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EricJD
sage
Reged: 07/24/07
Posts: 424
Loc: Chesapeake VA
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Has anyone out there had their LXD75 supercharged by Dr. Sherrod? I'm thinking of getting mine done and was wondering what kind of performance I can expect.
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Orion 120mm ST
LXD75
DSI Pro 3
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Bratman2
sage
Reged: 04/11/05
Posts: 239
Loc: NC, US
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I had mine done about a year and a half ago. Shipped straight from the retailer to him new. My feelings is I had done a better job on a LXD55 I owned a few years ago. But being I only had done the one it was with much aggravation and about 12 hrs. of work. Then I spent another several hrs. adjusting the mesh out for best tracking.
One thing that really disapointed me was the set screws came loose on my third viewing session with the 75. Also I have spent a couple of hrs. fine tuning the screw mesh to get a little tighter specs. If you are leary of breaking into her send it to him. If you feel comfortable ripping into a working mount go for it.
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EricJD
sage
Reged: 07/24/07
Posts: 424
Loc: Chesapeake VA
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Thanks, a lot, that's exactly the kind of input I was looking for.
For me the issue is either get the LXD75 tuned or sell it and use the tuning cash and sale cash, plus extra, to buy a GM8. I wonder what the tracking is like on a tuned LXD75 versus a stock GM8.
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Orion 120mm ST
LXD75
DSI Pro 3
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codemonkey
super member
Reged: 09/16/08
Posts: 163
Loc: Lafayette, CO
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Are you currently imaging with the LXD75 and seeing issues that you want addressed?
I've been using my LXD75 for just under a year now, finally got going with some decent polar alignment and guiding (Starshoot Soltaire, ST80, and 909 clone), and am pretty happy with it. I did occasionally have a weird "jump" in some 2+ minute exposures, so I took it all apart, changed the grease, polished surfaces, and spent some time really working on the backlash. Found one of my drive gear set screws was loose.
Of course, I haven't had a chance to get it out since then, so I don't know the net effect, but overall it was not difficult, just time-consuming (a solid day). If you have any mechanical aptitude, I'd say just tear into it yourself.
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EricJD
sage
Reged: 07/24/07
Posts: 424
Loc: Chesapeake VA
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Yes, definitely some issues. I can take 2+ minute exposures of objects near the pole, say in Cassiopeia, but the closer I get to straight up the worse my problems get.
I have a little technical aptitude but I'm too afraid that I'll break something or lose something to take the mount apart.
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Orion 120mm ST
LXD75
DSI Pro 3
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codemonkey
super member
Reged: 09/16/08
Posts: 163
Loc: Lafayette, CO
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If you're a little uncertain of how far you might want to dig in, I'd say take the two motor housings off and check the drive gears (round gears, not worm gears) to make sure the set screws are tight. It's basically the first step in doing anything, and is also a common problem.
This will let you check a common problem, and also give you an idea of what might be involved with going further.
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gnowellsct
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/24/09
Posts: 729
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If somebody has established a business sideline upgrading a mount it is a blinking yellow light about the mount's quality control. Maybe another choice should be made???
Greg N
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"Aperture will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no aperture."
featuring selected astrojunk:
bunch o' widefield eyepieces
bunch o' narrowfield eyepieces
couple o' Barlows
couple o' scopes
couple o' mounts
couple o' tripods
and a pier 'n' stuff
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Bratman2
sage
Reged: 04/11/05
Posts: 239
Loc: NC, US
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How would it be any different than upgrading a motorcycle or car? The Suzuki I have has the suspension totally replaced and alot of the motor upgraded. Was the bike bad when new? No, I just wanted better. Same with my Subaru. Many people prefer to upgrade and a few prefer to pay someone to upgrade for them. Some are totally satisfied with out of the box performance.
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codemonkey
super member
Reged: 09/16/08
Posts: 163
Loc: Lafayette, CO
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Quote:
If somebody has established a business sideline upgrading a mount it is a blinking yellow light about the mount's quality control. Maybe another choice should be made???
I think it's more an issue that some of us are using a lower-cost mount for something it probably wasn't really intended for - astrophotography. If you're not doing AP there's not much wrong with the LXD75, in its intended market.
Buying the LXD75 over a much more expensive AP-ready mount let me test my interest in the hobby and learn a lot without a huge money spend upfront. I didn't know if I would be pure visual, do some AP, or do pure AP.
At this point my interest is mainly AP, so I'm seeing how far I can go with what I currently have before moving up. If nothing else it will make me appreciate the higher-end stuff more.
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