16 replies to this topic

[blamkin86]

Hi all! I'm wondering if anyone else out there has purchased an Explore Scientific FCD100 127 (CF or aluminum) recently?

 

I'm having an issue with mine - and while ES Customer Support has been really good, I'd like to check in with another owner.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

PS Please don't bash ES. They've been super helpful.

 

PPS I'm happy to answer questions privately via PM, if you're willing to also keep comments private.

 

THANKS ALL!

[Jim Waters]

What issues?

[junomike]

I'm with Jim, tough to help you without knowing the issue at hand.

[blamkin86]

It's a focuser issue. Basically, look under the bottom of the focuser at the 4 allen head bolts and see whether they're tight or not.

 

I'm working with ES to resolve the issue, I'm sure they'll take care of me.

 

I just wanted to see if anyone else has it or not. I appreciate your offer of help.

Edited by blamkin86, 22 November 2019 - 06:49 PM.

[amys]

So, did you get this issue resolved?

[blamkin86]

ES quickly supplied a replacement focuser.

Unfortunately it had an even bigger defect than the original. There’s four drilled and tapped holes on the bottom to hold the gear assembly on the focuser. Only two holes existed.

Technically this isn’t a big deal as the gear seems to work just fine. But at the price point the scope should be right.

I’ve sent more pix to ES on Friday and am awaiting a response.

Any advice is appreciated. I do expect they’ll resolve the issue. That said I’m surprised they sent me a second focuser with the same problem.

Edited by blamkin86, 25 November 2019 - 05:07 AM.

[amys]

Their focusers often seem to be problematic.  I hope they get it right for you.  I’m thinking about buying that scope but I don’t want to have to deal with problems.  

[blamkin86]

Update: they are replacing the entire scope. They also said they’d take a look at it before sending it my way.

I can imagine this going very differently so I’m quite pleased. I’ll update this thread when I get the scope.

[amys]

That’s good. You’re not the first buyer to have issues with the focuser but it’s good that they’re taking care of the problem.

[Ballyhoo]

Their focusers often seem to be problematic.  I hope they get it right for you.  I’m thinking about buying that scope but I don’t want to have to deal with problems.  

 

I really love my FCD100.

 Just upgraded from the ES 127 ED FCD1 to the FCD100 model and not looken a back.

 

I think the better glass pays dividends.

 

https://www.astrobin...mkmn/B/?nc=user

Attached Thumbnails

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[Ballyhoo]

one thing I am not sure of is whether there is a pdf manual that covers the hex focuser. I cannot find how to lock the hex down.  Yes there is a single bold underneath the focuser carriage but I thought there would be more to lock it down.  I am going get the rigel autofocuser or the ZWO EAF not to have to worry but I would appreciate a lock down like was on the  rack n pinion model from the ES 127 ED I had prior. 

[ris242]

I really love my FCD100.

 Just upgraded from the ES 127 ED FCD1 to the FCD100 model and not looken a back.

 

I think the better glass pays dividends.

 

https://www.astrobin...mkmn/B/?nc=user

Any reason why you don't remove the green?

I know I've overdone the contrast and lost a little data, but making it a bit blacker and taking the green out - I think it does improve the image.

 

[PPPPPP42]

I keep meaning to tighten those hidden allen bolts that like to come loose and put some non permanent thread locker on them to get the small side to side wiggle in my focuser to go away.

Overall zero regrets with my scope.

 

Once you get a scope finalized and get it registered put a note 120 days later on your calendar to email them and get the optics report on your scope.  You have to wait 120 days before you get it.  There is a thread on here where we are posting them to get an idea of average quality though the report isn't a very good indicator of that by itself.

[John Turley]

I keep meaning to tighten those hidden allen bolts that like to come loose and put some non permanent thread locker on them to get the small side to side wiggle in my focuser to go away.

Overall zero regrets with my scope.

 

Once you get a scope finalized and get it registered put a note 120 days later on your calendar to email them and get the optics report on your scope.  You have to wait 120 days before you get it.  There is a thread on here where we are posting them to get an idea of average quality though the report isn't a very good indicator of that by itself.

I haven't had a problem, at least as far as I am aware, with the allen bolts coming loose on mine, do you know what size allen key I would need to tighten the bolts.

 

John 

[Ballyhoo]

Any reason why you don't remove the green?

I know I've overdone the contrast and lost a little data, but making it a bit blacker and taking the green out - I think it does improve the image.

 

 

Any reason why you don't remove the green?

I know I've overdone the contrast and lost a little data, but making it a bit blacker and taking the green out - I think it does improve the image.

 

i think subjectively I did not recognize the green

[PPPPPP42]

I haven't actually verified that they came loose as opposed to just being loose from the factory but apparently from what I have read things can be sorted out to work much better, I am just rather lazy and it wasn't effecting the image.  This shows some of the screws.

https://www.cloudyni...-problemsfixes/

[John Turley]

I haven't had a problem, at least as far as I am aware, with the allen bolts coming loose on mine, do you know what size allen key I would need to tighten the bolts.

 

John 

I spoke too soon, the other day I noticed that the rotating focuser had become very stiff, and made a bit of a grinding noise when you tried to rotate it, also it appeared loose.

 

Hopefully I have now solved the problem by applying a bit of WD40, and tightening up same allen head bolts on the rotating ring (not the same bolts that the original poster referred to).

 

John