212 replies to this topic

[Paul Makinen]

I have another small question about the DS-10 mount:  How do you lock the RA setting circle in place for slewing after you've set the hour angle at the start of the evening? 

 

AstroHopper is great, but does not seem to work well for large slews, so I still need the manual setting circles to navigate my very night-polluted sky.  The DS-10 manual does not seem to provide any detailed instructions.

Edited by Paul Makinen, 18 November 2024 - 05:55 PM.

[GalaxyPiper]

The RA setting circle should have a slight resistance, to be movable and set. It shouldn't move after that.

These scopes are now going on 40+ years old. If it too loose, then it needs to be taken apart and figure out what has deteriorated, gummed surface, thick grease, worn out felt...for examples...

Disassemble, Restore and reassemble...

I don't know what's underneath, or I would tell you.

[apfever]

The RA setting circle is a loose collar that rest on the RA housing by it's own weight. It is a dry fitting and has no lock. You can add some stability by wrapping a two sided Velcro strip around the bottom of the circle that also grabs the RA housing lip the circle rest on. You can also use a rubber band but you might have to pull the DEC shaft to get a rubber band around the circle and housing.

[GalaxyPiper]

TO those that have a 16" Starfinder or DS-16...now is your chance for a RA / DEC upgrade.

*NEW* in box...on eBay, Meade Magellan II complete kit.

 

https://www.ebay.com...:Bk9SR5zLkq_9ZA

 

Your welcome, and Merry Christmas.

Edited by GalaxyPiper, 21 December 2024 - 03:48 PM.

[Mr Magoo]

TO those that have a 16" Starfinder or DS-16...now is your chance for a RA / DEC upgrade.

*NEW* in box...on eBay, Meade Magellan II complete kit.

 

https://www.ebay.com...:Bk9SR5zLkq_9ZA

 

Your welcome, and Merry Christmas.

I wonder if this would work on a RG mount? I think the price is a bit nuts.

[GalaxyPiper]

I wonder if this would work on a RG mount? I think the price is a bit nuts.

Yeah, the price is a bit high. But if you have noticed, there is no bid...

Someone knows how rare this is....and has priced it accordingly.

Edited by GalaxyPiper, 21 December 2024 - 06:06 PM.

[photoracer18]

The previous owner made this really nice rotating ring assembly but unfortunately threw out all the original parts to mount the tube to mount, so I can't return the scope to original.

That rotating ring system was not a DIY system it was a commercial system you could buy but I forget the name of it as I have one sitting in one of my garages or storage locations. I have owned 3 of the DS-16/16A mounts (16A had roller bearings on the RA axis if I remember correctly). One DS-16 I got with the 6" F15 Jaegers that was built for the late Dr. Green(e)  by Barry of D&G. The mount was equipped with a Byers 11.3" Star Master RA drive converted to a stepper drive  but the original tangent arm DEC was plumbed into the Byers control box. I originally bought a Byers 7.5" drive I was going to use to replace the tangent arm drive but never got around to doing it. Still have that mount, but sold the 6" F15. My use for the mount disappeared once I got a fully refurbished Schaefer AT-9 and later a really good Astro-Physics AP900QMD.

[clamchip]

I did find the source of the rings 'Metro Machining' and this must be who you are thinking of.

Here's one of their ads:

 

 

[GalaxyPiper]

Yes...that was an after market solution to a problem.

Remember, the mother of all inventions is to see a need and meet it.

 

You can make those straps with a very long hose clamp, or several ene-to-end and pop rivet some screen door rollers every 6 to 8 inches.

Because that was basicly what they were.

 

I have also witnessed the use of large drip line used in the same fashion.

Just noodle it around and experiment. Thats the way the ATM folks do it.

[CHASLX200]

I did find the source of the rings 'Metro Machining' and this must be who you are thinking of.

Here's one of their ads:

 

post-50896-0-59597900-1640471812_thumb.jpg

He lived by me and made me rings for my 8" F/8 Edmund in 1988.

[Mr Magoo]

TO those that have a 16" Starfinder or DS-16...now is your chance for a RA / DEC upgrade.

*NEW* in box...on eBay, Meade Magellan II complete kit.

 

https://www.ebay.com...:Bk9SR5zLkq_9ZA

 

Your welcome, and Merry Christmas.

A PiFinder would cost less and be more accurate I imagine. I’m really going to try and invest in one this coming year.

[CHASLX200]

A PiFinder would cost less and be more accurate I imagine. I’m really going to try and invest in one this coming year.

They don't work on a EQ mount unless something changed as i was gonna get one before i got burned out.

[GalaxyPiper]

Well, you have to remember this is mid 1980s technology...nearly 40 years ago...

That's about the same time frame as the Wright Flyer and the jet aircraft introduced in WWII...

 

The Apple IIe was a 1987 product at that time...

That "was" the most accurate thing customer's could buy at the time at the consumer level.