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The Springfield inspired mount I built for my 6" f7 in 1979 hasn't been working well lately.
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I've always used sticky dri-lube on the bearing surfaces. Some months back I decided to use bearing grease pumped in through a grease nipple. It's how the mount was designed. It works but this design of bearing, like a dob, relies on stiction, the bearing surface has to glide smooth but with some smooth resistance and it has to stop. The bearing grease was just too slippery. The instrument is beautifully balanced so even slippery as it is, it would hold position but it just pushes too easily so that if I have to stoop to look through the finder, I can easily push it off target as I move away. The OTA has full 360 degree rotation rings so that the eyepiece can be rotated to a position for comfortable viewing regardless where the mount is pointing. The bearing discs need more friction otherwise the mount shifts during the rotation.
So this morning I separated the bearings, cleaned off all the bearing grease and applied a waxy dri-lube stick.
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Motion feels good again
Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site :http://joe-cali.com/ Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80. Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's. Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12 Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec. Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari Memberships Astronomical Association of Queensland; RASNZ Occultations Section; Single Exposure Milky Way Facebook Group (Moderator) (12k members), The Sky Searchers (moderator)
Since I have to inventory the contents of the astro shed for insurance i am going to be spending a few hours giving it all a good cleaning.
It is perfect weather for it, winds from 50-75 km/h and 20-30 mm of rain...
Some nice refractors, eyepieces, mounts and related equipment The only culture I have is from yogurt
Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 7:30 am
Since I have to inventory the contents of the astro shed for insurance i am going to be spending a few hours giving it all a good cleaning.
It is perfect weather for it, winds from 50-75 km/h and 20-30 mm of rain...
Are you going to use that wind to blow the dust off the optics?
Joe
Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site :http://joe-cali.com/ Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80. Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's. Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12 Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec. Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari Memberships Astronomical Association of Queensland; RASNZ Occultations Section; Single Exposure Milky Way Facebook Group (Moderator) (12k members), The Sky Searchers (moderator)
I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer and besides getting a Pet Scan and an MRI, I have been taking very expensive pills that halt the growth of the cancer, and thankfully my health insurance is paying for the pills. I did not have any pain or other symptoms.
The pills have lots of side effects, mostly what I call Man-o-pause! They make me very tired but still able to work full-time. Unfortunately my observing has suffered and rarely have I been able to look through the telescope. That has been very frustrating!
Still waiting for radiation treatments to be scheduled and approved by insurance, and hopefully that will do it and I can beat this thing. I have a very positive outlook that I can be cured!
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.
@StarBru
It sounds like you are following the Doctors orders! Stick with it and stay positive!
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.
Hang in there and the radiation treatment should take care of it along with the meds ... Good luck
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
Hope all goes well and the insurance people get a move on! Wishing you all the best.
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
Binos: Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26, Swarovski 8x30 Habicht, Zeiss SFL 8x40, Vanguard Endeavour 10.5x45, Fuji FMTR-SX 10x50, Tak 22x60, Orion Resolux 15x70
Eyepieces: way too many (is that possible?), but I do like my TV 32mm plossl, 13mm Nagler T6, 27mm Panoptic and 3-6mm Nagler zoom, plus Fujiyama 18mm and 25mm orthos and Tak 7.5mm LE
StarBru wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:18 pm
I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer and besides getting a Pet Scan and an MRI, I have been taking very expensive pills that halt the growth of the cancer, and thankfully my health insurance is paying for the pills. I did not have any pain or other symptoms.
The pills have lots of side effects, mostly what I call Man-o-pause! They make me very tired but still able to work full-time. Unfortunately my observing has suffered and rarely have I been able to look through the telescope. That has been very frustrating!
Still waiting for radiation treatments to be scheduled and approved by insurance, and hopefully that will do it and I can beat this thing. I have a very positive outlook that I can be cured!
So sorry to hear this. My dad was diagnosed with inoperable advanced prostate cancer. They couldn't operate and other treatments were not indicated. They slowed the progression right down to almost nothing. He died ten years later of something else completely unconnected to the prostate cancer.
Hang in there.
Joe
Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site :http://joe-cali.com/ Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80. Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's. Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12 Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec. Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari Memberships Astronomical Association of Queensland; RASNZ Occultations Section; Single Exposure Milky Way Facebook Group (Moderator) (12k members), The Sky Searchers (moderator)
DeanD wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 1:12 am
Hope all goes well and the insurance people get a move on! Wishing you all the best.
Thanks! The insurance really needs to get on the move and pay for what I pay them for! They are pre-authorizing the procedures and then refusing to pay for them! Because of that, I owe $27,000 so far.
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.
StarBru wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:18 pm
I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer and besides getting a Pet Scan and an MRI, I have been taking very expensive pills that halt the growth of the cancer, and thankfully my health insurance is paying for the pills. I did not have any pain or other symptoms.
The pills have lots of side effects, mostly what I call Man-o-pause! They make me very tired but still able to work full-time. Unfortunately my observing has suffered and rarely have I been able to look through the telescope. That has been very frustrating!
Still waiting for radiation treatments to be scheduled and approved by insurance, and hopefully that will do it and I can beat this thing. I have a very positive outlook that I can be cured!
So sorry to hear this. My dad was diagnosed with inoperable advanced prostate cancer. They couldn't operate and other treatments were not indicated. They slowed the progression right down to almost nothing. He died ten years later of something else completely unconnected to the prostate cancer.
Hang in there.
Joe
Sorry to hear about your Dad. I admit I should have checked sooner. I knew my PSA was high but I held back getting help because of the pandemic. Its really important to stay on top of it! With 1 in 8 men now getting prostate cancer, it's so important to get your PSA blood test done on a regular basis, and then act accordingly.
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.
StarBru wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:52 pm
I admit I should have checked sooner. I knew my PSA was high but I held back getting help because of the pandemic. Its really important to stay on top of it! With 1 in 8 men now getting prostate cancer, it's so important to get your PSA blood test done on a regular basis, and then act accordingly.
I'm a 90% disabled veteran. Most of my 'stuff' is PTSD and hearing, but it is mandatory that I visit the VA twice a year for complete blood tests and physicals. It's a blessing is disguise.
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.
StarBru wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:52 pm
Sorry to hear about your Dad. I admit I should have checked sooner. I knew my PSA was high but I held back getting help because of the pandemic. Its really important to stay on top of it! With 1 in 8 men now getting prostate cancer, it's so important to get your PSA blood test done on a regular basis, and then act accordingly.
Hi Bruce
Thanks. Dad passed 12 years ago. He was another hold out even though his symptoms were screaming at him.
With our dad having had it, my brother and I each have a 50% chance of getting it too. So we've both had 6 monthly PSA tests done since aged in our early 40's. It's important to be tested before you have problems because that establishes a normal baseline making picking up the increase in PSA easier.
OzEclipse wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 4:53 pm
The Springfield inspired mount I built for my 6" f7 in 1979 hasn't been working well lately.
StarBru wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:52 pm
Love it that you are an ATM'er! That's a nice looking mount!
Thanks for that. Since I fixed the lubrication and posted that, I haven't had any clear nights to try it out.
Oh well, patience is a virtue.
Joe
Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site :http://joe-cali.com/ Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80. Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's. Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12 Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec. Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari Memberships Astronomical Association of Queensland; RASNZ Occultations Section; Single Exposure Milky Way Facebook Group (Moderator) (12k members), The Sky Searchers (moderator)