Cheap mount options required

[101nut]

I have had an enquiry from an owner of a fairly early LX200 14" who is suffering from mount problems.

He is retired and funds are now limited so a new mount big enough to take the load (eg an EQ8) is not an option, and he's not willing to throw good money after bad having the mount fixed ... and fixed again ...

He is inclined to go for a second-hand, older mount. His feeling is something very simple, robust but more 'agricultural'  would fit be suitable - something like an old Fullerscopes mark 4 was mentioned.

Any ideas of something that will fit the bill? Even better is there anything out there for sale?

AndyG

[Peter Drew]

A Fullerscope Mk 4 mount would certainly be up to the job if you can find one, it would be more stable than the 14" Meade SCT fork mount.    

[John]

The Fullerscops Mk IV would do the trick. One came up for sale in Cornwall a couple of weeks back but was quickly snapped up as they are like hens teeth. An older Celestron CGE might be worth looking for - they can be had for under £1K on the used market.

It's not easy finding high capacity mounts for reasonable cost as I've found in looking for a mount for my 6" F/12 refractor.

[101nut]

Thanks for the ideas ... I think any search containing the word 'cheap' will be futile but I said I'd try for him ...

AndyG

[lensman57]

Hi Andy,

A 14" SCT is a beast of a scope and any mount worth botheirng with will be expensive , I think that your friend would be better off selling the scope and put the money he wanted to put towards the mount and the proceeds from the sale to a new more managable scope and mount combintion.

Regards,

A.G

[broadway1]

I'm probably going to be howled down, but I have seen the odd person very happy with a Celestron C14 on a Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro used for visual and planetary imaging, and I wonder whether the weight of the Meade LX200 OTA would be comparable? 

[RobH]

I'm probably going to be howled down, but I have seen the odd person very happy with a Celestron C14 on a Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro used for visual and planetary imaging, and I wonder whether the weight of the Meade LX200 OTA would be comparable?

The meade is considerably heavier unfortunately. I forget what the difference is, but it's a fair bit.

I can understand the chap wanting to keep the OTA, I used to have one and it was a pleasure visually, but nothing that can mount something that size solidly and track with a reasonable degree of accuracy is going to be cheap.

[Carina Lass]

I'm amazed that a meade14 is heavier than a celestron 14?

My meade 8 is quite light.

[RobH]

I'm amazed that a meade14 is heavier than a celestron 14?

My meade 8 is quite light.

The meade 14 OTA weighs just under 60lbs , the C14 is 45lbs.

[Carina Lass]

Le WOW

[laser_jock99]

The meade 14 OTA weighs just under 60lbs , the C14 is 45lbs.

I run a 35Kg (77lbs) scope on an EQ6.........it could therefore handle 60lbs with ease.