Rob

Sorry to hear this. If it were me I would re strip down, and swap those ceramic bearings out anyhow. I did my Heq5 this year and purchased the best I could for bearings. Mine had various issues.. including having to rubber mallet off the RA bearing. It was a horror show. Needless to say once all back together and set its now running like a dream. 
 

you will get to the bottom of it I’m sure!. Good luck.

Rob

Nice!... I've been out these last few nights. Its been so cold with air frost also.. that can soften it. Been -6 by night down here.

Rob

6 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

Thanks Rob..although I should point out that this thread was one I started 12 years ago..😱😁

Jeremy (who clearly has too much time on his hands!😂) somehow found it, then saw the reference to "the handle"..and jumped on it🤦😂..

The Lomo was a fine scope  (it actually turned out to be a "Ylena"), and for the umpteenth time in my life "I wish I hadn't sold it"...

I did learn my lesson when I got my Tak FS128 though..it ain't going anywhere!!👍😊

Dave

So it is!... Sorry my bad. I know you love your FS128. I would too if I had one. Happy Friday (can you tell I've entered weekend mode already  )

11 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

A lovely little Sharpstar 61  (2) arrived today …. Put it on my Nexstar mount for a quick first light … lovely sharp stars   

Very nice!..

Nice Dave!. What a find. Looks super quality, and will serve you I'm sure.. Sorry to hear about your back - Get well soon. Rob

18 hours ago, Knighty2112 said:

Got from fleabay arrived today after a little delay due to RM strike last week. Missed them at the time so happy to get one now.

Just grabbed one myself!. Nice

New Askar VDP 300 bar for my ED102. Thanks FLO!

Eyepieces are a very personal choice for the observer. To one person, not so great.. to another a real winner!. This is fine, we are all different in some respects. I found mid range premium are just great for me, that said there are some gems sub £100 bracket also.

best advice - try out where possible, and try them again. 
 

Rob

Took a punt and bought my first Aliexpress item. Really like it too. Nice long handle for my Bresser 127L.

aluminium fully anodised. 
 

Always an interesting one!. You also want (which I’m sure you are) Ease of use with your (all family) visual scope. The last thing you want to do is be put off by lugging everything out etc.. 

One of my most fun scopes was way back 30 Years ago. A Helios 114 skyhawk (now skywatcher). It was an F8 Newtonian .. yes not the most premium, but fun all the same and sub £250 at the time. You will manage most targets also plants & bright deep sky. Which ever you look at consider the F-ratio also. There are many brands that could suit.

Clear Skies Rob

Nice report thanks. I picked one of these up a short while ago, yet to have proper first light!. It seems really good on testing. Rob

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

 

As a child of the Apollo era, it had to be done

Very nice indeed!. Very jealous 😊.. ditto for me as born January 1969, and christened on moon landing day!!

Rob

On 17/08/2022 at 16:01, Knighty2112 said:

Nice wee ‘frac addition to the family curtesy of Dragon_Astro arrived earlier on via DPD. Tis’ small but very cute! An SW Equinox 66ED!

Good fun scope. Enjoy!. Loved the 66

23 hours ago, bosun21 said:

My 2” - 1.25” Baader clicklock arrived today along with a new Oklop bag for my Starfield.

 

I grabbed one of these bags from FLO for my ED102.. really nice

Rob

Welcome!. Enjoy the hobby & the forum

Rob

8 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

Thank you all going to experiment tonight resetting handset and trying that see what happens I will know more then and can decide what's best.

Good luck Paul.. 

Also by upgrading the mount will pay you for future upgrades/scopes. So a win, win!

10 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

I have the EQ6 tripod 2" leg I got a adapter to fit the EQ5 on it.  really I am now in two minds save and get a HEQ5 head or full mount or sell the 5"

Yeah I know what you mean Paul. I think if you have a good 5”, then invest in an old black version HEQ5 head and go from there!. I know you put a lot of time, effort and funds into getting the focuser sorted. 
 

The lack of go to for a while is worth the wait on funds as the difference over the EQ5 is noticeable.

Rob

Hi Wookie, yes the EQ5 is to pushed for yours & my 5” frac. The length of tube plays havoc. This why I started looking for an old dual drive HEQ5, then slowly upgraded when funds allowed. I also stripped and replaced all the bearings and re-greased everything.

popped an ADM saddle on there and moved to a Losmandy plate (15” one). Then finally grabbed the skyscan upgrade with Wi-Fi dongle. This has been over 3 ish years.. but just having the HEQ5 mount head made a difference.

I also bought a CG5 tripod (2” leg) 

Rob

Sounds great Russ. It does seem the early mornings are the way to go then (more so with the hot days we are having).

encouraging on Mars also 😊

Rob

Have been a massive fan of Meade for 25 plus years now. Sure their mechanics have been questionable at times, but the optics have been first class. 
 

Rob

Welcome to SGL!. Clear skies to you.. looking forward to your posts

Rob

I'd suggest its been cut down?.. Still if working for you . No worries :)

Thanks. It’s a standard skywatcher extension I think 15”?. It’s heavy steel. The Asterion is great!.

So today I drilled and added my old vixen dove tail bar to the steel extension tube!. Cut and added a wood plate with Velcro strips to hold the go to computer. The wood is held by UNC bolts, this means later I could use a dovetail clamp. 
 

All fixings are A2 stainless so no worries there!. All in all very happy . Ready for the 102 ED for visual & imaging

Rob