1187 replies to this topic

[bkvsw]

Here is a supplier with the 3000JK and 3000CB clamping knobs in stock, with are 1.75" diameter with threaded 5/16-18 projecting studs *longer* than the original 5/8-inch length (in particular, 1.5"L and 0.75"L, respectively). You might be able to clamp the end of the 3000JK stud in a vice, cut the threaded stud to 5/8-inch length with a hacksaw, and bevel the cut end with a file so it threads easily into the mount axis housing -or- you might be able to get away with using the 3000CB knob as-is, since its threaded stud is only 1/8" longer than the original 5/8-inch long knob supplied by Edmund ....

 

https://www.zoro.com...0jk/i/G1760437/
 

https://www.zoro.com...0cb/i/G3077487/

 

Hope this helps,

 

        -- Jim

 

EDIT:   A better-known supplier is McMaster-Carr, who stock a knob similar to the 3000CB (5/16-18 projecting stud 0.75"L) here:  https://www.mcmaster.com/6479K37/

 

FWIW, they also sell a version with an "acrylic adhesive" on a portion of the thread to resist vibration changing the clamping knob's setting -- https://www.mcmaster.com/7639K21/ .    From the description this doesn't sound like "Lock-tite" that would make it difficult to turn the threaded knob by hand once inserted into the mount axis housing, but I can't be sure ... so personally I'd be inclined to order the version without this ....

A couple more good resource sites. An earlier post said the original Edmund EQ knobs had 3/8 - 16 threads rather than 5/16 - 18, so I'm not sure the latter would fit. I don't have my scope with me to check the size of the bolts that I put in. The length isn't as important; as you say, I could always cut off the extra. While McMaster-Carr didn't have the 3/8 - 16 with the 1.75" knob, the Zoro site with a 1" length. After I have these, I can plan to restore the mount paint to the original Edmund gray and check whether the old clock drive is fixable. Thanks for your help with this, I appreciate it.

Clear Skies

[apfever]

A couple more good resource sites. An earlier post said the original Edmund EQ knobs had 3/8 - 16 threads rather than 5/16 - 18, so I'm not sure the latter would fit. I don't have my scope with me to check the size of the bolts that I put in. The length isn't as important; as you say, I could always cut off the extra. While McMaster-Carr didn't have the 3/8 - 16 with the 1.75" knob, the Zoro site with a 1" length. After I have these, I can plan to restore the mount paint to the original Edmund gray and check whether the old clock drive is fixable. Thanks for your help with this, I appreciate it.

Clear Skies

NOTE:  The knobs are 3/8-16, NOT an 18 pitch. I compared with a tap and die set (good USA set).  Move your scope around and look for things that might hit the knob to check for clearance.  I find it interesting that there are things that can hit from the factory.  IF you have original straps, you might find the long tensioning bolt or wing nut can hit.  You might find an OTA mounting bolt can hit if it's long enough. Trim what you have to or want to.

 

I find these at the hardware store while I'm doing a town run for other things. I'd never do the drive just for a knob. It might be cheaper for you to do the time online and shipping, just not my thing if I can avoid it. I'm old school hands on and say "HI" to the employees. They know me at my local ACE.

[jkmccarthy]

Third from left IS correct original size, that is a factory original knob. The RA and DEC knobs are the same size. They are SAE 3/8-16 threads 5/8" long, and 1-3/4" diameter knob. 

A few of mine are restored, all at least refurbished. I've found Rustoleum Satin Granite to be the best all around match. The Edmund grey paint is known to fade into a variety of hues from red to blue. 

A couple more good resource sites. An earlier post said the original Edmund EQ knobs had 3/8 - 16 threads rather than 5/16 - 18, so I'm not sure the latter would fit. I don't have my scope with me to check the size of the bolts that I put in. The length isn't as important; as you say, I could always cut off the extra. While McMaster-Carr didn't have the 3/8 - 16 with the 1.75" knob, the Zoro site [does] with a 1" length. After I have these, I can plan to restore the mount paint to the original Edmund gray and check whether the old clock drive is fixable. Thanks for your help with this, I appreciate it.

Clear Skies

NOTE:  The knobs are 3/8-16, NOT an 18 pitch. I compared with a tap and die set (good USA set).  Move your scope around and look for things that might hit the knob to check for clearance.  I find it interesting that there are things that can hit from the factory.  IF you have original straps, you might find the long tensioning bolt or wing nut can hit.  You might find an OTA mounting bolt can hit if it's long enough. Trim what you have to or want to.

 

I find these at the hardware store while I'm doing a town run for other things. I'd never do the drive just for a knob. It might be cheaper for you to do the time online and shipping, just not my thing if I can avoid it. I'm old school hands on and say "HI" to the employees. They know me at my local ACE.

bkvsw --
 

Good catch -- my bad !  Apologies(!) to you and to apfever for my having misread his post #966 in follow-up to his original post with the photos.   Glad you caught my mistake and were able to find the correct 3/8-16 threaded stud in 1" length !

