· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Refractors Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Sky Muse sage Reged: 10/26/12 Loc: De Soto County, MS Re: Tak or Starlight micro-fine focuser for FS series? [Re: plyscope]       #5533849 - 11/22/12 12:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice, but with the stabilising bar it's not as uniform in appearance, and therefore perhaps not as uniform in practice. I wasn't fully aware of the bar until I viewed the link, having only seen the bar in the parts bag in illustration and thinking, "What's that for?" At this point, I so want to keep it all oem, but with that exposed bar, it's time to rethink...again. Cheers, Alan Post Extras:       Scott99 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/10/07 Loc: New England Re: Tak or Starlight micro-fine focuser for FS series? [Re: Sky Muse]       #5534059 - 11/22/12 02:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   another data point- ordered the FT pinion upgrade for my FS102 and loved it, I found it easy to install and never needed to adjust it. Nor have I ever need to adjust the FT pinion on the Astro-Physics scopes I've owned. I've also used the Tak 2-speed on other peoples' scopes, I did find it a little more rubbery-feeling, but not anything atrocious. I liked using it and it did the job well. If you want the all-Tak OEM look I think going with the Tak upgrade would be fine. Let's put it this way - if I bought a used Tak with the Tak 2-speed upgrade I would just use it, no reason to switch it to FT or fool around with it. If I bought a Tak scope without a 2-speed on there and wanted to upgrade it I would buy the Starlight upgrade. The Starlight pinion does blend pretty well with the Tak aesthetic also - the knobs look very similar except for being gold-colored, which does not clash too badly IMO. Actually I just checked, only the fine-focus knob is gold, the big ones are silver just like Tak. Post Extras:       Pete-LH sage Reged: 03/25/09 Loc: Wilmington, DE Re: Tak or Starlight micro-fine focuser for FS series? [Re: plyscope]       #5535462 - 11/23/12 01:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   RE: "One point you should know is that the Starlight uses your original shaft and pinion " I bought the Starlight for my FS-102 and is says in the directions that the shaft/pinion has to be true. I went and bought it anyway and my shaft/pinion was not true which caused an uneven movement. I took it to one of the local shops to make it straight and they did the best they could but it still did not move smoothly. So eventually I went back to the stock focuser which is fine. I don't know that I would call it "buttery" but it works and the views are great. The shafts on these and Vixens R&P focusers are a soft metal and are easy to knock out of true. In that sense if you have a good one the Starlght can maintain the movement and prevent bending since it encloses and protects. I think the difficulty some have to adjust the Starlight may be due to this issue because other wise I found it easy to install and adjust. Post Extras:       RossSackett Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/17/07 Loc: Memphis, TN Re: Tak or Starlight micro-fine focuser for FS series? [Re: Pete-LH]       #5836873 - 05/02/13 06:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I know I'm jumping in way late in this thread, but I thought I'd mention that I drilled and tapped one of the stock knurled knobs on my FS-102 and added a 3" diameter disk of 1/4" thick Al and it works great. I had been contemplating an aftermarket 10:1 fine focuser but no longer feel the need. In fact, I prefer the c.2.5:1 to the looser-feeling 10:1 micro-fine focusers I have on my other scopes. And I can more easily work it wearing gloves. Ross Edited by RossSackett (05/02/13 06:24 PM) Post Extras:       Mike Clemens Frozen to Eyepiece Reged: 11/26/05 Loc: Alaska, USA Re: Tak or Starlight micro-fine focuser for FS series? [Re: RossSackett]       #5837104 - 05/02/13 07:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Starlight micro focuser didn't work for my FS128. I guess the casting tolerance was not right. The Starlight was not a proper fit. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 28 registered and 44 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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