9 replies to this topic

[urbanMark]

Hello Everyone,

 

I just received a brand new pair of MBII's (along with a solid layer of thick clouds forecast to stay for the next 10 days or more....).

 

All of the eyepieces I have fit fine in the right side of the MBII's, but 2 of my eyepiece sets won't fit in the left side (the rest fit fine in the left). The eyepieces that don't fit are my Morpheus and my LOA21's (the irony did not escape me). These eyepieces stop about 6mm before reaching bottom, but only on the left side - they fit fine on the right. And both eyepieces in the pair  behave the same.

 

I have carefully examined the interior of the eyepiece socket, wiped it clean with a chem wipe, inspected it under magnification, and can see no issue. If it was just a single eyepiece that didn't fit I would think it is the eyepiece, but it is with both eyepieces of both sets. 

 

Is there any adjustment I can make to fix this? Should I ask Baader to send me a new click lock?

 

Thanks,

Mark

[wrvond]

I believe Baader says disassembly will void the warranty, so I would ask for a replacement.

I hope you bought them from Agena, since they are closer to you.

[betacygni]

I’m sure you checked this, but given I’ve done stupid things before, make sure you’re fully opening the clicklock. I can remember getting a bit confused between the diopter adjustment and the actual clicklock opening mechanism. And speaking of the diopter make sure nothing is weird with that that could be bottoming out the eyepieces on something (such as if it’s fully adjusted down).

Edited by betacygni, 01 February 2025 - 04:30 PM.

[urbanMark]

I’m sure you checked this, but given I’ve done stupid things before, make sure you’re fully opening the clicklock. I can remember getting a bit confused between the diopter adjustment and the actual clicklock opening mechanism. And speaking of the diopter make sure nothing is weird with that that could be bottoming out the eyepieces on something (such as if it’s fully adjusted down).

yeah, that was my first thought. I've played with the diopter and the click lock a ton thinking something was stuck or not fully traveling, but that wasn't it.

[tturtle]

Something is off here and the way your describing the problem just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Can you provide a couple of photos that show the interior of the eyepiece holder on the left?

[Finbarius]

Hi Mark.

Sorry for the delay response. I actually had something similar sounding occur in a new 1¼" clicklock, not on the MBII. Only a few eyepieces had the problem that something was just slightly too narrow to allow them in. It appeared to me the visible compression ring inside was the problem. I had to send it back for replacement, but suspect that back at the shop they opened it adjusted it, and returned it too me. Either way, the problem was solved.

 

The holders on my MBII do not have a visible compression ring, but near the top I can see the 3 rollers that grip the eyepiece on locking. They wouldn't cause the problem you described. But below each of them I can see a silver dot that can only be the bottom of something like a lug or screw inside the mechanism. They seem to be the right depth to cause what you describe. I wonder if in your device they are not correctly set. If you run your finger around the inside of the holders, can you feel any of them protruding, even if ever so slightly? I cannot feel them in mine, but if you can, then maybe that is the problem.

 

Prompted by this matter I removed my MBII eyepiece holders because the grubby prism surfaces needed a good clean. A very small Allen key had come either with the MBII or another Baader product for such times - but I did not try pulling the holders themselves apart, so cannot give any advice there. If you can feel one or more of those things protruding then perhaps at least that holder needs to be replaced.

 

Barry

 

Forgot to add: when I removed my holders I discovered that on one side the very thin plastic washer type ring that prevents the bottom of the eyepiece hitting the prism was not seated properly, and was somehow bent out of shape. It was able to be seated correctly again after clearing, but it was a surprise to see and I was left thinking it had been like that form the beginning.

Edited by Finbarius, 05 February 2025 - 09:54 PM.

[Spikey131]

yeah, that was my first thought. I've played with the diopter and the click lock a ton thinking something was stuck or not fully traveling, but that wasn't it.

When you adjust the diopters on the MB2, the Clicklock holder travels up and down 3mm, from 31 to 34mm.  If your left diopter is all the way down, and right one is up, an eyepiece with a nosepiece >31mm will not go all the way into left side but will on the right.

 

One solution is to turn both diopters all the way down and install the eyepieces as far as they will go.  Then focus on an object and figure out which side will even your eyes out by turning it up.

 

Could this be your issue?

Attached Thumbnails

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[urbanMark]

Update:

 

I've been in touch with Bob at Alpine Astro (the US distributor for Baader). It appears my left eyepiece socket is a bit on the tight side (tolerance wise) and a few of my eyepieces are on the large side (tolerance wise), so tolerance stacking is causing some issues. Per Bob's suggestion, I have returned the viewers to him along with my "tightest" eyepiece and he is going to test several pairs to find one that works with my (apparently) slightly large eyepieces.

 

Hopefully in a few more days the problem will be resolved...

[wrvond]

Bob is great to work with. 

[urbanMark]

Update:

On Tuesday last week I shipped my MBII's back to Bob along with an eyepiece for testing. On Saturday I had a new pair back, along with my eyepiece and tested for fitment. My pair were indeed out of spec (or on the tight extreme of the spec). The problem was not the bore, but the little tips that protrude into the bore just past midway down. Unfortunately this is not user adjustable.

 

BTW - according to Bob, the clicklock eyepiece sockets are collimated and should not be removed.