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stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2645
Loc: Arizona, USA
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Howdy all;
I am considering putting a Moonlight focuser on my TV 102. As the shot below shows, it is the old green version. The rack and pinion focuser has some trouble with a large, heavy eyepiece.
Has anyone done this? Was it easy to do? Did you see an improvement?
Thanks;
Steve Coe
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TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 4346
Loc: Petaluma, CA
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Newp. I did have a Moonlite on my Meade 127ED, however, and now have the Feathertouch Microfocuser on my TV-102. I like both focusers, but the Feathertouch Microfocuser is cheaper, easy to install, and remains R&P rather than converting your focuser into a Crayford. I suspect that the Feathertouch with internal brake, designed for your chrome tubed focuser, would be the bee's knees at a modest price. I have a TV Gibraltar mount coming for my TV-102 this weekend. When I set up, I'll play with loads and see how well the braked version of the Feathertouch handles mass. How much mass are we talking about when your stock focuser starts having problems?
Regards,
Jim
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"I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."
- Sir Issac Newton
Edited by jrbarnett (11/04/09 07:51 PM)
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Buck
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/29/05
Posts: 575
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Hey Steve
Exactly what issues are you having with the stock focuser? Usually the stock focuser will work fine if you apply tension to the brake screw and with that focal length there is plenty of depth of focus. However, in the pic it looks like you might be imaging. If this is the case than a good 2 speed focuser would help in getting sharp focus. I have added the FeatherTouch Micro w/Brake to an NP101 and another on a NP127 and all I can say is that they are a wonderful addition to a scope. Installation is very easy.
Hope this helps
Buck
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RAKing
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 2087
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Steve,
As much as I like Ron Newman and MoonLite, I would have to say the Feathertouch focuser is better for this scope. I swapped mine out in less than half an hour and it worked great. FWIW - I also did the same thing on my FS-128.
Cheers, 
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
Tak FS-128, C925-CF, C6SE, other stray cats and refractors.
A-P Mach1 GTO
Zeiss orthos to Ethos - and some stuff in between.
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KerryR
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1163
Loc: SW Michigan
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It's possible your focuser could stand servicing by TV-- they'll replace the teflon sleeve inside and tune as well. If this sleeve get's worn, the focuser gets a little sloppy.
2 other areas to check: the screws holding the pinion assembly on to the focuser could be a touch loose, you may be able to tighten them, which will push the tube tighter against the roof of the focuser, possibly removing some slop. The screws that hold the rack on could also be a touch loose, which can make the focuser feel sloppy. It's fairly common for these screws to be loose on older scopes.
I have a Moonlite on my Meade ED127, and a FT pinion retrofit on my (old) Genesis.
While both focusers are VERY nice, TV focusers usually hold their own very well (I feel no need to replace the focuser on my Pronto). I suspect all your problems will go away with a little tuning, either your own or Televue's. (I had them service my old TV, and the scope came back in extremely fine working order).
TV's scopes are designed around large heavy ep's, so if it's sagging (for visual), something's wrong.
For 2 speed, you could add TV's 2 speed retro-fit.
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Kerry
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Downward Bound
Adrenaline Junkie
Reged: 03/29/06
Posts: 2641
Loc: Seattle
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Hi Steve. I will second Jim's recommendation for the FT when mated to your TV. I have the highest praise for ML and I have owned 3 for my reflectors and have been completely satisfied. But on your TV I think you'll be happier with the FT for the reasons Jim stated. I wasn't satisfied with the stock R&P and on my TV-85 I installed the FT and on my NP-127 I have the TV Focusmate - both are significant improvements in my estimation.
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Bill
'flector: R200SS, 22" f/3.6 (on order)
'fractors: PST, AT-66, TV-85, FS-102, NP-127, TMB-152
'bins: 15x63, 10x52, 22x85
410+028B, Sphinx, Telepod, EZ Touch, G-11
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stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2645
Loc: Arizona, USA
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I am assuming that a "tune up" from Televue will cost as much as a new focuser, shipping and all. That is what motivated me to start this discussion. I have the 10:1 set up from Televue, it does not work. That, and the fact when I am trying to use a 35mm Panoptic with a 2 inch filter it will not hold if I am on the North America nebula or other "straight up" objects. I have tried the control knob and I can focus and then lock it, but that seems a little extreme.
Like I said, I will try and get some time to look it over and lube the focus from TV before ordering something new.
Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
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nyc_nurse
sage
Reged: 07/29/09
Posts: 254
Loc: nyc
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Quote:
Like I said, I will try and get some time to look it over and lube the focus from TV before ordering something new
Hi Steve. I'm not sure but I would double check with the guys at TV whether you should lube anything. I've never noticed any lube/grease on any of the pinion assemble/draw tube parts on my TV-102 and it works fantastic. Only problem with lube/grease is that unless it's in a sealed environment dust/dirt particles can easily get stuck on it and create a perfect grinding mixture. Good luck!
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Sam P.
www.agirlandaguy.blogspot.com
Pentax 7X50
TV-102 APO w/ (Starbeam - on backorder  )
Ash Gibraltar w/ SkyTour DSC
NZ3-6, N9T6, N13T6
TV 20 Plossl
Pan 24, 35
Pentax XW10, XW14
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Lt 26
member
Reged: 02/19/09
Posts: 23
Loc: Northwest Illinois
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Steve. I have the TV Focusmate (6:1). When I have my 35 panoptic in and pointed strait up it does not move. I have even tried giving the focus knob a quick spin backwards in this position, as soon as I let go it stops. After I added mine movement in coarse also improved. Good luck to you.
Dereck
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TV 102 / Ash Gib 5 / Focusmate / Starbeam
TV 20, 55 Pl, 4 Rad, T6 3.5, 5, 11
T5 26, E 6, 8, 17, Pan 35
SV 70 / M1
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Jim Curry
sage
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 432
Loc: Maine
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Steve:
I had a stock r&p on my Vixen, switched to a large format ML and am very satisfied. I use a turret w/5 ep's and no problem with zenith viewing.
Jim
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Vixen 140 refractor
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Scott99
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/07
Posts: 706
Loc: New England
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Quote:
TV's scopes are designed around large heavy ep's, so if it's sagging (for visual), something's wrong.
this is not what I found, my TV102 focuser could not handle a Maxbright & 35mm Panoptic. When the scope was pointed near zenith the focuser would start grinding & slipping backward, it could not lift the load
It was tolerable for me, I just tightened the tension up a little. The tough thing is that Crayford focusers all have this problem, you have to tighten the tension quite hard when pointed at zenith. R&P focusers are better but the available ones are somewhat big & heavy for a TV102.
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8x22 Steiner Safari binos
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Buck
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/29/05
Posts: 575
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"grinding".....whew, shounds like the focuser was in bad need of adjustment or repair. When the teflon guide inside of the focuser tube gets worn, it can make the focuser tube have too much play, which in turn can make slop between the pinion block and the rack on the focuser tube. I have heard of a few issues where the owners removed the focuser tube and did not get the teflon guide back in properly and caused a lot of problems.
Buck
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johnnyha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/06
Posts: 1123
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I have no problem with a Feathertouch micro pinion and a 31mm T5 Nag, OR binoviewers with 24 pans, in my TV101.
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Johnny
Spicewood, TX
Sherman Oaks, CA
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