Counter balance on Meade

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murphcc1
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Counter balance on Meade

#1

Post by murphcc1 »


Hey all, for the life of me I have not found ANY counter balance systems model #1401 available for the Meade 8" SCT, everyone has it on back order. I HAVE found the systems for 10" and 12" but not the 8".
SOOOOOO....being the ingenious person I am...I sort of figured the 10" and the 8" are basically the same with just the longer rod holding the weights.
Figured I might be able to shorten the rod using a dremel tool and make it work with the 8" OTA.
Bought the 10" system and you can see in the pics it is quite a bit longer on the 8" OTA.
Started by cutting the rod to length.
Then notched it out for the screw.
Installed on the OTA and everything is perfect!!!!!
I lost the tapped hole for the end rod screw to keep the weights from sliding off, not a big deal, figured I'd install a hitch pin clip. A little paint and it will look just fine!!!

Pics seem to have loaded backwards......
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Meade 8" LX90 Audiostar
Nikon D750 unmodified
JASON 10x50 Binoculars
NIKON 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 12V Powertank
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Piet Le Roux South Africa
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Re: Counter balance on Meade

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Post by Piet Le Roux »


Nicely done! I have two problems with the Meade counter balance system : the price and after you have mounted it you cannot use a after market flexible dew shield. Also after experimenting with my 8" LX90 I found that on the horizontal the scope is heavier on the focuser side so with a RA/dec setup in mind your weights should be off centre away from the focuser. I managed to balance my LX90 perfectly with lead weight strips used to balance truck wheels, attached to Velcro strips. When I use my dew shield I attach less weights to the dew shield with Velcro.
Meadebalance 001s.jpg
Main Equipment : Tele Vue 27mm Panoptic, 7&13mm Nagler, Big Barlow : 8" Meade LX90ACF with Meade 2.0" Enhanced Diagonal : Camera Fuji XT100
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murphcc1
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Re: Counter balance on Meade

#3

Post by murphcc1 »


Yea the price really sucks for what ya get.........as far as the dew shield I can cut a notch in to slide on to the OTA.
Biggest problem I have now is that using a GSO CRayford focuser, the focuser end is STILL too heavy, 6 lbs of weight are not enough. Was using that to get away from the mirror slop.
Also have a DSLR piggybacked on the back end of the OTA, so a chit load of weight.
HATE, HATE, HATE the stock focuser, too much mirror slop.
Ordering the Starlight Feather light focuser for it, see how that does.
Meade 8" LX90 Audiostar
Nikon D750 unmodified
JASON 10x50 Binoculars
NIKON 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 12V Powertank
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Piet Le Roux South Africa
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Re: Counter balance on Meade

#4

Post by Piet Le Roux »


I have made peace with the focuser, it does help to adjust it from time to time and spread the grease evenly. I found this tutorial from Meade it's written for a LX200 but it works for a LX90. Also to minimise slop it helps to always end focusing with a anticlockwise turn.
Removing Focuser Backlash.pdf
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Main Equipment : Tele Vue 27mm Panoptic, 7&13mm Nagler, Big Barlow : 8" Meade LX90ACF with Meade 2.0" Enhanced Diagonal : Camera Fuji XT100
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murphcc1
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Re: Counter balance on Meade

#5

Post by murphcc1 »


I've moved the mirror in and out many time s to move the grease around, still have the slop.
Have never seen that doc about the LX200 though, might give that a try before the new focuser arrives and see what happens.

Thanks!!!
Meade 8" LX90 Audiostar
Nikon D750 unmodified
JASON 10x50 Binoculars
NIKON 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 12V Powertank
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Counter balance on Meade

#6

Post by Lady Fraktor »


A nice adaption :)
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
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