Martin
super member
Reged: 09/09/05
Posts: 148
Loc: South Dakota
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Hi,
I have recently purchased an lxd650 mount and have been having a few problems. The Dec Axis is now fixed. Thanks to those who helped with their suggestions. Another problem that the mount has is that the stabilizer bars with the hub in the middle has broken off from one of the legs. The sleeve as I call it, on the leg seems to have turned a bit, causing the piece of metal or stabilizer bar to be a little crooked which probably stressed out the little connector on the leg and caused it to snap off. My question is: Can that sleeve on leg which joins the 2 pieces of the tripod leg, be loosened and then straigtened. Also, can the part that broke off be welded?
Thanks
Martin
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Skywatchr
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1443
Loc: North-Central Pa.
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Are you talking about the strut at the bottom of the tripod leg? If so, just find a "standard" Meade field tripod for the LX200 and drill out the 6 holes in the top where the mount bolts on. They're threaded for the LX200, and not threaded for the LXD650 so you can use the bolts that go up through the bottom. Or find one leg as a replacement. They're the same as the LXD650 tripod (except for the holes as noted above). The LXD750 uses the Giant field tripod.
Jeff
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18" F/5 Home-Built Dob. with DD2 Mike Dudley Mirror
Highly Modified Meade DS-16 in Roll Off Roof
6" F/15 Brass w/ D&G Lens on DS-16 Mount
DS-10 10" F/4.5 Newtonian (currently being modified) and for sale
LXD650, LX200 Classic
DayStar 0.45 with multiple ERFs
AT66ED Chrome
Denkmeier FMC
11x80 Meade, 20x80 Celestron binocs (Japan Made).
Lots of Naglers and both Ethos of course. ;-)
Gadgets and parts everywhere.
And a Wife that loves it as much as me!
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 1650
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A picture here would be worth a thousand words.
But if I understand you correctly, the bottom assembly of the top leg has somehow rotated so that the small "Tabs" facing to the center of the mount, and which support the bottom spreader arm has somehow changed orientation?
If this is the case, it would seem that either the top or bottom casting has come loose a bit. It might be just a simple matter of buying a strap wrench and attempting to twist it back to the right orientation. Strap wrenches are avialable at auto parts stores for changing oil filters. Also available at Harbor Freight.
But it SHOULDN'T have rotated.
The end of spreader bar itself is held in place by a "Roll Pin." This is just a small rolled cylinder of metal (at least this is the case on the LXD750). The pin can break.
My advice would be to drive one out and take it to a hardware store and buy 6 new pins and replace them all. To get it out, you can use a drift or punch with a similar diamater head as the hole in the mount has.
And of cousre you could replace them with nuts and bolts.
But something doesn't seem right. I know on mine, the legs have some side to side wiggle which I know will in time cause my pins to fail.. I am thinking about cutting some shims to go at the top attaching bolts to try to eliminate that side to side play. Even when both bolts are fully tightend on each leg, when folding the tripod, they can wiggle quite badly which does on mine twist the spreaders. Could this be what happened to you?
Anyway, if the bottom tabs are not pointing towards the center of the spreader hub, something is wrong and you need to sort that out first. If you do try a strap wrench an it moves, that means that the glue has failed.. YOu could take off the bottom assy and re-glue, or you could drill a hole into the side and use a setscrew to lock the leg tube in position..
good luck..
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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Martin
super member
Reged: 09/09/05
Posts: 148
Loc: South Dakota
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Eddgie,
You are right. Thats exactly what I was trying to explain. But one of my spreader arms actually snapped off where it attaches to the leg. The pin didnt break, the little attachment bracket on the leg is what broke off from the leg. I believe this happened because the orientation of the sleeve on the leg had changed at some point, causing stress when you fold up the legs to move the mount. I will try the strap wrench to try to move the sleeve on the leg. I am wondering if it wasnt put on that way at the factory. Everything seems tight. Anyway, I did try to epoxy the little attachment back to the leg with jb weld and it didnt hold at all. Any other thoughts on what I could try.
