Telescope Reviews: Lightbridge primary locking screws

· 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 >> Reflectors

Pages: 1

B Brummell
member

Reged: 06/04/12

Lightbridge primary locking screws
#5665672 - 02/06/13 05:07 PM

Hi All,

Just a thought, but does anyone see a problem with me keeping my primary locking screws locked down after bringing the scope indoors after a few hours of using it outside?
It's just more convenient. The next time I take the scope out, only minor adjustments are required for good collimation.
...am I going to do any damage to the mirror do you think?

Thanks!

Post Extras:

Astrojensen
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Bornholm, Denmark

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: B Brummell]
#5665733 - 02/06/13 05:46 PM

I've thrown mine away. They are a real pain in the behind, always messes up collimation when you've just got it right. I used the ones on my 12" once and then threw them away. It holds collimation just fine without them, as long as I keep the springs tight by tightening the collimation bolts all the way down and loosen them just enough to collimate the primary.

No harm will befall the mirror by keeping the locking screws in place and locked down.

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

Post Extras:

mogur
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/29/11

Loc: WI

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5665873 - 02/06/13 07:16 PM

I've got mine collimated very close with the adjuster knobs. Now when I use the scope I tweak it using only the locking knobs. This works because I keep the trusses connected during movement/storage.

Post Extras:

Carol L

Reged: 07/05/04

Loc: Tomahawk, WI 45N//89W

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5666004 - 02/06/13 09:03 PM

Quote:

I've thrown mine away. They are a real pain in the behind, always messes up collimation when you've just got it right. I used the ones on my 12" once and then threw them away. It holds collimation just fine without them, as long as I keep the springs tight by tightening the collimation bolts all the way down and loosen them just enough to collimate the primary.

I threw mine away too, and also have the springs on my 16" Lightbridge tightened all the way.
Works great.

Post Extras:

Project Galileo
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/14/07

Loc: Jefferson County, Colorado

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Carol L]
#5666262 - 02/06/13 11:42 PM

Another throw away here. Beefy springs tightened all the way. Works like a dream.

Post Extras:

pdfermat
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/12/07

Loc: Wisconsin

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Project Galileo]
#5666285 - 02/07/13 12:01 AM

Yep, me too - locking screws are long gone. I replaced the original carpy springs with the beefiest I could find at Ace Hardware. After tightening the collimation bolts all the way down, collimation holds like a dream the entire night.

I never liked the idea of keeping the locking screws tightened after observing when I did use them, though. I always worried there would be some undue stress on the system that could lead to no good.

Post Extras:

Damo636
sage

Reged: 08/16/11

Loc: Ireland

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: pdfermat]
#5666444 - 02/07/13 04:11 AM

I have also removed the locking screws and upgraded the springs with the Bobs Knobs heavy duty replacements.

Post Extras:

John rombi
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/14/05

Loc: Sydney, Australia

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Damo636]
#5667360 - 02/07/13 03:58 PM

Upgraded to stiffer springs and removed the locking pins.

Post Extras:

Don Taylor
sage

Reged: 07/12/09

Loc: Kansas

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: John rombi]
#5667745 - 02/07/13 07:53 PM

I use the threaded holes for the lock knobs to mount my counterweights (I use an ST80 finder and big eyepieces).

Attending RMSS 2011 the vibration from. ~400 mile trip caused the Collimation screws to unscrew and the springs to fall out.

So, now I install the lock screws whenever transporting the scope.

Post Extras:

jgraham
Postmaster

Reged: 12/02/04

Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Don Taylor]
#5667960 - 02/07/13 10:12 PM

No worries, leaving the lock screws set shouldn't be a problem at all. I leave mine set all the time. I just tweak things a bit when I set my scope up. Mine's all stock with the original springs. I just pulled 'm in a bit when I first set it up and left it that way. If it t'ain't broke I t'ain't gonna fix it.

Post Extras:

B Brummell
member

Reged: 06/04/12

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: jgraham]
#5669456 - 02/08/13 05:21 PM

Thanks everyone for putting my mind at rest.

This way I have no mirror slop at all and setting up is even faster.

Thanks again

Post Extras:

Gastrol
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 11/04/11

Loc: los angeles

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: B Brummell]
#5669568 - 02/08/13 06:28 PM

I didn't throw mine away. I've got them in my parts bin. I know, one day, I'll use them for something.

Post Extras:

Astrojensen
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Bornholm, Denmark

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Gastrol]
#5670142 - 02/09/13 04:32 AM

Quote:

I didn't throw mine away. I've got them in my parts bin. I know, one day, I'll use them for something.

I haven't literally thrown mine away, I was speaking figuratively. I have a large case with "useful items" as well (read: lots of junk that I almost never, ever need again!)

But the locking screws can be used as spare collimation screws, in case a knob breaks or it unscrews during travel and get lost or whatever.

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

Post Extras:

Ed D
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/30/10

Loc: Sunny South Florida

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5670353 - 02/09/13 09:26 AM

I'm another one with the lock screws in the parts bin. Even snugging down the screws throws my collimation off in my 6" f/8. The collimation holds very well without them, even when transporting the scope in my car.

Snugging down the locking screws won't hurt the scope with normal temperature changes. But...

Ed D

Post Extras:

John rombi
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/14/05

Loc: Sydney, Australia

Re: Lightbridge primary locking screws new

[Re: Ed D]
#5672570 - 02/10/13 03:41 PM

I use my locking pin as a on/off switch for my scope mounted laser.

Post Extras:

Pages: 1

Extra information

18 registered and 13 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Jarad, ausastronomer, okieav8r

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 465

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics