me your info by PM or email.

Don't worry about money for shipping or the parts. It is my gift to you! Hope to hear from you soon!

Regards,
Bruce
Bruce

Refractors: Meade AR-5 127mm f/9.3, Meade ST-80 f/5 and Meade 60mm f/12, Jason 60mm f/15 #313, Jason 60mm f/12 #306 S7, Bushnell Sky Chief III 60mm f/15.
Reflectors/Catadioptrics: Meade 10" F/4 Schmidt-Newtonian, Galileo 120mm f/8.3 Newtonian, Meade 2045D 4" f/10 SCT, Meade ETX-90EC f/13.8 & Sarblue 60mm f/12.5 Maksutov-Cassegrains.
Mounts: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro & Meade LXD55 Equatorial mounts, ES Twilight II and Meade 2102 ALT/AZ mounts, a modified 10" SkyQuest Dobsonian mount, various 60mm EQ mounts.
Misc: Celestron 20x80mm binoculars, Revolution II Imager/accessories, & lots of optical accessories/eyepieces.
Projects: 8" f/2.9 and 65mm f/10 reflectors, Dobson-style binocular mirror mount.
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