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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 13:26:03 GMT
Hi everyone, I am currently interested in resurrecting and getting the most out of my ancient Tasco telescope I bought as a 15 year old some 41 years ago, until I am possibly in a position at a later stage to get my dream telescope system. I have attached 6 photos in 3 attachments showing the battered old beauty i the hope anyone of the gurus can confirm if I can attach a current day clock drive to its RA axis for tracking purposes. I did notice on a couple of forums that the mount itself might be a version of EQ2 mount and a drive might be readily available with hand controller or could possibly be modded to work. I am also looking at getting a Telrad with a 2" riser and an Orion 9x50 Illuminated Right-Angle Correct Image Finder Scope with a reticle and double crosshair although I am open to suggestions from you concerning the finderscope due to the Orion's price. My main needs are good size and right angle to stop my neck twist with the junky standard finderscope with correct orientation to compliment the Telrad with provision to bolt onto the old telescope tube. My thinking behind this idea is that the OTA with a 1" to 1.25" eyepiece adaptor maybe a reasonable scope for video astronomy thus limiting my outlay at this stage to the clock drive, a mallincam of some sort and various accessories such as focal reducers etc. Penny pinching in otherwords. Members thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks Scott
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 13:53:02 GMT
Wow Scott that really is an antique Its 13 years older than me!!! What kind of condition are the optics like? I had a quick look and damn you guys pay a lot for scopes down under! I could be totally wrong mate but if your buying all they accessories to get it going...you might be better saving up a little more cash and try get a decent 'used' goto scope for not much more!
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 5, 2014 14:05:40 GMT
Yes Scott, it does look like either an EQ1 or 2. If so, yes, there are little bolt on Motor drives for them and believe it or not they are pretty damn accurate! I had one attached to my EQ1 and it tracked accurately all night. I even did Astrophotography with it!!!! EQ1: www.skywatcheraustralia.com.au/?wpsc-product=imd-eq1EQ2: www.skywatcheraustralia.com.au/?wpsc-product=imd-eq2Andrews Communications in Sydney has the EQ1 single axis (RA) motor drive kit (basic box type) $49.00 and the EQ2 RA (Right Ascension) deluxe drive - includes hand controller $129.00 If your mount is too worn out they sell the Skywatcher EQ1 equatorial mount with adjustable height aluminium tripod legs for $149.00 and the EQ2 equatorial mount with adjustable height aluminium tripod legs for $199.00 Scroll all the way down to Genuine Skywatcher equatorial mounts: www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htmAttachments:
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 14:46:10 GMT
Good luck with the project Scott. I have a Tasco 114mm reflector scope with a silvery grey tube and what looks to be the exact same tripod lurking in my loft. Its been there for a few years. It would interesting to see how your old girl performs.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 15:39:55 GMT
Thanks for your replies.
Ken which one do you think it is or will either drive work on the mount do you think.
I inquired into the matter and emailed the attached photos to a telescope supplier in South Australia who replied with the following.......
"" Sorry to say the drives will not suit this telescope due to the gearing attachment, sorry.
We have variable motor drives we use for Equatorial Platforms, although it would mean a cost of around $200 plus a coupling would need to be made up.
We have new, motor driven EQ5 style mounts for $250. ""
Now at the time we actually spoke he was talking about hand controllers but the drives you mentioned were different.
I hope this has a happy ending !!!
Thanks again Scott
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 5, 2014 16:07:03 GMT
I can't really tell from your photos Scott. Lee Andrews at Andrews Communications may be able to tell you. I think he is the only one who now sells the mount alone without a telescope attached. Email him a photo maybe. That is a cheap price for an EQ5 style mount (whatever they mean by 'style') with motor drive for $250 !!! Bit strange when it costs that much just for a simple motor drive for an EQ3. I have added some more information in my post above. EDIT: hey Scott, I did some checking around and it is an EQ2 that you have. I checked EQ1's and they are totally different to yours, so I checked out EQ2's. Here's photos of both EQ1 and EQ2 and you'll see the EQ2 is exactly like yours: Attachments:
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 5, 2014 16:37:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 16:38:49 GMT
Hi Scott I had a mount similar to yours It was a Meade reflector 1405 model. You could also try a Meade motor. I think they may still do a Meade 533 motor drive. Have seen them on Ebay.
