(sage)

06/24/09 02:17 PM

For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

As I'm off today I decided to put together my ETX-125PE for the first time. Right out of the box, figuratively and literally, I can not get the dust-cap to thread off without, apparently, major force. Any ideas short of dynamite.

Thanks,
Doug

(professor emeritus)

06/24/09 06:03 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

This was a major issue when I first bought my ETX-125PE almost a year ago. The thing I worried about most was twisting the retaining ring that keeps the corrector plate in place, as I didn't want that to get knocked out of alignment.

I actually got my hands on a couple of those rubberized jar opener pads. I used one to hold the retaining ring in place, and the other to twist the (very heavy) metal dust cap off. That seemed to help a lot. Once you get it off the first time, try to resist the temptation to torque it back down all the way when you put it back on. I slowly twist it until it start to "feel" tight, then juuuust back it off a smidge. This way it's still secure but you don't have to wrestle with it next time.

Someone a year ago suggested some other container lid that happens to share the same diameter as the 125's objective, but I couldn't find it when I went looking for it. Not sure if it was a Cool-Whip lid or something off one of those big coffee cans. If anyone knows of a good "replacement" dust cap, feel free to comment.

(sage)

06/24/09 09:40 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

I remember seeing that thread with the container lid too, but I couldn't find it by searching. At one time I was wondering about the Kendrick Kwik Focus as a dust cover, but couldn't find anyone that had actually tried one. I didn't want to be the guinea pig for $36.

http://tinyurl.com/lbtz3k 1/2 way down the page.

(sage)

06/24/09 10:50 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Thanks Tim and Randy, I'll try the jar opener technique tomorrow after I track some down at Wally World or somewhere else. Thanks again and wish me luck...

Doug

(Postmaster)

06/24/09 11:38 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Good luck.

(Postmaster)

06/25/09 12:16 AM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Goto Home Depot and buy a roll of rubber shelf liner. Cut off a section of the liner and use it to grab the dust cover and turn CCW..

The liner with the holes works the best..

(sage)

06/25/09 01:10 AM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Concur 100% with StarWars on the rubber shelf liner with the holes. Anyone with an SCT should also keep some of this stuff in your toolbox for removing focal reducers, visual backs, or other stuff that freezes onto the SCT threads and doesn't want to come loose, especially when you're trying to work with frozen fingers. Also handy for stuck thumbscrews on tripods & other gear.

-Harry

(professor emeritus)

06/25/09 02:06 AM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Those rubber shelf-liners are the best thing since sliced bread! I've used them for everything from putting jigsaw puzzles together on them (if you're careful, you can simply roll up your in-progress puzzle and it will keep everything nice and tidy), to a handy non-skid surface for holding small parts, like when you're collimating or doing a quick field repair. Awesome stuff, and very inexpensive, plus usually very easy to find. You could probably even get your hands on it a local "dollar store" on the cheap, and they're re-usable! Can't go wrong!

Best of luck, keep us posted!

(sage)

06/25/09 10:57 AM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Happened to me also,

The whole front lens came off on my 125 PE and I managed to get a thumb print on the lens.

Any ideas on how to clean the inside of the front lens?

Alan

(Galactic Hitch-Hiker)

06/25/09 12:08 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Hi Alan,

Try Baader "Wonder Cleaning Fluid". I'm sure that you should be able to get this Stateside.

For those in the UK, I got mine from Rother Valley Optics.

http://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/baader-optical-wonder-cleaning-fluid_d3297.html

It comes in a press-spray plastic bottle - 100ml for Ł9.00 (it was Ł6.95) but it will practically last forever and a day when you consider how little one uses it and how much one uses at any given time.

Apply it using cotton pads and follow the procedure laid down by Arkansas Sky Observatory. Use the pads liberally for wiping and drying but don't spray the fluid directly onto the plate.

www.arksky.org/asoclean.htm

The instructions are very comprehensive.

The corrector should only be cleaned WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. There is a risk (minimal but a risk) that you will damage the lens coatings (but different sites have different opinions on this one). You make your own judgement but YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Hope this helps some.

Art

(sage)

06/25/09 12:50 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Thanks a lot Art,

I'll try to ind some and I'll check out the link also.

Alan

(Postmaster)

06/25/09 01:22 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

I hope you got it off safely. Mine kinda stuck when it was new. Anymore I just don't tighten it all the way when I put it back on.

(sage)

06/25/09 01:33 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Good idea, Starwars. I read your post just as I'm heading out the door, so I'll put the rubberized shelf stuff on my shopping list. Any preference as to color?

Again, thanks to all for the help.
Doug

(super member)

06/25/09 05:14 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Take it to a camera shop (repair). They have various filter wrenches for solving problems like this. They are split plastic rings with two grips sticking out the side that allow you to remove the cap. They use one on the lens barrel and another on the dust cap. Bill

(sage)

06/26/09 12:06 AM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

If I get really desparate I'll do the camera shop way. Please, dear Lord, don't let it come to that! My local Home Depot was out of the rubbery shelf liner. So tomorrow I'll try somewhere else. Again, thanks for the great advice; what did I do before the internet and CN?

(professor emeritus)

06/26/09 12:50 AM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Quote:

... what did I do before the internet and CN?

My guess, judging from your original post, is... dynamite.

(sage)

06/26/09 11:39 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Tim,
Unfortunately for me, access to any of Mr. Nobel's stuff has never materialized. Otherwise I'd have used it on more than just stubborn dust-caps! No, for me it has always been the Zen-like transcendence of inner-peace to overcome the frustrating obstacles of everyday life. THEN, if all else fails, The Louieville Slugger! As Eastwood says, nothing beats a good piece of hickory.

In all seriousness, I used a bit of rubberized shelve paper to coax the blighter off. Thanks again to all for the great suggestions.

Doug

(professor emeritus)

06/27/09 12:54 AM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Ahh, Dirty Harry, is there any aspect to life that your wit and wisdom doesn't apply?

So you were successful in getting the dust cap off then? That's great! So what's your impression of the 125 now that you have a chance to actually look it over? Pretty slick little piece of engineering yumminess, isn't it?

(sage)

06/27/09 11:03 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

You're right, Tim. This little monster is one sweet piece of glass. I can't wait for a (moderately) clear night to run it through its paces. I originally got it for my nephew, and I will eventually give it to him, but for now it's going to be that g-n-g for those times when time is at a premium. Again, thanks to all for the help and advice.

(professor emeritus)

06/27/09 11:52 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Sheesh I want you as my uncle! Usually all I got growing up from my uncles was a piece of beef jerky and a bottle of Pepsi!

Don't be bashful about playing with the scope in the daylight. Put it through it's paces, learn how to calibrate and train, practice slewing, etc. Better to become acquainted with the controls in broad daylight than fumbling with them under dark sky conditions. I invested in a good AC adapter for mine so I could monkey with it without running through a gob of batteries.

Enjoy it, and tell your nephew he's one lucky son-of-a-gun to have such a generous uncle!

(sage)

06/28/09 02:07 PM

Re: For shame! Dust-Cap Blues...

Hmmm..."Uncle Orion9"...does kind of have a ring to it, doesn't it???

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