ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

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Greyfox
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ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

#1

Post by Greyfox »


So I'm just a every once in a while astronomer that has over the course of several years collected enough junk that I can now use my Nikon D3100 on my ETX-90.

One thing that annoyed me was using the horizontal tracking knob always seemed to snag or hang. It became far more pronounced when I hung my camera and lens projector on the back of it.

So as a Sunday afternoon project, I decided to dismantle my telescope bottom side. Immediately saw what the problem was. The center screw was loose. Tightened it up and then found that to get it tight enough to not have any tilt, it was too tight to function. Was sort of dismayed that there were no washers or dry graphite present.

Found a piece of clear plastic from something I purchased, cut two washers out and punched holes in them. Took the screw out and put them on it and tightened it back up.

Working much better now but now I want to disassemble the whole thing and fix all the points that could cause binding.
IMG_0104.JPG
Meade ETX-90RA
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ
Nikon D5300 Camera \ Nikon AF-S VR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 \ Nikon AF-S VR 55-300mm f/4.5 - 5.6
Sigma DC EX HSM 17-50mm F/2.8 \ Sigma DC Macro HSM 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 \ Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 LD Di SP IF Macro
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gregl
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Re: ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

#2

Post by gregl »


When you're done I suspect you'll notice a big difference. Many mechanical things aren't lubricated properly by the manufacturer and can be helped by a minor adjustment and lube event. We see similar things with Asian-made machine tools. The first order of business for the owner of a new Asian lathe is to take it apart, clean the "lubricant" out of everything and replace it with the proper stuff.
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Re: ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

#3

Post by Greyfox »


Finally found a local place that had some powder graphite. Mix with a bit of acetone and use a small hobby brush and apply it. Things work exceptionally much better now.
Meade ETX-90RA
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ
Nikon D5300 Camera \ Nikon AF-S VR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 \ Nikon AF-S VR 55-300mm f/4.5 - 5.6
Sigma DC EX HSM 17-50mm F/2.8 \ Sigma DC Macro HSM 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 \ Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 LD Di SP IF Macro
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yobbo89 Australia
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Re: ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

#4

Post by yobbo89 »


Have you taken any photos with this combo yet? My camera shutter shakes my etx 90 :(
scopes :gso/bintel f4 12"truss tube, bresser messier ar127s /skywatcher 10'' dob,meade 12'' f10 lx200 sct
cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
extras : skywatcher f4 aplanatic cc, Baader MPCC MKIII Coma Corrector,Orion Field Flattener,zwo 1.25''adc.starlight maxi 2" 9x filter wheel,tele vue 2x barlow .

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Ylem United States of America
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Re: ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

#5

Post by Ylem »


Glad you got it fixed, I have always loved the ETX90!

Oh, and Happy Birthday 🎂
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



Orion 80ED
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Greyfox
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Re: ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

#6

Post by Greyfox »


yobbo89 wrote: Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:21 pm Have you taken any photos with this combo yet? My camera shutter shakes my etx 90 :(
Sorry, had issues with my Mac.

Took this one the other night playing around with a Meade #64 / 07363 prime attachment with both sections attached.

Getting ready to start playing around with a Meade 07361 lens projection attachment to see what I can get.

DSC_0151.JPG

What my rig looks like.

IMG_0122.JPG
Meade ETX-90RA
Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ
Nikon D5300 Camera \ Nikon AF-S VR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 \ Nikon AF-S VR 55-300mm f/4.5 - 5.6
Sigma DC EX HSM 17-50mm F/2.8 \ Sigma DC Macro HSM 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 \ Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 LD Di SP IF Macro
Star Adventure 2i
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