Help with mounting my ST80?

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StarBru United States of America
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Help with mounting my ST80?

#1

Post by StarBru »


I'm wondering if anyone has found a good dovetail and rings combination for an ST80 refractor? Mine is the Meade Adventure Scope 80, an Orion ST80 clone.

The dovetail I have now is a ScopeStuff 11 inch direct replacement for the Meade LXD55 telescopes and mount. It's threaded holes are too long to use for my Orion scope rings properly and don't give me the correct spacing to fit the tube so I resorted to bolts that interfere with mounting and balancing the scope on my mount. The other method is the little 2 inch dovetail already attached to the scope. It works without rings but still gives me a balancing problem. I would like a better mounting solution using the rings that gives the proper ring spacing for the OTA, which is about 3.5 inches center to center.

Any advice would be helpful! Here's pics of the methods I've been using on my Twilight II mount:
Attachments
IMG_20210326_122558136.jpg
IMG_20210321_173912015_HDR~3.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.
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Re: Help with mounting my ST80?

#2

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Yes, I didn't like the mounting block either so on my Orion ST 80 I removed it and replaced it with a short Orion Vixen style dovetail and rings.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Help with mounting my ST80?

#3

Post by pakarinen »


I went with Orion rings on my Meade 80mm A-scope and I had a spare Vixen-style rail from somewhere - don't remember the vendor - but it has slots so the attachment points were not a problem. You could check Agena Astro and / or ScopeStuff.

Just for grins, I recently took the rings and rail off and have been using the shorty rail that came attached to the scope. Seems to be ok, but I think I prefer the sense of security when using rings over the weight savings without.

I also have an L-bracket that's a Vixen rail with a flat arm at 90 degrees with a setscrew on the bottom. No rings needed with that and it supports the OTA from the bottom.

The rail:
rail.jpg
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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StarBru United States of America
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Re: Help with mounting my ST80?

#4

Post by StarBru »


notFritzArgelander wrote: Sat Mar 27, 2021 2:40 am Yes, I didn't like the mounting block either so on my Orion ST 80 I removed it and replaced it with a short Orion Vixen style dovetail and rings.
I looked on the Orion site. They no longer carry the short dovetail. I found a Svbony 4.72" dovetail that looks like it will work:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LG ... 5C22&psc=1
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: Help with mounting my ST80?

#5

Post by StarBru »


pakarinen wrote: Sat Mar 27, 2021 1:27 pm I went with Orion rings on my Meade 80mm A-scope and I had a spare Vixen-style rail from somewhere - don't remember the vendor - but it has slots so the attachment points were not a problem. You could check Agena Astro and / or ScopeStuff.

Just for grins, I recently took the rings and rail off and have been using the shorty rail that came attached to the scope. Seems to be ok, but I think I prefer the sense of security when using rings over the weight savings without.

I also have an L-bracket that's a Vixen rail with a flat arm at 90 degrees with a setscrew on the bottom. No rings needed with that and it supports the OTA from the bottom.

The rail:

Image
That rail looks like it would work, especially with the balancing problem because it's adjustable. Now I will need to find one similar, possibly on eBay? I tried Agena Astro, no luck. I checked ScopeStuff, but will check it again. I might have missed it.
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: Help with mounting my ST80?

#6

Post by notFritzArgelander »


StarBru wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:03 pm
notFritzArgelander wrote: Sat Mar 27, 2021 2:40 am Yes, I didn't like the mounting block either so on my Orion ST 80 I removed it and replaced it with a short Orion Vixen style dovetail and rings.
I looked on the Orion site. They no longer carry the short dovetail. I found a Svbony 4.72" dovetail that looks like it will work:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LG ... 5C22&psc=1
You're right. Orion no longer has it. The link you found looks like it though.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Help with mounting my ST80?

#7

Post by pakarinen »


=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: Help with mounting my ST80?

