118 replies to this topic

[andylsun]

New buttons (not random vendor of unknown quality from Amazon), Deoxit soak for the DEC 4-pin motor plug/socket and goodbye janky AC plug.

 

GFCI plug will be installed.

 

The RA motor box has a proper ground back to the plug but I’ve not seen a fuse. Even if I had there’s a lot of metal and 120V running through the hand controller.

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Edited by andylsun, 09 September 2024 - 04:06 PM.

[deSitter]

The original parts sure look like stuff I'd see at Radio Shack and in the catalogs. Good to keep that ethos! You need a toggle switch that is period correct! One that goes CLUNK.

 

-drl

[andylsun]

The original parts sure look like stuff I'd see at Radio Shack and in the catalogs. Good to keep that ethos! You need a toggle switch that is period correct! One that goes CLUNK.

 

-drl

Yes I do…. It’s a 3 pole.

 

actually the power switch is present and works. The end of the lever is missing and the rest is bent,

Edited by andylsun, 09 September 2024 - 04:41 PM.

[andylsun]

A few scratches trying to get the old

corroded switches out.

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[CHASLX200]

Yeah. I’m not expecting AP performance. The mount is what it is. Also a great learning experience.

It could be a very good mount. Some were very good and then another bad.  Not sure why.

[deSitter]

It could be a very good mount. Some were very good and then another bad.  Not sure why.

3 things - bearings, bearings, and finally bearings.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

It could be a very good mount. Some were very good and then another bad.  Not sure why.

I think it will be excellent. Parks had high standards. in the 90s I had settled on the very scope Andy has but never got around to buying it. I could sense go-to coming and wanted to wait.

 

-drl

[andylsun]

Something I learnt today.

The square 4 pin polarized plug on the DEC motor and hand controller extension is also known as a Fender Rhodes 4 Pin Suitcase Square Connector. I don't know if they are exclusive to Fender Rhodes, but there we go.

 

Mine has the classic 'someone stepped on a cable once' slant to the pins.

 

Also for reference, the DEC tangent arm lead screw thread is 1/2-20

[deSitter]

Something I learnt today.

The square 4 pin polarized plug on the DEC motor and hand controller extension is also known as a Fender Rhodes 4 Pin Suitcase Square Connector. I don't know if they are exclusive to Fender Rhodes, but there we go.

 

Mine has the classic 'someone stepped on a cable once' slant to the pins.

 

Also for reference, the DEC tangent arm lead screw thread is 1/2-20

I recently bought a 1/2-13 2' length of stainless steel threaded rod to make a tripod spreader post. It is a very high quality item. McMaster-Carr - not cheap but worth it. I'm sure they have fine thread too.

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 11 September 2024 - 05:35 AM.

[andylsun]

RA reassembled (worm) and ran for an hour with no OTA or counterweights. Recorded moving 1 hour on the hour circle. Ready for tube to go back on mount and do some indoor tracking tests

[andylsun]

Ready for full load tracking testing.

 

The DEC lock is not great, I may try to face the end of it flat in the lathe. I think there is minimal contact area to the DEC shaft.

 

i guess another option would drill out the middle of the bolt and put in some delrin or rubber tip.

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[deSitter]

Ready for full load tracking testing.

 

The DEC lock is not great, I may try to face the end of it flat in the lathe. I think there is minimal contact area to the DEC shaft.

 

i guess another option would drill out the middle of the bolt and put in some delrin or rubber tip.

What a fine beastie! That's my boy! Well at least the one I wanted in the mid-90s.

 

I would stick a small brass pellet between the knob shaft and the DEC shaft and face it down so that it rode nicely on the DEC shaft. Will save the shaft and be much stronger.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

What a fine beastie! That's my boy! Well at least the one I wanted in the mid-90s.

 

I would stick a small brass pellet between the knob shaft and the DEC shaft and face it down so that it rode nicely on the DEC shaft. Will save the shaft and be much stronger.

 

-drl

To face it down, wrap some sandpaper around a broom handle or the like and sand a curve into the pellet.

 

-drl

[andylsun]

What a fine beastie! That's my boy! Well at least the one I wanted in the mid-90s.

 

I would stick a small brass pellet between the knob shaft and the DEC shaft and face it down so that it rode nicely on the DEC shaft. Will save the shaft and be much stronger.

