14 replies to this topic

[Bob4BVM]

My first Zeiss, got it in pieces.

Most of the assembly is pretty obvious, but what is the purpose of that long steel rod which screws to the inside of the tube with 4 screws ?

 

Anyone have a manual or exploded view of this scope ?

 

Thanks,

Bob

[Astrojensen]

I guess you have the helical focuser version? If so, I could imagine the long steel rod was there to prevent the focuser drawtube from rotating. There must be something attached to the end of the drawtube, which slides on the rod, preventing the drawtube from rotating. 

 

That's my guess, at least. I've never taken one of them apart. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Astrojensen]

Photos of the parts would be helpful.

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Bob4BVM]

Thanks.

 

Here it is, it screws to the inside of the main tube, with 5 screws thru the tube wall.

It's about 12" long and 3/8" diameter, with a flatted side where it contacts the inside of the tube wall when in place. Pics just show it lying on outside of tube, but it definitely attaches to the inside wall with 5 flathead, countersunk screws.

Seems to just hang in there with no contact to anything, no play with the drawtube section of the OTA.

All i can guess is a tube stiffener ? But that doesn't seem to make much sense either.

 

The focuser is a helical, but non-rotating via internal keyway .  This rod is nowhere near the focuser.  I know the type you are talking about but this is not that.

 

Wish i had a manual for this scope

 

Edited by Bob4BVM, 13 April 2025 - 02:13 PM.

[PawPaw]

Your second picture shows the silver dovetail with a concave side (tube side).  That attaches to the tube or the black metal strip?  Dave Trott has a video on the AS63:  https://www.youtube....h?v=G1UqGs5HC4s

[Doraemon]

Hello, 

I have an AS63/840, AS80/1200 and AS100/1000.  My AS80/1200 has a similar steel rod you are showing. In my telescope this is a rail for a mobile counterweight for the OTA, so you can move the counterweight to help to balance the OTA depending on the accessories you are using (prism turret, mirror turret or zenit prisma, all of the quite heavy).

If you want, I can send you photos.

[Bob4BVM]

Your second picture shows the silver dovetail with a concave side (tube side).  That attaches to the tube or the black metal strip?  Dave Trott has a video on the AS63:  https://www.youtube....h?v=G1UqGs5HC4s

No, the silver dovetail is the mount attachment, it screws to the bottom of the OTA to holes not visible in that pic.

[Bob4BVM]

Hello, 

I have an AS63/840, AS80/1200 and AS100/1000.  My AS80/1200 has a similar steel rod you are showing. In my telescope this is a rail for a mobile counterweight for the OTA, so you can move the counterweight to help to balance the OTA depending on the accessories you are using (prism turret, mirror turret or zenit prisma, all of the quite heavy).

If you want, I can send you photos.

In my 63, that black rail attaches to the INSIDE of the OTA, so it's not a CW bar, unless maybe small magnetic CW's i guess ?

[Bob4BVM]

Wish i had a manual...

Also if someone has a complete version of this scope, please post a pic of the box open, showing what goes in all those intricate storage compartments !

Thx

Bob

[Bob4BVM]

OK, mystery solved

Internal anti-rotation device.

 

Steel rod does install inside OTA per above.

Found this little aluminum bracket in the box of parts i got with the scope.

Found two tiny matching holes in the inner end of the drawtube, where the bracket was attached, .

Unfortunately the holes were full of equally tiny broken off #2 screws.

So the bracket slides over the steel rod, to prevent rotation of the drawtube. Probably a good idea, having a helical focuser.

Need to either get the broken screws out of there somehow, or may just drill a new pair of holes next to them.

 

Edited by Bob4BVM, 14 April 2025 - 01:14 AM.

[Astrojensen]

OK, mystery solved

Internal anti-rotation device.

 

Steel rod does install inside OTA per above.

Found this little aluminum bracket in the box of parts i got with the scope.

Found two tiny matching holes in the inner end of the drawtube, where the bracket was attached, .

Unfortunately the holes were full of equally tiny broken off #2 screws.

So the bracket slides over the steel rod, to prevent rotation of the drawtube. Probably a good idea, having a helical focuser.

Need to either get the broken screws out of there somehow, or may just drill a new pair of holes next to them.

 

Zeiss 63-840 internal rod3.png Zeiss 63-840 internal rod4.png

Exactly as I predicted. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Bob4BVM]

Exactly as I predicted. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

 

Yes, I have seen that type you are talking about , with the long rod alongside the focuser to prevent rotation.

Being a non-rotating helical, the focuser is not the problem in this case. 

But the sliding OTA drawtube could still rotate on its internal mount rings. This stops that action.

 

Now if i can just get all these parts re-mounted , deep inside the OTA somehow !  Dying to try this baby out. Judging by what I'm reading in posts here, it's supposed to be a great scope

 

CS

Bob

[Bob4BVM]

Does anyone know where i can get a Zeiss manual for this scope?

 

So far a web search has failed.  These were built long before the web existed, but seems odd to find nothing seeing as how these scopes have a large following.

 

Thanks

Bob

[Astrojensen]

. 

But the sliding OTA drawtube could still rotate on its internal mount rings. This stops that action.

 

 

That was what I was talking about all along. Not the focuser per se, but the long drawtube. I guess you misunderstood my first post. I should have been more clear.

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Bob4BVM]

That was what I was talking about all along. Not the focuser per se, but the long drawtube. I guess you misunderstood my first post. I should have been more clear.

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

Ah, gotcha Thomas !  

I should have paid closer attention

Thanks for your help

Bob