Thanks
Martin
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imjeffp
Senior Space Cadet
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 4325
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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Chain? Cable? Fabricate a strap around the leg?
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Blog
ST80 • AT80EDT/LXD650
ETX-90/DS-2000 • 10" LX200 Classic ("The Quarter-Meter Telescope at the Heritage Park Observatory")
SPC900NC • DMK21AF04 • Digital Rebel XT
  
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Skywatchr
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1443
Loc: North-Central Pa.
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Exactly! JB weld (epoxy) will NOT hold. It's too thin (cast aluminum) to weld, and it's hot-glued onto the leg. You could fabricate a strap, but it would have to be very rigid. You're better off replacing it.
Jeff
Quote:
Eddgie,
You are right. Thats exactly what I was trying to explain. But one of my spreader arms actually snapped off where it attaches to the leg. The pin didnt break, the little attachment bracket on the leg is what broke off from the leg. I believe this happened because the orientation of the sleeve on the leg had changed at some point, causing stress when you fold up the legs to move the mount. I will try the strap wrench to try to move the sleeve on the leg. I am wondering if it wasnt put on that way at the factory. Everything seems tight. Anyway, I did try to epoxy the little attachment back to the leg with jb weld and it didnt hold at all. Any other thoughts on what I could try.
Thanks
Martin
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18" F/5 Home-Built Dob. with DD2 Mike Dudley Mirror
Highly Modified Meade DS-16 in Roll Off Roof
6" F/15 Brass w/ D&G Lens on DS-16 Mount
DS-10 10" F/4.5 Newtonian (currently being modified) and for sale
LXD650, LX200 Classic
DayStar 0.45 with multiple ERFs
AT66ED Chrome
Denkmeier FMC
11x80 Meade, 20x80 Celestron binocs (Japan Made).
Lots of Naglers and both Ethos of course. ;-)
Gadgets and parts everywhere.
And a Wife that loves it as much as me!
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 1650
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Well, I would investigate the reason for it not being correctly oriented..
I would take it to a welding shop and have them weld a piece of aluminum on to the leg. I think this is the only way you are going to get it to hold. I am sure you will find someone in your area that can tack on a little lug. A few minutes with a metal file to dress it up, a drill with the same size bit as the hole, and you are in business.
This to me is indeed a bit of an issue with these mounts though. The Celestron mounts use a much better spreader design. The Meade I have is rather crude in this area.
But it is what it is...
As I mentioned, mine flexes sideways when I fold the tripod, and the spreaders tend to flop so that when you fold the legs, they want to go off center. The Celestron hub is MUCH better in that it is a very well machined peice.
I also think that again, some shims at the top of the mount between the leg mounting lugs and the tripod head mounting lugs could be shimmed to remove some of the side-play.. But this would only affect things when you were folding the tripod... If the tabs on one of your legs is not in alighment, the only way I know of to make it rigtht will be to somehow rotate the leg or the assembly to get it back in line.
Someone told me that these were glued and that be heating them and using a block of wood, you could hammer off the ends. One day, I will do this because I want to work some dents out of my legs, or maybe even replace them with Aluminim tubes. But for now, I am content to leave it alone.
YOu on the other hand, may not have much choice. I mean at this point, your options are to try to fix it and take the chance of breaking it, or buying another leg (which might not be all THAT expensive, IF you can get one from Meade, who doesn't seem to want to deal in replacement parts very much).
Will watch to see what you do...
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
Edited by Eddgie (07/09/08 01:28 PM)
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie (sort of)
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22038
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
The Celestron mounts use a much better spreader design.
Some may. That Meade tripod has in continuous service with some of the best-selling telescopes in the market for well over 20 years, beginning in 1980. There's no telling how many thousands of them are out there with very few failures. Celestron has produced a far smaller number of instruments and has changed their design every few years so a broad generalization is difficult.
