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donnw
super member
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Goto Refractor Finally Arrives!
      #3413254 - 10/27/09 12:15 AM Attachment (40 downloads)

Hi All:

Well, I promised some photos when she arrived - here is the looong Goto refractor I recently picked up from ShopGoodwill.com. The case is nice on the outside, but will need some work inside (broken braces/accessory boxes.) The tripod and equatorial mount are in quite good shape - just need a good cleaning. The OTA is also in good shape - no dents and just a few minor paint chips - I think it can be touched up nicely. No lens cap but the objective was in good shape. I did pull apart the cell to give a quick clean. The front (crown?) of the objective has a definite greenish tint while the back side (flint?) is whitish. There were alignment marks drawn on the side, but interestingly, no foil spacers! Are objectives ever put together that way - ie, no foil spacers? The focuser is quite smooth - just needs some felt strips to take out the little bit of play. It will probably be a while before first light comments as weather for the next 6 days is clouds and more clouds! Enough chit chat - here's some photos (I shot it in front of part of my 'classics' stable - most of the others are snug in their boxes ;-)...

--------------------
Peace & Blessings,
Donn Williams
Member - AAVSO
----------------------------------
Celestron EdgeHD 11 on CGE in SkyShed POD GL5
Meade Lightbridge 12", SN10, LX200 Classic 8", AR5, 314 Brass & ETX125PE
Lunt LS60T/DS, Stellarvue SV102ED, SV80BV, SV80/9D, SV NH2
Cave Astrolla 8", Zeiss Telementor II, Unitron 114, 128, 142
Towa 339, Royal Astro 76/1200, Pentax J80, Borg 100, AT 102-F/11
Goto 105, Various Sears/Tasco/Selsi/Towa 60-80mm's


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donnw
super member
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413256 - 10/27/09 12:16 AM Attachment (25 downloads)

And another...

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donnw
super member
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413261 - 10/27/09 12:19 AM Attachment (9 downloads)

And another... (note how the tube is attached to the mount - pretty cool ;-)

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donnw
super member
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413262 - 10/27/09 12:21 AM Attachment (8 downloads)

Another one...

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Steve_M_M
scholastic sledgehammer
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Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 979
Loc: Moorpark, CA
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413264 - 10/27/09 12:23 AM

Donn,

I was surprised you did not give us an OMG! for the weight of the mount. Were you surprised how heavy it is?

If everything arrived safely and the scope/mount are in good condition, I believe you got a great price on that package.

Steve

--------------------
1956 Goto Optical 6" f15 Observatory Refractor
From the Titan Observatory as featured in S&T 1957-1959
&
1961 Nishimura 6" Reflector



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donnw
super member
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413265 - 10/27/09 12:23 AM Attachment (5 downloads)

It came with these three EP's (plus diagonal and terrestrial prism)...

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donnw
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413268 - 10/27/09 12:25 AM Attachment (6 downloads)

One more shot with the family...

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donnw
super member
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: Steve_M_M]
      #3413273 - 10/27/09 12:29 AM

Hi Steve -

You're right - the mount is VERY heavy. It seems reasonably smooth and tight, although being an engineer, I've got to take it apart soon and clean, re-lube and adjust everything ;-) This week may be a good time to do so, with all the clouds in Maryland for the next week!

--------------------
Peace & Blessings,
Donn Williams
Member - AAVSO
----------------------------------
Celestron EdgeHD 11 on CGE in SkyShed POD GL5
Meade Lightbridge 12", SN10, LX200 Classic 8", AR5, 314 Brass & ETX125PE
Lunt LS60T/DS, Stellarvue SV102ED, SV80BV, SV80/9D, SV NH2
Cave Astrolla 8", Zeiss Telementor II, Unitron 114, 128, 142
Towa 339, Royal Astro 76/1200, Pentax J80, Borg 100, AT 102-F/11
Goto 105, Various Sears/Tasco/Selsi/Towa 60-80mm's


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donnw
super member
*****

Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413283 - 10/27/09 12:40 AM

I'm going to need to find a few things for it so far:
- a manual (will have to see if one is online) which will hopefully show me how to repair the case insides)
- a lens cap (should be a slide on, since no threads at end of cell)
- a tripod round center tray with a nut to attach to 3 spreader arms
- a little knurled edge screw and lock nut for finder scope adjustment (missing one of 6)
- a little universal joint (fits between worm gear shaft and solid adjustment rod/knob assy (maybe Small Parts Inc or McMaster Carr?)