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Post by davy on Feb 5, 2014 18:01:12 GMT
Welcome to the forum scott..admire you for trying to get the old girl up n running, the mount should be workable with kens input..as chris mentioned the optics may be a bit suspect but being you come from oz it would last a lot better there than wet n dour Scottish scopes of that age..keep us posted on the refurbishment. .davy
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2014 10:56:44 GMT
Well I have started the ball rolling on my limited budget at present but I have ordered an Orion 9x50 rightangle illuminated reticled finderscope. The South Australian computer supplier I spoke about stated although the gearing cog was preventing an easy application of the driver he was willing to try and help with parts he has floating around. He verified that the EQ5 price was correct as it was based on the Skywatcher and Synta but built by someone else and was motorized for that price of $250 with aluminium tripod. He also had a more substantial Russian built pier system with EQ5 for around $400 to $450 motorized as well if we couldn't do any good with my EQ2 mount. Anyway see below the pictures of what I have done stripping down the old telescope and degreasing and regreasing and hopefully putting it back together again. You'll note the infamous crappy finderscope and helical focusser along with the battered and bruised tube after living by the sea these past 28 years. Till tomorrow..... Scott Attachments:
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 6, 2014 11:30:11 GMT
Ahhhh, do you mean 'Telescopes and Astronomy' in Adelaide?
If so, that would be Matthew. Hmmmmmm . . . OK.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2014 14:39:34 GMT
Well no parts left over and the equatorial mount is really smooth now..... and looking in all her glory..... I noticed a dent in the tube from 40 years ago when our dog chased another dog off our back porch and the scope followed Anybody know a good painter after I strip the OTA back to bare metal..... See ya Scott
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2014 23:09:53 GMT
Bit of sanding and hammerite will be as good as new!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2014 14:03:43 GMT
Well I stripped the old thing down to bare bones and degreased and lightly regreased the mount and bought it a couple of toys to play with. Unbelievable difference now that the Telrad gets me in the right area easily and I can star hop with the right angle finder to anything I want. Found the Crab Nebula for the first time in years even with a half moon. I truly believe the crappy finder scope I used from day one kept me out of astronomy for so many years. Next move is add a little bit of weight to the counterweight to balance it. After that rubbing back the tube paint and getting rid of flaky rust and corrosion and prime then some hammerite..... I know its over the top but it looks dressed to kill.... And it is really functional now.... Thanks Scott Attachments:
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Post by Dragon Man on Feb 8, 2014 14:43:21 GMT
Well done Scott. Always pleasing to see a dead item restored and put to use. I did it with a Huge old mount. It turned into a piece of usable art
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2014 16:16:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2014 16:56:20 GMT
Great Scott! Starting to look like a formidable scope you should rename it the Phoenix
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Post by davy on Feb 8, 2014 18:30:03 GMT
Well done sir,, lot of folk would have just binned it...always fancied a really old brass one to sit in living room all polished up..looking like a bit of furniture .
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2014 10:56:36 GMT
Well nearly done rubbing back the tube and am at the point that I must do a complete refurbishment..... All nuts and bolts have been cleaned up..... Next decision is should I go for a different paint colour or go back to classic glossy white....... What do you all think Thanks Pitter am ordering one of the simple clock drives on special..... See you at the next stage.... Scott Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2014 12:30:16 GMT
I think a nice black is good for night time astro, whereas I will choose white for solar to reflect the heat from the sun, but the choice is yours Scott. White, black, custom paint job, whatever you think is right.
Just remember to stuff some cloth down each end of the scope and tape the inside of the eyepeice hole if you are spraying it. You don't want overspray inside the tube.
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