Tighten a sloppy focuser?

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GCoyote United States of America
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Tighten a sloppy focuser?

#1

Post by GCoyote »


I already have a couple Newts, and a Mak, and I was out scouting for spare parts when I saw this in a clearance pile

https://gskyertelescope.com/gskyer-tele ... az-review/

I had to use a Swiffer to get all the dust off it but it only ended up costing $25 plus tax. If it bombs I can sell the part for more than that so got it. As usual, most of the accessories were missing but with the exception of the parts tray, I have them all in my work shop. The only thing I'm not sure about is the focuser.

It's just a little lose so maybe sloppy is being too harsh but it's enough that I notice it.
Standard rack-and-pinion and each individual part seems tight enough. It's just the overall fit isn't quite "tight."

Any suggestions on getting it just a little tighter?
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
Gary C

Celestron Astro Master 130mm f5 Newtonian GEM
Meade 114-EQ-DH f7.9 Newtonian w/ manual GEM
Bushnell 90mm f13.9 Catadioptric
Gskyer 80mm f5 Alt/Az refractor
Jason 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 7x50 Binoculars
Svbony 2.1x42 Binoculars
(And a bunch of stuff I'm still trying to fix or find parts for.)
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Re: Tighten a sloppy focuser?

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


The link does not open for me. Typically, there are one or more screws which controls the tension. There are also might be some spacers to guide the focuser tube inside the focuser body, you can check to see if some are worn or missing. But then again there are some focusers which just built sloppy.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
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Re: Tighten a sloppy focuser?

#3

Post by GCoyote »


Bigzmey wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:36 pm The link does not open for me. Typically, there are one or more screws which controls the tension. There are also might be some spacers to guide the focuser tube inside the focuser body, you can check to see if some are worn or missing. But then again there are some focusers which just built sloppy.
That's an idea. If there is a spacer, I might be able to fabricate a slightly thicker replacement.
Thanks!
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
Gary C

Celestron Astro Master 130mm f5 Newtonian GEM
Meade 114-EQ-DH f7.9 Newtonian w/ manual GEM
Bushnell 90mm f13.9 Catadioptric
Gskyer 80mm f5 Alt/Az refractor
Jason 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 7x50 Binoculars
Svbony 2.1x42 Binoculars
(And a bunch of stuff I'm still trying to fix or find parts for.)
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Re: Tighten a sloppy focuser?

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


If the focuser tube has movement check the teflon sliders inside as they may be worn.
You can order a sheet of PTFE to replace them from McMaster-Carr in the USA.
Solid strips of PTFE will not wear out like the finned teflon normally used.
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
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GCoyote United States of America
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Re: Tighten a sloppy focuser?

#5

Post by GCoyote »


Cool, thanks!
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
Gary C

Celestron Astro Master 130mm f5 Newtonian GEM
Meade 114-EQ-DH f7.9 Newtonian w/ manual GEM
Bushnell 90mm f13.9 Catadioptric
Gskyer 80mm f5 Alt/Az refractor
Jason 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 7x50 Binoculars
Svbony 2.1x42 Binoculars
(And a bunch of stuff I'm still trying to fix or find parts for.)
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Re: Tighten a sloppy focuser?

#6

Post by Sky Tinker »


"Look, son! Up there!" His son shouted back, "I see it! What is it?" The father regaled, "The galaxy! Andromeda! Our origin, our destiny!" And so the boy was hooked, and for the rest of his natural life.

"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton

Alan :Astronomer1:

Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Tighten a sloppy focuser?

#7

Post by GCoyote »


Sweet!
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
Gary C

Celestron Astro Master 130mm f5 Newtonian GEM
Meade 114-EQ-DH f7.9 Newtonian w/ manual GEM
Bushnell 90mm f13.9 Catadioptric
Gskyer 80mm f5 Alt/Az refractor
Jason 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 7x50 Binoculars
Svbony 2.1x42 Binoculars
(And a bunch of stuff I'm still trying to fix or find parts for.)
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