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KD5NRH
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(member)
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07/02/09 06:07 PM
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Cheap focuser overhaul?
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I have a couple of department store 60mm refractors that make good "beater" scopes, since I don't mind tossing them in the trunk for unplanned observing sessions. Both have plastic rack & pinion focusers lubed with that awful axle grease that feels like cheap glue-stick glue and gets on everything if you make the mistake of touching it while moving the scope. Has anybody had any luck cleaning these things up and relubing them with something less offensive?
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epee
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(professor emeritus)
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07/02/09 07:16 PM
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Re: Cheap focuser overhaul?
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Try flushing with water first, then soap and water, and finally alchol to remove the grease. The trouble is the heavy grease is probably for taking out play as much as for lubrication. Light machine oil probably will leave too much slop in the fit of the gears so petroleum jelly might be your best, if sloppy, substitute. You'll have to decide if periodic cleaning and relubing is worth the hassle because petrolium jelly will trap dirt quickly.
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arpruss
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(scholastic sledgehammer)
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07/02/09 07:47 PM
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Re: Cheap focuser overhaul?
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What you would ideally want to relube it with is probably damping grease. The problem is that that stuff can be expensive. Nye Lubricants kindly sent me their free sample pack when I asked for it nicely (I offered to pay shipping and handling, and honestly told them I wasn't a company, and I wasn't looking to adopt it for a product; they didn't actually charge shipping and handling). I think the sample pack would have enough of the heavy stuff for one or two R&P focusers. I used it for three collimation screws, and there was enough left over for about two or three more.
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Re: Cheap focuser overhaul?
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Hi KD5NRH. Remove said focuser, stand back about 6feet from the trash can and drop kick it in. Make yourself a Crayford focuser, there is a simple push pull type I have invented, focussing is by gentle twisting/ thrust/ pull action.
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KD5NRH
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(member)
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07/03/09 08:15 PM
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Re: Cheap focuser overhaul?
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Quote:
Hi KD5NRH. Remove said focuser, stand back about 6feet from the trash can and drop kick it in. Make yourself a Crayford focuser, there is a simple push pull type I have invented, focussing is by gentle twisting/ thrust/ pull action.
Link?
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