Telescope Reviews: I Feel Dirty...

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Equipment Discussions >> Equipment

Pages: 1

kfiscus
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/09/12

Loc: Albert Lea, MN, USA

I Feel Dirty... new

#5546584 - 11/30/12 01:51 AM

Found a seller getting rid of his Z12 that is fully-flocked, has a refigured primary, has an upgraded secondary, and has Bob's Knobs and stronger primary springs. I had these on my to-do list for my Z12. So I tried to sell my stock Z12 on the other site for 1/2 price. Lots of hits, no nibbles. So...I offered to part it out. The feeding frenzy was something to behold! I'm going to MAKE money but it still felt wrong taking apart a fully functional scope.

The OTA came completely apart with no issues in only 20 minutes. So if anyone has any questions about how Z12s are put together let me know.

Post Extras:

mayidunk
Don't Ask...

Reged: 02/17/10

Loc: Betwixt & Between...

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: kfiscus]
#5546660 - 11/30/12 04:52 AM

Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! Don't sweat it.

Post Extras:

Goodchild
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 12/31/08

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: mayidunk]
#5546739 - 11/30/12 07:39 AM

Hi, Ken,
I've heard that the Zhumell and Apertura scopes are the same. Since you've taken your Z apart, can you confirm whether or not this is true? I guess my main question is does Z use roller bearings on the azimuth mount like the Apertura. This is one of the things that is making me lean towards A. Thanks.

Post Extras:

simpleisbetter
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/18/11

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Goodchild]
#5546827 - 11/30/12 09:05 AM

Ken,
Nothing to feel guilty about. Doesn't sound like you cheated or misled anyone, and you made a little money too so be thankful. There's always a market for spare parts in these mass produced scopes since the companies who sell the scopes won't sell parts.

Royce,
They are both the same scopes, GSO's each with their own logos. My personal preference would also be Apertura since they have an actual store and staff to support and stand behind them, vs Zhumell that near as I can figure is only a Hayneedle "brand" with no real store or staff beyond phone sales/returns.

Opticsmart's David Giles has an account and presence here on CN (DavidOpticsMart), listens to and actively participates with us.

Edited by simpleisbetter (11/30/12 09:14 AM)

Post Extras:

*skyguy*
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/31/08

Loc: Western New York

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: kfiscus]
#5546936 - 11/30/12 10:29 AM

Hey, you provide a much needed community service by providing telescope parts to the needy. Don't worry ... you won't go "TELESCOPE HELL"!

Post Extras:

Mike B
Starstruck

Reged: 04/06/05

Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: *skyguy*]
#5547032 - 11/30/12 11:45 AM

The same is prob'ly true in the automotive realm... a $2k beater may be worth $4k in parts, especially if YOU are the one buying the parts trying to repair an old beater!

Plus, the "parts" you sold off may very well give a new lease on life to someone's otherwise "dead" scope... parts that, if otherwise unavailable, would necessitate their purchasing a WHOLE new scope, and at many times the cost!

Bravo!

Post Extras:

Gastrol
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 11/04/11

Loc: los angeles

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Mike B]
#5547100 - 11/30/12 12:24 PM

My Lightbridge uses the exact same needle bearing, plate, and center bolt assembly.

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ThreeD
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 12/23/08

Loc: Sacramento suburbs

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Mike B]
#5547110 - 11/30/12 12:27 PM

Quote:

Plus, the "parts" you sold off may very well give a new lease on life to someone's otherwise "dead" scope...

By sacrificing this one scope he has potentially brought numerous others back to life. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.

Post Extras:

t.r.
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/14/08

Loc: Upstate NY

Re: I Feel Dirty... [Re: ThreeD]
#5547135 - 11/30/12 12:42 PM

Often the sum of the parts is worth more than the whole...ask any chop shop!!!

Post Extras:

kfiscus
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/09/12

Loc: Albert Lea, MN, USA

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Goodchild]
#5547619 - 11/30/12 06:16 PM

The Zhumell has the nifty roller bearings in the big plastic disk. I upgraded to a Baltic Birch mount of my own design with Ebony Star and teflon. I've never seen an Apertura.

Edited by kfiscus (11/30/12 06:17 PM)

Post Extras:

kfiscus
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/09/12

Loc: Albert Lea, MN, USA

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: kfiscus]
#5547628 - 11/30/12 06:22 PM

Thanks for the reassurement, everybody. I hadn't thought about how hard it is to get parts for these scopes. I am a rabid recycler in other areas of life.

Post Extras:

Goodchild
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 12/31/08

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: simpleisbetter]
#5547767 - 11/30/12 07:43 PM

Quote:

Ken,
Nothing to feel guilty about. Doesn't sound like you cheated or misled anyone, and you made a little money too so be thankful. There's always a market for spare parts in these mass produced scopes since the companies who sell the scopes won't sell parts.

Royce,
They are both the same scopes, GSO's each with their own logos. My personal preference would also be Apertura since they have an actual store and staff to support and stand behind them, vs Zhumell that near as I can figure is only a Hayneedle "brand" with no real store or staff beyond phone sales/returns.

Opticsmart's David Giles has an account and presence here on CN (DavidOpticsMart), listens to and actively participates with us.

Thanks, Steve. Very helpful info.

Post Extras:

Geo.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/01/08

Loc: Upstate NY

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Goodchild]
#5550614 - 12/02/12 04:05 PM Attachment (14 downloads)

Some must die that others can live on.

Post Extras:

simpleisbetter
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/18/11

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Geo.]
#5550779 - 12/02/12 06:10 PM

I had a first Gen ETX90ec that wound up looking like that, sort of.

Post Extras:

Tom and Beth
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/08/07

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Geo.]
#5551300 - 12/02/12 11:49 PM

Wow! You have the doo dad, right next to the whatchamacallit!

Post Extras:

Mike B
Starstruck

Reged: 04/06/05

Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: Tom and Beth]
#5551325 - 12/03/12 12:13 AM

Darn... that doo dad looks done, dude.

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bherv
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/10/06

Loc: WMass

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: kfiscus]
#5551532 - 12/03/12 05:18 AM

As the purchaser of one of those parts, I say you have nothing to feel guilty about. I've parted out a scope to maximize return on investment.
Barry

Post Extras:

csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: I Feel Dirty... new

[Re: bherv]
#5551636 - 12/03/12 08:22 AM

You should not feel bad; after all, there are many smiling faces out there right now who are happy they found the mirror, OTA Tube, focuser, spider, etc...that they had been looking for, but could not afford new......Be happy because you made someone else happy....take the extra money and buy something for your other/new scope(s). Remember, old scopes never die, they just get parted out....

Post Extras:

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