Lunt 50mm focuser

[Pete Presland]

As some of you will know the Lunt 50mm I purchased back in August has had a few issues regarding the focuser. The small Philips head screw came loose and was damaged as a result. The rubber focus ring slips when you are trying to turn the focuser. Also the focuser feels a little "gritty" when rotated and there is a fair amount slop.

I emailed Lunt in the USA to make them aware of my concerns in September, but never disappointingly received a reply. I resent the email around 2 weeks ago and have received now several responses including the one below. I guessing the original probably never got to them or got lost in a "spam" folder somewhere, as the response was very quick!

Looking forward to receiving a replacement if only to strip the original and see if it can be improved.

I thought i would share this news as i know a few members on here have been a little disappointed also with the focuser performance.

Thank you for contacting us about this issue.  While we do not currently have plans to change this model we are happy to provide you a new focuser for your telescope.  We will be sending your replacement focuser to our European distributor, Bresser.  They will contact you when they receive it.  Wolfgang is copied on this email as well.  Please feel free to contact me or Wolfgang if you have any additional questions

Kind regards,  Faye Heyde,  Lunt Solar Systems 

[MarsG76]

Looks like its great service... like you said, the initial email might have been lost in transmission, but its looking like you will have a positive resolution. Overall I think its good review for Lunt

[David Smith]

Can't ask much more than that. Will be interesting to see what you find when you strip the old one.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I get the impression that the focuser of the LS50 is the same as the one on my old LS35. Not brilliant, but certainly no slop when focused, and I got some rally nice images with it. I hope the replacement arrives soon

[Drop Of Sun]

Hope the new one works better for you. The focuser on the SolarMax 60 is not much of an award winner though I did very much like the scope overall.

[jam1e1]

Mine also has a focuser that just does not seem to work unless I'm missing something? I tighten the bolt and ring turns but it doesn't affect focus at all?

[Highburymark]

Pete, you've probably seen the journey us Lunt 50 owners have been on getting the most out of our scopes in previous threads, but I am fortunate to say that the focuser on my Lunt works fine. Just think it's worth reaffirming, as not all focuses are bad uns.

[Pete Presland]

I am sure the new one will be better or worst case similar. I have had another email from Germany asking for me to return the original for inspection, which of course i am happy to do.

[Highburymark]

I am sure the new one will be better or worst case similar. I have had another email from Germany asking for me to return the original for inspection, which of course i am happy to do.

Best of luck - just continue until you get a focuser you are happy with. The scope is too good to be let down by a relatively simple piece of technology.

[baggywrinkle]

Persistance is good, nice result.

[Lowjiber]

My experience(s) with the junk focuser on the otherwise fantastic Lunt 50 were pretty bad.  While Lunt replaced two over the course of about a week, the third one failed right out-of-the-box, and I "switched gears".

I installed a Borg helical focuser which needed an adapter to fit the etalon.  Starizona's Scott Tucker designed a simple one and has an ample supply on hand, even though you won't find it on their website... they ARE a Lunt dealer, you see.

The Borg is 6mm shorter than the Lunt and I just shimmed the blocking filter backward to get everything playing on the same sheet of music.

Now, the little Lunt acts like I expected.  Visual and imaging is a snap with a focuser that actually works.

[Owmuchonomy]

A shorter set up is precisely what I need as insufficient inward focus plagues a lot of EP choices with this scope.

[Highburymark]

My experience(s) with the junk focuser on the otherwise fantastic Lunt 50 were pretty bad.  While Lunt replaced two over the course of about a week, the third one failed right out-of-the-box, and I "switched gears".

I installed a Borg helical focuser which needed an adapter to fit the etalon.  Starizona's Scott Tucker designed a simple one and has an ample supply on hand, even though you won't find it on their website... they ARE a Lunt dealer, you see.

The Borg is 6mm shorter than the Lunt and I just shimmed the blocking filter backward to get everything playing on the same sheet of music.

Now, the little Lunt acts like I expected.  Visual and imaging is a snap with a focuser that actually works.

VISUAL.JPG

Nice solution sir. Presume at some stage Lunt will launch updated 50 with a new focuser, but will be over £1000 here in UK.