Moonlune

I am going through a similar process with my Bushnell Voyager 900mm f l reflector. Good luck and I shall follow with interest. I have just purchased a set of Plossl lenses, which are a great improvement on the standard (old) lenses that came with it. Still just looking at the moon and brightest stars until I get familiar with the kit. I used the clear silicone grease on the gearing (wipe on/wipe off) as it saves you getting grease on hands and clothing whilst feeling your way in the dark! My reflectors were pretty clean, so haven't attempted a clean yet. I wiped over the scope with atibax wipes and then used a household polish on the shiny stuff! A new paint brush was great for the nooks and crannies.

I bought a set of Plossl lenses and a Barlow for my Old Bushnell Voyager reflector 900mm FL and the Plossl lenses were more of an interference fit than a sliding fit into the focussing tube. I guessed that the plastic tube would be the easiest to work on, so eased it with a bit of fine wet and dry rubbing paper until a sliding fit was achieved, The Plossl lenses are much better than the original poor quality lenses that came with it (not sure if they were original or not). The scope is very old but gave me a good shot of a star, once set up tonight. The material taken out was no more than a few thou' so hopefully no ill effects but easier lens changing! Cloud stopped play!

For info:- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chilblains/

I set up the spotter scope on my old Bushnell Voyager Reflector, for the first time in my ownership and was very pleased with the result. However, after moving the equipment, I found that it had moved, despite being tight on the fixings. A bit of wiggling and I found that the base was moving on the fixings. I removed the spotter and found the fixings to the tube were tight and secure. The movement was between the "cone" type knurled nuts and the baseplate. Despite being tight, there was still play. I decided to "mod"! I cut a piece of tyre inner tube and made a gasket, to fit between the scope mounting and the reflector tube. When I try it now, there is the slightest of "give" in the rubber gasket but the scope always returns to the position set, so you can touch or move it without fear of losing the setting. Result!

I must have got the alignment correct as I have just found Jupiter! No pics as it was too cold to hold the camera still. Next job will be sorting out a camera mount. I've just received my wireless shutter release, so a bit of playing in the warmth, once the camera battery is charged! (and my fingers have thawed!)

Hand held phone pic of our local water tower warning light bulb! (Been lining up the spotter!)

Design and Tech degree plus amateur watchmaking until my shaky hands got the better of it!

Hi folks. Bought myself a Bushnell Voyager (old but reliable I'm told). Picked it up today and gave it a good clean and lubed the moving geary bits (hope that's OK - told you I was new!). Too late for me to set it up properly tonight, so "winged it" and managed to find a star before I froze to death. It seems that I commited the usual newby mistake and got the cross hairs and centre bit in the view! Focus problem I believe? Shall work on that, once I've lined up the spotter scope properly. I've adjusted out the slack in the gears with the allen keys, so they are no longer floating around! Onward and upwards! Beam me up!