#8

Post by ARock »


I bought the rings from Agena (Agena Telescope rings) and a slotted svbony 210mm dovetail from ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SVBONY-210mm-L ... 3340216682
I had to find my own bolts with heads that can stay inside the slot of the dovetail.
The Agena Telescope ring's bolts did not work with Orion like dovetails on ebay (6mm vs 1/4-20), so before I bought the slotted dovetail, I drilled and countersunk holes in a dovetail that I had. But that dovetail was too short for balancing with a camera, so I had to eventually get the longer one linked above.
AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
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Re: Help with mounting my ST80?

#9

Post by StarBru »


Thanks all!

I bought the 4.7" dovetail from Amazon. It works perfect for the rings and 2" crayford focuser, but will still cause a balancing problem with my heavier eyepieces. Looks like I need about a 7" slotted rail to work the best. Back to the drawing board!
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: Help with mounting my ST80?

#10

Post by BFaucett »


pakarinen wrote: Sat Mar 27, 2021 1:27 pm I went with Orion rings on my Meade 80mm A-scope and I had a spare Vixen-style rail from somewhere - don't remember the vendor - but it has slots so the attachment points were not a problem. You could check Agena Astro and / or ScopeStuff. ....

I did the same thing. I find that it works very well.

Cheers! Bob F.

Image

Image
_____________________________________________________
I'm a backyard stargazer.  Houston Astronomical Society (link)
scopes: Astro-Tech: AT60ED, AT70ED, AT72EDII ● Celestron: 80ED, Omni XLT AZ 102, C90 Mak ● S-W: Skymax 102 Mak
eyepieces: ES82 4.7, 6.7, 8.8, 11, 14 ● Astro-Tech UWA  4, 7, 10, 13, 16 ● ES68 20, 24 ● ES62 5.5, 9, 20 ● ES52 4.5, 30 ● APM UFF 30
Meade 5000 UWA 82° 5.5, 8.8, 14 ● StarGuider Dual ED 60° 3.2, 5, 8, 12, 15, 18, 25 ● Astro-Tech PFF 60/65° 5.5, 10.5, 15.5, 19, 25
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Re: Help with mounting my ST80?

#11

Post by StarBru »


Bob,
Yep, that's what I need!
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: Help with mounting my ST80?

#12

Post by BFaucett »


StarBru wrote: Thu Apr 15, 2021 3:57 pm Bob,
Yep, that's what I need!
Thanks!

You're welcome!

Here's the dovetail bar from Agena that I used:
https://agenaastro.com/agena-v-vixen-st ... -180a.html

And the rings from Orion:
https://www.telescope.com/Orion/90mm-ID ... p/7370.uts

IIRC, I did have to replace the screws/bolts that came with the rings as the head wouldn't fit inside the dovetail's recessed slot. Not a big deal. I used some socket head cap screws that I purchased on Amazon but I can't remember the size right now. I also used a couple of small washers.

Here's a larger photo that shows the dovetail bar, rings, screws, etc. in better detail:

https://i.imgur.com/IITy6wk.jpg
(Click on the link.)

Cheers! Bob F.
Last edited by BFaucett on Fri Apr 16, 2021 3:58 am, edited 5 times in total.
_____________________________________________________
I'm a backyard stargazer.  Houston Astronomical Society (link)
scopes: Astro-Tech: AT60ED, AT70ED, AT72EDII ● Celestron: 80ED, Omni XLT AZ 102, C90 Mak ● S-W: Skymax 102 Mak
eyepieces: ES82 4.7, 6.7, 8.8, 11, 14 ● Astro-Tech UWA  4, 7, 10, 13, 16 ● ES68 20, 24 ● ES62 5.5, 9, 20 ● ES52 4.5, 30 ● APM UFF 30
Meade 5000 UWA 82° 5.5, 8.8, 14 ● StarGuider Dual ED 60° 3.2, 5, 8, 12, 15, 18, 25 ● Astro-Tech PFF 60/65° 5.5, 10.5, 15.5, 19, 25
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