 

-drl

The DEC shaft has quite a gap to the inner wall of the casting so can’t put a pellet in there as it will fall out. Some had previously tried a plastic pellet and it was in the gap.

 

the RA lock seems to work really well, so the simplest option may be to swap them over. I’ll take a look at both and see which has a better tip finish.

Edited by andylsun, 14 September 2024 - 07:01 PM.

[andylsun]

Ran full up tracking. Had to tighten up the RA clutch and it now tracks well and RA slew is ok. Not too stiff but clutch doesn’t slip. I put a dial indicator on the DEC weight and movement looks smooth. No sticking or slipping.

 

still not a huge fan of the lock washers. May check my box of springs and try swapping to that.

 

So, may be ready for first light upcoming week.

Edited by andylsun, 14 September 2024 - 08:58 PM.

[clamchip]

What I did on my Cave mount is replaced the steel screw with a bronze one.

Seems to work better and won't scratch the shaft.

All I did is use a bronze bolt and cut the head off.

Off with it's head!

Robert

 

[andylsun]

What I did on my Cave mount is replaced the steel screw with a bronze one.

Seems to work better and won't scratch the shaft.

All I did is use a bronze bolt and cut the head off.

Off with it's head!

Robert

 

post-50896-0-50354000-1590532992_thumb.jpg

Perfect! That’s something I can do with a poor skill set but good tools.

 

also I probably wouldn’t even cut the head off, just 3d print a handle with a hex head centre. Will help to not over crank it down.

Edited by andylsun, 15 September 2024 - 06:03 AM.

[andylsun]

Is the second set of mirror cell holes for when using the photography adapter (which I have).

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[CHASLX200]

Is the second set of mirror cell holes for when using the photography adapter (which I have).

Seems odd to have the holes that far apart. Most times it is only around 1" or 2.

[Terra Nova]

Several issues in 1991 had ads for them.

Here's one from Feb that year

Parks-Ad-2-91.jpg

I’m amazed they were still ‘selling’ those in 1991, as by then most had changed over to SCTs and Dobs and outfits like that, cool as they were, were already considered obsolete. But then again, Parks was always a decade or more behind in their product advertisements. I wonder if they actually sold any in 1991 or even had any?

Edited by Terra Nova, 15 September 2024 - 09:42 AM.

[Terra Nova]

Ready for full load tracking testing.

 

The DEC lock is not great, I may try to face the end of it flat in the lathe. I think there is minimal contact area to the DEC shaft.

 

i guess another option would drill out the middle of the bolt and put in some delrin or rubber tip.

Great looking scope! Congratulations in your find. It’s cleaned up nicely.

[CHASLX200]

I’m amazed they were still ‘selling’ those in 1991, as by then most had changed over to SCTs and Dobs and outfits like that, cool as they were, were already considered obsolete. But then again, Parks was always a decade or more behind in their product advertisements. I wonder if they actually sold any in 1991 or even had any?

They did. They built me a OTA around a 12.5" mirror Telescopics left me hanging with in 1990.

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[Terra Nova]

They did. They built me a OTA around a 12.5" mirror Telescopics left me hanging with in 1990.

Well I’ve known for a long time that you were obsolete Chas!

 

https://youtu.be/TWd...8fmzanAOITOxnro

[CHASLX200]

Well I’ve known for a long time that you were obsolete Chas!

 

https://youtu.be/TWd...8fmzanAOITOxnro

Parks had a catalog in 1989 showing a big 16" on a Cave 2.5" mount look a like.  They made em into the 90's. But the C8 did in Unitron in the early 70's and the big blue cheap Dobs in the early 80's did in the old school long Newts for the most part but Parks was 30 years in the past.  Shame no one can make them great tubes they sold these days.

[Kasmos]

I’m amazed they were still ‘selling’ those in 1991, as by then most had changed over to SCTs and Dobs and outfits like that, cool as they were, were already considered obsolete. But then again, Parks was always a decade or more behind in their product advertisements. I wonder if they actually sold any in 1991 or even had any?

Yesterday I was looking thru some S&Ts from the mid to late '90s and noticed Parks was still advertising them but they were no longer on gray and blue mounts (black) by '93. I wasn't really concentrating on Parks ads so I didn't check to see any magazines past that, but I believe they were still selling them (trying), right up to their end, whenever that was?