14 replies to this topic

[Orion68]

This is probably normal but I don't recall seeing it before. It's been a while since I used the Q, so maybe I'm just forgetting.

 

When I turn the diopter to focus the finder, I can wiggle the diopter housing back and forth just a little. The threaded base of the diopter is snug in the control box so it's not that, and the eyepiece is screwed in the diopter all the way and snug.

 

Has anyone seen this, just curious.

[Optics Patent]

They pretty much all have a little wiggle.  Test on a critical object and play with it, and you'll see that there's no effect.

 

Or, take the doctor's advice to "It hurts when I do this" and "don't do that."

[Orion68]

They pretty much all have a little wiggle.  Test on a critical object and play with it, and you'll see that there's no effect.

 

Or, take the doctor's advice to "It hurts when I do this" and "don't do that."

LOL. Thanks Doc, I'll take your advice.

[RobertPettengill]

No noticeable wiggle in my 2013. Feels like a fine threaded screw fitting should: free to rotate with a little resistance but firm for any side to side motion. Definitely not any noticeable slop or wiggle. If you have this, I’d inspect the treads for damage. A blow to the eyepiece would be leveraged into the diopter threads. If the wiggle doesn’t affect normal viewing, there is not much to worry about. Any wiggle would be a big deal for photos, but the axial port is a better location for cameras anyway. 
 

;rob

[Orion68]

No noticeable wiggle in my 2013. Feels like a fine threaded screw fitting should: free to rotate with a little resistance but firm for any side to side motion. Definitely not any noticeable slop or wiggle. If you have this, I’d inspect the treads for damage. A blow to the eyepiece would be leveraged into the diopter threads. If the wiggle doesn’t affect normal viewing, there is not much to worry about. Any wiggle would be a big deal for photos, but the axial port is a better location for cameras anyway. 
 

;rob

Thanks for sharing that Rob. I'm visual only so this should have small impact based on what Ben said, it just bugs me.

 

Do you know if the diopter can be disassembled? I would like to get a good look at those threads. It seems like that knurled ring at the top of the diopter might unscrew to allow disassembly. Have you ever had it apart.

 

[Yellowstone]

No noticeable wiggle in my 2013. Feels like a fine threaded screw fitting should: free to rotate with a little resistance but firm for any side to side motion. Definitely not any noticeable slop or wiggle. If you have this, I’d inspect the treads for damage. A blow to the eyepiece would be leveraged into the diopter threads. If the wiggle doesn’t affect normal viewing, there is not much to worry about. Any wiggle would be a big deal for photos, but the axial port is a better location for cameras anyway. 
 

;rob

Checked my 2015 and no wiggle, just smooth movement. It was stuck a might when I first got it a couple months ago, but only from inactivity. Honestly think it sat still for the past eight years. As soon as it moved, it was very smooth. Each of the knobs acted likewise, stiff for a moment, then fluid thereafter.

[Orion68]

I took out the Q last night and viewed a number of targets. The transparency was abysmal but seeing varied from fair to good so I decided to stick it out. The wiggle in the diopter did not seem to affect viewing. Still bothers me so I may have to replace it. I had one of the new diopters which accept any eyepiece and I sold it. Wish now I had kept it.

 

During moments of good seeing, stars at high power presented a perfect airy disk. Mesmerizing. Still hoping I can take the diopter apart but so far no luck.

 

 

 

[davidmcgo]

The knurled black ring should unscrew from the fatter rotating cylinder.  Then the rotating cylinder unscrews downwards.  That should let you add a bit of dampening grease to the threads.

 

Dave

[Orion68]

Thanks Dave.  I tried and failed the get the black ring unscrewed. Didn't want to put wrenches on it so I screwed the black ring all the way down to expose the threads and used a Q tip to grease the threads with wheel bearing grease. Twisted it back and forth to distribute the grease and carefully removed any excess.

 

Works great now, no more wiggle and just the right amount of smooth resistance. The grease could have been even thicker but this should work fine.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Orion68, 10 June 2023 - 03:59 PM.

[Orion68]

No noticeable wiggle in my 2013. Feels like a fine threaded screw fitting should: free to rotate with a little resistance but firm for any side to side motion. Definitely not any noticeable slop or wiggle. If you have this, I’d inspect the treads for damage. A blow to the eyepiece would be leveraged into the diopter threads. If the wiggle doesn’t affect normal viewing, there is not much to worry about. Any wiggle would be a big deal for photos, but the axial port is a better location for cameras anyway. 
 

;rob

Thanks Rob. I did get rid of the wiggle with some grease carefully applied to the threads.

[Optics Patent]

The knurled black ring should unscrew from the fatter rotating cylinder.  Then the rotating cylinder unscrews downwards.  That should let you add a bit of dampening grease to the threads.

 

Dave

True, but caution that there is probably "permanent" thread-locker involved, so extreme measures may be required.  I also urge (perhaps superstitiously) to use only grease intended for optical applications, lest it migrate and foul surfaces.  That has been discussed at my repair thread.

 

YOu may be able to work some grease into the threads without disassembly by adjusting to an extreme position that exposes some threads.

[Orion68]

I was not able to get the black ring unscrewed so it is likely Ben was right about the thread-locker. About the grease migrating, hadn't thought about that but it is a  possibility. I'll keep an eye on it and if I see evidence of that, I'll replace it with optical grease.

 

Teflon tape was my first thought, but no way to install it without dis-assembling the diopter.

[JamesMStephens]

If that ring is stuck it may have a galled thread.  I bought a new adapter from Questar a few years ago and if had a galled thread.  It was stuck, I could break it free but the threads were messed up.  Replaced by Questar.

 

Jim

[norcalryder]

I have used heat to soften thread locker on my motorcycle. Might work here with some caution.

[Orion68]

I used to have a heat gun. If I can find it I'll give that a try.