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John C
Urban Observatory
MaxScope 60
Tele Vue Pronto
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N APO
Meade 7" F/15 Mak-Cass
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
STL-11000M LRGB,Ha,OII,SII
LXD750, EM-200
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Skywatchr
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1443
Loc: North-Central Pa.
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I agree. The Meade "standard adjustable" field tripod has been a marathon runner when it comes to tripods. They are tough and very stable for their size. I would never replace steel legs with aluminum simply because steel is much stronger, dampens fast, and adds stability due to the weight being low in the center if gravity. As far as the struts go, cast aluminum is cast aluminum. And if you don't abuse it, it'll last a lifetime. Heck, I have 2 tripods I use all the time that are at least 20+ years old. No cracks, but plenty of battle scars! 
I've had a few so-called "heavy-duty" tripods from Celestron. All but a few don't hold a candle to the Meade. One I had with a C-11 (older one) was very nice and was as good as the Meade.
The 2" SS tripod for the CG-5 is a very nice tripod for it's size, but it's a little small for my liking. But I would take it over any aluminum-legged tripod any day.
Just my 
Jeff
Quote:
Quote:
The Celestron mounts use a much better spreader design.
Some may. That Meade tripod has in continuous service with some of the best-selling telescopes in the market for well over 20 years, beginning in 1980. There's no telling how many thousands of them are out there with very few failures. Celestron has produced a far smaller number of instruments and has changed their design every few years so a broad generalization is difficult.
--------------------
18" F/5 Home-Built Dob. with DD2 Mike Dudley Mirror
Highly Modified Meade DS-16 in Roll Off Roof
6" F/15 Brass w/ D&G Lens on DS-16 Mount
DS-10 10" F/4.5 Newtonian (currently being modified) and for sale
LXD650, LX200 Classic
DayStar 0.45 with multiple ERFs
AT66ED Chrome
Denkmeier FMC
11x80 Meade, 20x80 Celestron binocs (Japan Made).
Lots of Naglers and both Ethos of course. ;-)
Gadgets and parts everywhere.
And a Wife that loves it as much as me!
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southmike
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 2819
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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I know the part well I have broken one myself.
I actually had a couple spare legs but they are mostly gone..the problem is that part is cast aluminum
no easy fix other then swapping legs or replacing the tripod. anything else will be rough and/ or hard to do.
I do have one or two standard tripods should you want to go that route. or try a want ad...long shot though.
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group scope pic
my refractors
LX200 10"-St120
LX200 8" f6.3-Orion 80ed
LX200 8" f10-Orion 90 Mak setup pic
Meade 102ED LXD650
Sky Watcher 100 ED Triplet prototype
Nexstar 5
etx125
etx70's
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southmike
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 2819
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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I do have another idea.. if you are a diy kind of guy.
make a pattern of whay you need. buy or mill a small c channel that will fit the rod. drill out the hole and then two holes for a fastner.
you will have to grind off the old one. then mark your two mounting holes drill and tap them.
add the u channel, with some loctite. then squeeze in the drift pin with a c clamp or similar , so you dont bang on the u joint piece.
or do a similar thing with two "L " to make the required shape.. two more holes to drill and tap but would also work.
cover it up with krylon spray paint . hammered greay I believe is the finish , not 100% on the color.
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group scope pic
my refractors
LX200 10"-St120
LX200 8" f6.3-Orion 80ed
LX200 8" f10-Orion 90 Mak setup pic
Meade 102ED LXD650
Sky Watcher 100 ED Triplet prototype
Nexstar 5
etx125
etx70's
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 1650
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Well, all I can say is taht the lower spreader on my LXD750 looks QUITE crude in comparison to the spreader on my CGE.
The CGE folds MUCH more smoothly and the spreader tucks in cleanly. The LXD750 by comparions has legs that wobble from side to side so when you fold it, the spreader kind of "Flops". The ends of the spreader wiggle in the tabs on the legs. Too sloppy..
