TheSkySearchers

This tripod came with my Orion SkyView Pro Eq mount. One of the tripod legs must have a broken inside hinge. Thanks all

Bummer! I would contact Orion and see if they are willing to send a replacement leg. In the mean time I would tie up the leg to the spreader with zip tie(s) or a cord.

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Thu May 05, 2022 7:51 pm Bummer! I would contact Orion and see if they are willing to send a replacement leg. In the mean time I would tie up the leg to the spreader with zip tie(s) or a cord.

Three zip ties is a great idea. Thanks

If you have all of the pieces it may be able to gas weld the cast aluminium back together.

Cannot really tell there whether it is the leg end piece or part of the internal hub that failed. With the paint being black, I cannot see any cracks. I would take the leg off the central hub and see what is going on. I suspect the issue is with the central hub failing, since there is already some right angles with short radius curves involved, which are the high tension stress points.

Once you find out what the issue is, I would see if a replacement part can be obtained. Unless the price is really high, a replacement part is probably the way to go in the long run. Most likely, new part will be stronger than a repaired one.

Aluminum welding can work with a very skilled welder, but someone who is experienced with aluminum welding is fairly rare, depending on who you know and where you live. If the person doing the work is not an expert, then the repair will always be suspect, either from not getting a full penetration weld or additional stresses from the welding process. You would probably want to "baby" it.

The tripod itself looks like the ones I have for my Meade LX-70 and my Celestron Omni CG-4 mounts. If yours is the same, then the second hand market may be an additional source for a replacement tripod or the parts you need.

Hope this helps!

I also cant see what is broken , but if not fixable one could perhaps attach the leg to the spreader, like with smaller mounts ? the legs slide in so one will need a plumbing clamp that can be bolted to the spreader , not sure cable ties will work as they may slide up the leg but worth a try

I wonder if superglue might do it?

Can you unbolt the leg and show us a photo of the top of the leg and the hub? Presumably one or the other is cracked, but you can't tell from the images.

Good luck.

Dean

DeanD wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 7:36 am Can you unbolt the leg and show us a photo of the top of the leg and the hub? Presumably one or the other is cracked, but you can't tell from the images.

Good luck.

Dean

I do not notice anything/parts cracked on the outside. I have a friend that use to be a TV repair technician. He has all kinds of tools. Soon we will open it up for inside images. thanks DeanD

Still working on fixing it. Just in case it can not be fixed I was searching the WWW for a replacement. Could not find the tripod that I need. Firstlightoptics in England has a few in stock. The cost is $200 with shipping. Looking for a seller in the States. thanks all

Refractordude wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 10:23 pm Still working on fixing it. Just in case it can not be fixed I was searching the WWW for a replacement. Could not find the tripod that I need. Firstlightoptics in England has a few in stock. The cost is $200 with shipping. Looking for a seller in the States. thanks all

If it breaks so easily would it be better to buy something else? I notice you use Orion's pier extension which could be fitted on other brands. I use it with tripods from ES.

You may also investigate surveyor tripod option. They have a good following in astro community. You can check local hardware store to see them in person.

Just an example

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 11:59 pm

Refractordude wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 10:23 pm Still working on fixing it. Just in case it can not be fixed I was searching the WWW for a replacement. Could not find the tripod that I need. Firstlightoptics in England has a few in stock. The cost is $200 with shipping. Looking for a seller in the States. thanks all

If it breaks so easily would it be better to buy something else? I notice you use Orion's pier extension which could be fitted on other brands. I use it with tripods from ES.

If I could find one of these in stock would this ES work with the extension tube?

https://optcorp.com/collections/explore ... legs-white

Refractordude wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 12:29 am

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 11:59 pm

Refractordude wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 10:23 pm Still working on fixing it. Just in case it can not be fixed I was searching the WWW for a replacement. Could not find the tripod that I need. Firstlightoptics in England has a few in stock. The cost is $200 with shipping. Looking for a seller in the States. thanks all

If it breaks so easily would it be better to buy something else? I notice you use Orion's pier extension which could be fitted on other brands. I use it with tripods from ES.

If I could find one of these in stock would this ES work with the extension tube?

https://optcorp.com/collections/explore ... legs-white

Yes, I have one of those. You need to file the pin on the tripod little bit, after that it fits Orion extension pier.

Well the problem is a chipped inside. There is enough of this chipped area missing that the leg will not catch like the others. Your thoughts and thanks.

Refractordude wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 6:36 pm Well the problem is a chipped inside. There is enough of this chipped area missing that the leg will not catch like the others. Your thoughts and thanks.

I assume that there is some sort of ledge in the casting that has broken off. Cast is hard to repair as noted in the first few responses... Do you have an image of the un-broken casting on the other legs?

I would be chasing Orion to give you a replacement, given this is obviously a fault stemming from their manufacture/design.

Failing that I would probably try to drill into it and put something like a couple of stainless steel pins or rivets into the casting to take the place of the broken ledge, fixed in with epoxy. The leg would then push against the heads of the pins. I have no idea whether this would work though!

Maybe another option would be to get some "liquid metal" filler that is used for car repairs, like "Permatex Liquid Metal Filler". This could be used in conjunction with a small pin to stop it cracking off again.

However, unfortunately I think the best option is a new tripod as discussed above. The surveyors tripod seems a good option to me.

Good luck.

Dean

DeanD wrote: ↑Wed May 18, 2022 2:19 am

Refractordude wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 6:36 pm Well the problem is a chipped inside. There is enough of this chipped area missing that the leg will not catch like the others. Your thoughts and thanks.

I assume that there is some sort of ledge in the casting that has broken off. Cast is hard to repair as noted in the first few responses... Do you have an image of the un-broken casting on the other legs?

I would be chasing Orion to give you a replacement, given this is obviously a fault stemming from their manufacture/design.

Failing that I would probably try to drill into it and put something like a couple of stainless steel pins or rivets into the casting to take the place of the broken ledge, fixed in with epoxy. The leg would then push against the heads of the pins. I have no idea whether this would work though!

Maybe another option would be to get some "liquid metal" filler that is used for car repairs, like "Permatex Liquid Metal Filler". This could be used in conjunction with a small pin to stop it cracking off again.

However, unfortunately I think the best option is a new tripod as discussed above. The surveyors tripod seems a good option to me.

Good luck.

Dean

Thanks DeanD

OK now that I see the fault I agree that its a bad cast but depending on how old etc will be hard to replace , a few S/S rivets will fix it , in the correct place!, do not use a screw or alum rivets as they will not last

If you can't make an adequate repair then you may need to think about a replacement. I have two used Meade standard field tripods that I use, they are typically sold with the etx telescopes. Periodically on eBay or Telescope Warehouse you will find news/used tripods. I got both of mine for less than $100.