Skywatcher Startravel 80 OTA help

[AndyDix]

Hiya all.

I have just had one of these from FLO arrive today.

The tube rings seem to have some kind of plastic plate screwed to them. The bottom of the plate has 3 screwholes.

What is the plate for as it seems I should unscrew it to get the rings mounted onto the mounts mounting bar.

Is this correct ? the heq5 maual says to "fasten the tube rings to the mount with the 10mm wrench provided"

The wrench provided with the mount doesnt fit those screws and only a philips type screwdriver came with the scope.

Please help

Andy

[brantuk]

Yes I got an ST80 recently too. That plastic block is a poor excuse for a dovetail bar - I changed mine straight away for a proper one

[AndyDix]

Yes I got an ST80 recently too. That plastic block is a poor excuse for a dovetail bar - I changed mine straight away for a proper one

Cheers for the reply.

So can i just unscrew the block then attach the rings onto the dovetail that came with the Heq5 or is it not that simple?

Andy

[johnrt]

Yes I got an ST80 recently too. That plastic block is a poor excuse for a dovetail bar - I changed mine straight away for a proper one

They stopped supplying a proper dovetail with the ST80?

[brantuk]

Should be that simple - yes - provided the holes in the dovetail match up with ring positions on the ota

@John - it would appear so mate

[John]

I problem I had with the couple of ST80's I had was that the tube was so short that you could not separate the tube rings enough to get even a short dovetail between them or enough space to bolt them straight onto the saddle of a mount.

I seem to remember using just a single tube ring to mount the scope.

Maybe the design has changed since my versions

[philj]

The plastic block isnt really a dovetail as it doesnt have the taper its just a square block with 1/4" camera thread bush in the bottom so you can fit the scope to a camera tripod or head.

SW do a very short dovetail bar which will accept both rings and still fit the stubby scope tube.

Philj

[Veracocha]

I problem I had with the couple of ST80's I had was that the tube was so short that you could not separate the tube rings enough to get even a short dovetail between them or enough space to bolt them straight onto the saddle of a mount.

I seem to remember using just a single tube ring to mount the scope.

Maybe the design has changed since my versions

I had similar recently. I seperated the rings as far as possible but the rear ring sat on top of the ST80 tube screws because they sit proud. I had to channel out recesses to cater for the tube screws. I don't think the plastic section is a dovetail mount, I think it's for a tripod mount.

[Earl]

They stopped supplying a proper dovetail with the ST80?

Yep i was not impressed, basically the ota rings not just bolt onto the supplied EQ1 akin to the AZ style.

But lets face is an ST80 belongs in Guide rings so no biggy

[brantuk]

The short SW 15cm dovetail is the one I use - it fits perfect

First Light Optics - Skywatcher Dovetail Mounting Plates

Just separate the tube rings a little once the block is off (and destroyed lol) It goes straight on with the supplied bolts.

[MikeWilson]

They stopped supplying a proper dovetail with the ST80?

Did you get a proper Dovetail with your ST80?

I got mine last year (around December) and it came with that nasty plastic thing. I had to order a dovetail for it.

[MikeWilson]

One ring to hold it all.

(it's very secure and I always get a guide star).

[johnrt]

I'm sure I did. Mine is a blue one though.

Did you get a proper Dovetail with your ST80?

I got mine last year (around December) and it came with that nasty plastic thing. I had to order a dovetail for it.