Didn't say the mount was bad though.. Only the spreader.
As to which is the better tripod, I think that Meade is more solid.
As to which has the better engineered spreader, it is the CGE by a mile.
In fact, I WISH the LXD750 had the same kind of arrangement with the big ring around the leg like the Celestron.
The reason??? Simple... I am expecting it to break off on mine the way it did on his, and the way someone else just posted... You can TELL it is the weak point in the tripod just LOOKING at it.
Now with the saddle 5 feet in the air, if a spreader WERE to break, I am afraid that my 6" refractor would smash violently into the ground.. I would be sad.
Hmmmm.
The more I use the Meade LXD750, the more I am tempted to get another one for my C14...
But the spreader bites... LOL...
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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Martin
super member
Reged: 09/09/05
Posts: 148
Loc: South Dakota
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Well,
Thanks for all the ideas and input folks. Much appreciated. I also think that this is a weak point in the tripod but I do love the mount. Perhaps some of the tripods don't have this problem. A guy I work with has his own machine shop and I will have him look at it and either fix the one broken connector or possibly come up with a better spreader/stabilizer system. It just wasn't very easy to fold up the legs and then unfold them without stressing out the little connectors on the legs of the tripod. As I said it appears to me that they should fold up easier than they do.
Thanks
Martin
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 1650
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In a perfect world, you could have something like the system the CGE uses.. Depending on the tube diameter, maybe you could even USE the CGE system.
In the CGE system, it is a ring that goes completely around the outer tube leg. There is a split in one end with projections that take the spreader bar. VERY clean system.
Maybe your friend could fabricate something similar.
But if you can get him to weld a tab on, that might work fine too. As long as you are careful with it when you fold up the tripod. it will probably be fine.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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snufus
sage
Reged: 09/10/05
Posts: 379
Loc: Round Rock, TX
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Quote:
The Celestron mounts use a much better spreader design.
Maybe in the mounts lower than the CGE but I will say from owning both a CGE and LXD750 that I prefer the LXD750's tripod because of the bottom spreader. The CGE's design uses plastic for the lower spreader join and the spreader bar rings (the rings that are around the tripod legs which the spreader bars use to connect to the legs) as where the LXD750's design is all metal.
I found out first hand what can happen with plastic as my CGE's lower spreader join busted apart causing the mount and scope to come crashing to the ground. Now I cannot say that the plastic spreader join had a flaw in it or already had a crack because I know this is not a common issue. I never noticed any issues with it before the crash but then again how often do we look at the lower spreader join? Celestron seemed to agree to this being the cause as they are fixing it free of cost.
In my opinion Celestron needs to replace the plastic parts (spreader bar rings and spreader join) on the lower spreader of the CGE's tripod. I would pay the extra cost for this swap for sure. What is funny is I never noticed these parts were plastic until the crash. Now, I just cannot get it out of my head why you have such an expensive, heavy, and beautiful EQ head and electronics pier above plastic parts.
I love the CGE but this is one flaw I wish they would address. This is just my opinion and experience. 
It terms of flop yes I agree the CGE's lower spreader does not flop around as much as the LXD750's when folded up but when setup I feel more confident in the LXD750's tripod over the CGE's (metal always beats plastic).
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Best Regards,
Daniel
Scopes
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Meade 12'' LX200R #1
Meade 12'' LX200R #2
Orion Premium 102ED
William Optics 66SD
William Optics 66ZS
Mounts
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Celestron CGE #1
Celestron CGE #2
Meade LXD750
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rolandlinda3
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 1547
Loc: Crozet VA 22932
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If you cannot change to a metal piece and the one they send you still looks shaky, I recommend getting a tube of epoxy 2 part glue that is good for plastic and other things, make a simple template of the flat top with a thin wood or metal sheeting, and glue the sucker down to the plastic piece. The resulting hand-done composite will be as strong as metal.
Roland
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