I'm definitely pleased to have this (my first Goto scope!) and really like some of the design ideas I see in the mount. Hopefully the star test will come out good - otherwise I might have to play around with lens spacing (since there are no tabs between the objective flint and crown... Hmmm...)

--------------------
Peace & Blessings,
Donn Williams
Member - AAVSO
----------------------------------
Celestron EdgeHD 11 on CGE in SkyShed POD GL5
Meade Lightbridge 12", SN10, LX200 Classic 8", AR5, 314 Brass & ETX125PE
Lunt LS60T/DS, Stellarvue SV102ED, SV80BV, SV80/9D, SV NH2
Cave Astrolla 8", Zeiss Telementor II, Unitron 114, 128, 142
Towa 339, Royal Astro 76/1200, Pentax J80, Borg 100, AT 102-F/11
Goto 105, Various Sears/Tasco/Selsi/Towa 60-80mm's


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Steve_M_M
scholastic sledgehammer
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Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 979
Loc: Moorpark, CA
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413284 - 10/27/09 12:41 AM Attachment (15 downloads)

It looks like this...

--------------------
1956 Goto Optical 6" f15 Observatory Refractor
From the Titan Observatory as featured in S&T 1957-1959
&
1961 Nishimura 6" Reflector



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donnw
super member
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Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: Steve_M_M]
      #3413293 - 10/27/09 12:49 AM

Hi Steve -

What did you use for assy lube - a synthetic lithium grease or ?? BTW, any hidden GOTCHAs to watch out for? Thanks!

--------------------
Peace & Blessings,
Donn Williams
Member - AAVSO
----------------------------------
Celestron EdgeHD 11 on CGE in SkyShed POD GL5
Meade Lightbridge 12", SN10, LX200 Classic 8", AR5, 314 Brass & ETX125PE
Lunt LS60T/DS, Stellarvue SV102ED, SV80BV, SV80/9D, SV NH2
Cave Astrolla 8", Zeiss Telementor II, Unitron 114, 128, 142
Towa 339, Royal Astro 76/1200, Pentax J80, Borg 100, AT 102-F/11
Goto 105, Various Sears/Tasco/Selsi/Towa 60-80mm's


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grendel
sage


Reged: 04/12/09
Posts: 250
Loc: Canterbury, Kent, UK
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3413432 - 10/27/09 04:18 AM

wow I would never have believed you could hide all those spanners and tools inside a mount! :-)
Grendel


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tim53
Pooh-Bah


Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1459
Loc: Highland Park, CA
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: grendel]
      #3413646 - 10/27/09 09:08 AM

I put my Mayflower back together using a synthetic wheel bearing grease, but it kind of smells like... ...like wheel bearing grease!

So I bought a tube of "super lube". Others have recommended that here. It's clear and odorless (so far as I've been able to tell). I used it on my gotonova spur gears so far. Will have to take the Mayflower apart again at some point and relube it with the stuff, too.

-Tim.

--------------------
"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"


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donnw
super member
*****

Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: tim53]
      #3417440 - 10/29/09 12:24 AM

Thanks for the lube tip Tim (and thanks for the mount blow apart photo Steve ;-)

Re, my comment about the objective, has anyone ever seen an objective put together without the typical three foil spacers? This is the first time I've seen that - but of course I haven't pulled apart all my objectives either ;-) Any feedback on the objective thing would be much appreciated! Cheers...