 

Clear Skies,

 

       -- Jim

Edited by jkmccarthy, 10 September 2024 - 01:43 PM.

[bkvsw]

bkvsw --
 

Good catch -- my bad !  Apologies(!) to you and to apfever for my having misread his post #966 in follow-up to his original post with the photos.   Glad you caught my mistake and were able to find the correct 3/8-16 threaded stud in 1" length !

 

Clear Skies,

 

       -- Jim

[bkvsw]

 

bkvsw --
 

Good catch -- my bad !  Apologies(!) to you and to apfever for my having misread his post #966 in follow-up to his original post with the photos.   Glad you caught my mistake and were able to find the correct 3/8-16 threaded stud in 1" length !

 

Clear Skies,

 

       -- Jim

 

Jim, no problem. Thanks again for the link to Zoro knobs. Apfever, thanks for verifying the size of the original Edmund EQ mount knobs; I can buy the size I need online. I will have to check the clearance on both axes to make sure the knobs aren't bumping anything.

[flyboyu777]

 

bkvsw --
 

Good catch -- my bad !  Apologies(!) to you and to apfever for my having misread his post #966 in follow-up to his original post with the photos.   Glad you caught my mistake and were able to find the correct 3/8-16 threaded stud in 1" length !

 

Clear Skies,

 

       -- Jim

 

I made the mistake of ordering them in 1 1/2" length. . . . . didn't work too well.

[flyboyu777]

LOL-I bought a can of spray paint on Amazon, from Joanna Gaines collection (The Fixxer Upper).  It's called Duke Grey!  Seems to be pretty close.  I did find a paint swatch online that seems to be pretty dang close:  The #78909c swath on this link:

 

https://mavink.com/p...r-palette-names

 

This is the color:

 

 

 

 

Here's the finder tube for comparison:

 

I got the paint today, cap looks very close to the Sears paint on the finderscope:

 

 

Edited by flyboyu777, 11 September 2024 - 06:43 PM.

[Greenflash1]

Starting to restore a Tasco 10-TE. Does anyone have a high-resolution photo or copy of the upper lid box packing diagram they could post?

thanks

 

geoff

[Garyth64]

Here's a photo that I have acquired:

 

 

Maybe it will help you.

 

 

[deSitter]

Need a good vetted source for accessory case foam. I prefer the non-pluckable sort but that works too. TIA.

 

-drl

[Terra Nova]

I’ve purchased it from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.c...1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

Other sizes are available there and delivery is free if you have Prime.

[norvegicus]

Need a good vetted source for accessory case foam. I prefer the non-pluckable sort but that works too. TIA.

 

-drl

I use this stuff, very happy with it.  I hate pick and pluck.

 

https://www.rockler....organizer-sheet

[Kasmos]

I use this stuff, very happy with it.  I hate pick and pluck.

 

https://www.rockler....organizer-sheet

I hate pick and pluck

 

Sorry but I can't help but think of this 

Skip to 15:20

https://www.youtube....h?v=2N0Rb7C9FFk

 

Then go back to 13:20 for a very funny scene

Edited by Kasmos, 17 September 2024 - 04:13 PM.

[jkmccarthy]

I recently received this photo:

 

 

... from someone with a sage-green Vixen SP mount whose axis-clamping lever is now broken as shown, asking me if I happened to have a spare.   Unfortunately I do not (short of removing one from an otherwise-complete SP mount) and suggested JB Weld might be worth a try.  Meanwhile I also volunteered to post the picture in this thread and inquire if anyone here might have a spare axis-clamping lever "left over" after having parted-out a Vixen Super Polaris mount ?

 

If you do have an extra such lever, contact me (and/or post a reply in this thread) and I will make sure the person needing one gets in touch with you.  Likewise if anyone knows a source for non-matching but functionally-equivalent levers (in the Vixen Super Polaris, this fits over a hex nut that measures 13.0mm across its opposite sides), by all means please post a reply here with a link to any retail source --- to help this person out, I'd be willing to put two functionally-equivalent levers on the axes of the least-pretty of my SP mounts, in order to send one Vixen sage-green original lever to the individual needing one.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

         -- Jim

 

[jragsdale]

Seems like something one could 3D print easy enough. I could give it a stab if your friend wanted to at least have a working option until they found an OEM solution?

[jkmccarthy]

Thanks Jordan, but I was told that for now a similar-size axis clamp lever from an older Vixen Polaris mount is being borrowed for the SP when the SP is used, and returned to the Polaris when that mount is used. 

[norvegicus]

Seems like something one could 3D print easy enough. I could give it a stab if your friend wanted to at least have a working option until they found an OEM solution?

It would have a different shape to be strong enough (you'd want a big gusset, so like a triangle with a round bottom). and the wrong color, but yeah an easy project for a temporary one and about 26 cents in material cost...

 

Polymaker PLA Pro in Army Green is kind of close but not super close to the Vixen green plastic parts.  I haven't found anything close to the metal parts for 3D printing.

 

I'd personally use PC+CF in black.

