Telescope Reviews: Re: Another question for Meade LXD650/750 owners

A picture here would be worth a thousand words.

But if I understand you correctly, the bottom assembly of the top leg has somehow rotated so that the small "Tabs" facing to the center of the mount, and which support the bottom spreader arm has somehow changed orientation?

If this is the case, it would seem that either the top or bottom casting has come loose a bit. It might be just a simple matter of buying a strap wrench and attempting to twist it back to the right orientation. Strap wrenches are avialable at auto parts stores for changing oil filters. Also available at Harbor Freight.

But it SHOULDN'T have rotated.

The end of spreader bar itself is held in place by a "Roll Pin." This is just a small rolled cylinder of metal (at least this is the case on the LXD750). The pin can break.

My advice would be to drive one out and take it to a hardware store and buy 6 new pins and replace them all. To get it out, you can use a drift or punch with a similar diamater head as the hole in the mount has.

And of cousre you could replace them with nuts and bolts.

But something doesn't seem right. I know on mine, the legs have some side to side wiggle which I know will in time cause my pins to fail.. I am thinking about cutting some shims to go at the top attaching bolts to try to eliminate that side to side play. Even when both bolts are fully tightend on each leg, when folding the tripod, they can wiggle quite badly which does on mine twist the spreaders. Could this be what happened to you?

Anyway, if the bottom tabs are not pointing towards the center of the spreader hub, something is wrong and you need to sort that out first. If you do try a strap wrench an it moves, that means that the glue has failed.. YOu could take off the bottom assy and re-glue, or you could drill a hole into the side and use a setscrew to lock the leg tube in position..

good luck..

--------------------
Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)

The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.

Post Extras