134 replies to this topic

[bjkaras]

Just drill thru the whole thing and use a big bolt . As long as you are close to the pole you are good. You can always adjust a leg a degree or so.

That’s what I think I want to do, although I’m also considering the turnbuckle. It’s not as permanent.

[bjkaras]

I setup my Meade 8” RG at the Griffith Observatory star party and got a picture of it to post. The mount is essentially the same as the Starfinder 16 EQ. It is wonderful to use this setup; the 16” is too big for this class of mount.

 

IMG_6898.jpeg

It looks very similar to the Cave/Parks 1.5” mount. My 10” f/5 is on that mount and it handles pretty well, but I think it’s the biggest OTA that mount can really handle well. It’s really the largest setup that one person can handle alone easily.

[cavedweller]

It looks very similar to the Cave/Parks 1.5” mount. My 10” f/5 is on that mount and it handles pretty well, but I think it’s the biggest OTA that mount can really handle well. It’s really the largest setup that one person can handle alone easily.

Parks and Meade 1.5” look similar, but easy to tell the difference between them and the Cave 1.5”. This Meade has the ball bearings in the RA axis (which was optional at time of purchase), so I am told by the original owner.

From your signature you have 1” Cave mount and the 1.5” appears to be a scaled up version of that, so you can see what I am thinking and maybe you’d agree.

 

Now, the Parks and Cave “Observatory” models with the over 2” axes, are I think identical. I saw one post that suggested that no Parks of that size were ever made, but I did see another post with pictures showing “Parks” cast into the DEC housing. I would really like to have one of those just to see if the axes are actually 2.5” as advertised unlike the Cave equivalent which have aparently cheated the customers of 0.007”. 
 

[YourNotSirius]

I am in a lower tax bracket than this. Just handling those counterweights would wear me out.

 

AP 3600GTO.jpg

That certainly is a whopper! However, with something like that we would seriously consider a fork mount or something that didn't swing all over like it was in England in 1964. LOL

 

(https://www.youtube....h?v=_niLa5xXLm0)

 

Q

[apfever]

I am in a lower tax bracket than this. Just handling those counterweights would wear me out.

 

AP 3600GTO.jpg

I'm a little tired of it myself.  Just getting back to the equipment of this string is bad enough. I moved these out of the fireplace room finally. The one on original wheels was a breeze for carpet and threshold. They look nice here too. They work nice with the latitude support. They are closer to the great outdoors. The compressor is minimal requirement for my inflatable back brace. 

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[Tom Stock]

Back when I had a 12" RG I made provisions for a turn buckle to hold it. Plus a through bolt, plus the set screws. Straps around pier and RA shaft are just aluminum bar stock bent to fit with through bolt to clamp and hold turn buckle. Worked well and looked good,

 

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Could you tell me what color that pier is on the bottom photo? I love that paint color.

[gelkin]

Must admit it's been a long time and I'm not totally sure but more than likely machine gray.

[Tom Stock]

Must admit it's been a long time and I'm not totally sure but more than likely machine gray.

Oh ok thanks must be the lighting. It looks sort of a blueish gray.

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Edited by Tom Stock, 24 March 2024 - 01:46 PM.

[deSitter]

I am in a lower tax bracket than this. Just handling those counterweights would wear me out.

 

AP 3600GTO.jpg

Lower tax bracket. Me too I never had that much aperture fever!

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

Lower tax bracket. Me too I never had that much aperture fever!

 

-drl

That scope broke a mans jaw many years back. It was at a school and they removed the weights with the tube on the mount and BAM up went flew the shaft. Then later on it was rolled down stairs and took a nasty fall and was busted up for good.  It even had the 4.5" finder.