--------------------
Peace & Blessings,
Donn Williams
Member - AAVSO
----------------------------------
Celestron EdgeHD 11 on CGE in SkyShed POD GL5
Meade Lightbridge 12", SN10, LX200 Classic 8", AR5, 314 Brass & ETX125PE
Lunt LS60T/DS, Stellarvue SV102ED, SV80BV, SV80/9D, SV NH2
Cave Astrolla 8", Zeiss Telementor II, Unitron 114, 128, 142
Towa 339, Royal Astro 76/1200, Pentax J80, Borg 100, AT 102-F/11
Goto 105, Various Sears/Tasco/Selsi/Towa 60-80mm's


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mustgobigger
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 06/12/07
Posts: 2421
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3417503 - 10/29/09 01:34 AM Attachment (10 downloads)

the one i had did not have foil.
there might be a spacer ring around outer
perimeter of lens.
never had mine apart.
optics were good so i did not mess with them.

--------------------
RV-6
Meade 826
Meade 880 Deluxe
Unitron's 114,128,140,142,150,152,155,160
4" Jaegertron
4.5" A.E f/14 Refractor
4" f/15 Edmund's Refractor



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mustgobigger
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 06/12/07
Posts: 2421
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: mustgobigger]
      #3417505 - 10/29/09 01:41 AM Attachment (5 downloads)

spreader tray looks like this

--------------------
RV-6
Meade 826
Meade 880 Deluxe
Unitron's 114,128,140,142,150,152,155,160
4" Jaegertron
4.5" A.E f/14 Refractor
4" f/15 Edmund's Refractor



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mustgobigger
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 06/12/07
Posts: 2421
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: mustgobigger]
      #3417509 - 10/29/09 01:43 AM Attachment (12 downloads)

dust cap like this.
flush with outside of cell but rolled on edge to slide inside.

--------------------
RV-6
Meade 826
Meade 880 Deluxe
Unitron's 114,128,140,142,150,152,155,160
4" Jaegertron
4.5" A.E f/14 Refractor
4" f/15 Edmund's Refractor



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donnw
super member
*****

Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: mustgobigger]
      #3418746 - 10/29/09 05:36 PM

Thanks for the reply and shots Brian. I do have the spreader tray, but unfortunately it looks like someone took two 'bites' out of the edge.

I'm really anxious to get this outside for a peek, but the weather still looks like at least Sunday PM before clouds and rain will blow out! Can't wait - hopefully objective is fine (looks perfect - just the lack of foil spacers made me wonder.) Cheers!

--------------------
Peace & Blessings,
Donn Williams
Member - AAVSO
----------------------------------
Celestron EdgeHD 11 on CGE in SkyShed POD GL5
Meade Lightbridge 12", SN10, LX200 Classic 8", AR5, 314 Brass & ETX125PE
Lunt LS60T/DS, Stellarvue SV102ED, SV80BV, SV80/9D, SV NH2
Cave Astrolla 8", Zeiss Telementor II, Unitron 114, 128, 142
Towa 339, Royal Astro 76/1200, Pentax J80, Borg 100, AT 102-F/11
Goto 105, Various Sears/Tasco/Selsi/Towa 60-80mm's


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mustgobigger
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 06/12/07
Posts: 2421
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: donnw]
      #3418762 - 10/29/09 05:47 PM

waiting to try one out myself and it looks like sunday,
thinking about that jeopardy song again.


--------------------
RV-6
Meade 826
Meade 880 Deluxe
Unitron's 114,128,140,142,150,152,155,160
4" Jaegertron
4.5" A.E f/14 Refractor
4" f/15 Edmund's Refractor



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Happy-Idiot
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 04/06/06
Posts: 2836
Loc: 3rd Rock
Re: Goto Refractor Finally Arrives! new [Re: mustgobigger]
      #3419104 - 10/29/09 08:46 PM

Gorgeous scope Donn! It is in great hands. Good luck with it and enjoy.

--------------------
Brian



A small scope that gets used often is a better investment than a big scope that stays in the closet.

Unitrons, you spend more time looking at them than you do through them.



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