[flyboyu777]

I recently received this photo:

 

Broken-SP-lever_1.jpg

 

... from someone with a sage-green Vixen SP mount whose axis-clamping lever is now broken as shown, asking me if I happened to have a spare.   Unfortunately I do not (short of removing one from an otherwise-complete SP mount) and suggested JB Weld might be worth a try.  Meanwhile I also volunteered to post the picture in this thread and inquire if anyone here might have a spare axis-clamping lever "left over" after having parted-out a Vixen Super Polaris mount ?

 

If you do have an extra such lever, contact me (and/or post a reply in this thread) and I will make sure the person needing one gets in touch with you.  Likewise if anyone knows a source for non-matching but functionally-equivalent levers (in the Vixen Super Polaris, this fits over a hex nut that measures 13.0mm across its opposite sides), by all means please post a reply here with a link to any retail source --- to help this person out, I'd be willing to put two functionally-equivalent levers on the axes of the least-pretty of my SP mounts, in order to send one Vixen sage-green original lever to the individual needing one.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

         -- Jim

Too bad Orion has bit the dust-I was able to get one of those knobs for my little EQ Deluxe mount about a year ago. You might check with Agena Astro since they got Orion's inventory-might have one in stock!

[Starfield7]

Greetings.  I'm looking for the black Camera Bracket for the Edmund Sci. Super Space Conqueror.  I've recently found a Super Space Conqueror, circa mid to late 1970s, and brought it back to a nice, gently-used condition.  (It is the later model with the straps for holding the OTA.)  The holes are pre-drilled in the OTA for camera bracket, which I believe was sold as an accessory.  I just want to "fill those holes."  The entire accessory would be a plus.  Thank you!

-Steve 

[flyboyu777]

I was informed just now by Agena Astro they did not acquire anything from Meade or Orion, sorry for the misinformation. Hope those EQ axis lock lever can be found somewhere. 

[deSitter]

I recently received this photo:

 

Broken-SP-lever_1.jpg

 

... from someone with a sage-green Vixen SP mount whose axis-clamping lever is now broken as shown, asking me if I happened to have a spare.   Unfortunately I do not (short of removing one from an otherwise-complete SP mount) and suggested JB Weld might be worth a try.  Meanwhile I also volunteered to post the picture in this thread and inquire if anyone here might have a spare axis-clamping lever "left over" after having parted-out a Vixen Super Polaris mount ?

 

If you do have an extra such lever, contact me (and/or post a reply in this thread) and I will make sure the person needing one gets in touch with you.  Likewise if anyone knows a source for non-matching but functionally-equivalent levers (in the Vixen Super Polaris, this fits over a hex nut that measures 13.0mm across its opposite sides), by all means please post a reply here with a link to any retail source --- to help this person out, I'd be willing to put two functionally-equivalent levers on the axes of the least-pretty of my SP mounts, in order to send one Vixen sage-green original lever to the individual needing one.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

         -- Jim

The same levers are found on Synta light-medium duty mounts and Meade/Bresser medium duty mounts.

 

-drl

[telescope200]

Greetings.  I'm looking for the black Camera Bracket for the Edmund Sci. Super Space Conqueror.  I've recently found a Super Space Conqueror, circa mid to late 1970s, and brought it back to a nice, gently-used condition.  (It is the later model with the straps for holding the OTA.)  The holes are pre-drilled in the OTA for camera bracket, which I believe was sold as an accessory.  I just want to "fill those holes."  The entire accessory would be a plus.  Thank you!

-Steve 

The Edmund Scientific "Camera Holder & Sun Screen", part no. 70,162 is available for $17.50 Ppd.... well... that is if you had a time machine that would take you back to the 1980s .  If you haven't seen it, its in the Edmund catalogue

 

You could take a block of aluminum and reproduce it. Three of the mounting blocks + bracket and sun screen are in this picture.

 

I have the mount but its not for sale, currently holds a 1942 reflex sight on my 10" scope.

Edited by telescope200, 25 September 2024 - 10:14 PM.

[apfever]

 

You could take a block of aluminum and reproduce it. Three of the mounting blocks + bracket and sun screen are in this picture.

 

Interesting, that is my picture and I know nothing about imgur website or who posted it when. no biggie

 

I still have those 3 sets, two now installed. Only the bottom one came on an Edmund. The shiny middle one is the same casting but came on another brand scope. The large top unit is not an Edmund version.  A lot of Edmund did not come with the set. I would put it at about 50-50 for what I've had.  Notice the SSC in the catalogue ad does not have one and shows the 4 holes.

Attached Thumbnails

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[Terra Nova]

The drool factor for the 8” Edmund was high back in the 1960s. It was about a hundred bucks less than the 4” Unitron model 150 4” alt-az outfit, and it had that supep-duper finder, a set of 1.25” orthoscopic eyepieces, and the YUGE eq. Mount. In those days, it was a whole observatory for your driveway!

[Don W]

For me it was the fork-mounted 8” Newtonian.