HELP! I accidentally took an EP apart

[smulx]

I just got a filter and I was messing about with it, attaching it to my 2" SW Panaview 32mm and I unscrewed the wrong part and the lenses fell out. I managed to keep some in, but 2 lenses and a plastic ring fell out and I don't know how they go back in. Can anyone help me?

Thanks!

[smulx]

if it helps.. The thickest of the two is flat on one side and concave on the other. The thinner one is flat on one side and convex on the other (can't remember what the correct name for them is)

[chemtom24]

i think they go back in with the two curved sides facing each other, BUT, you can also just wait until tonight and try out different combinations until you get a nice view of the stars again dont panic lol, ive done the same before and im certain many more have too

[Macavity]

I think the main thing... as you "drop" the lenses back into place, do try to get them "lined up" first.

If you get one stuck, then you're truly screwed. We've all been here (to some extent) though!

[smulx]

Thanks for the tips guys.

i think they go back in with the two curved sides facing each other

Can anyone confirm this? I wanted to avoid trial and error as I understand there's a risk of getting them stuck, so was hoping to get it right the first time.

[Peter Drew]

If the eyepiece is a Plossl then strongest curves should be facing each other inwards, the plastic ring goes in between them to stop the lenses coming into contact. I find it's best to stack the components in the right order on a piece of card, lower the eyepiece body over them, pick the card up and turn the whole lot over then replace any retaining ring.

[deepspacehunter]

You can try and look up EYEPIECE DESIGNS, some books show a cross section of different designs of EP's, maybe that will help you figure out the correct orientation of the lenses.....

[smulx]

Following the other suggestions I looked up different designs and thought I had it figured out. I put it all back together, but it rattled. I'm really confused as to where the extra space has came from, but I took it back apart anyway and tried a different configuration and it still rattled. It definitely didn't do this before. Looks like I'm just going to have to replace it so that's around £80 down the crapper

[chemtom24]

keep trying. as long as you can get a decent view eout o fit, dos it mattr if it rattls slightly?

[Capricorn]

Suspect that when the first 2 came out the others moved a bit and one of the spacer rings below now has the space to move.

You could gently push/tap down on the one at the top and hope that the push causes the lower ones to drop down a bit.

Or remove the two again and then press down on the lower items, as this is a bit more direct it may be more successful.

There was probably a spacer ring below the lower lens and this is most probably the one that has moved.

To "press" down I can only thinkof a cotten wool bud, I have used them in the past on a planetary (5 lens). They do/can however leave fibres of cotten wool around.

Will say don't be too afraid, glass doesn't shatter just by looking at it or breathing on it. I have glass lens in my glasses, easily 5 years old, cleaned by lots of breath, any old tissue (bog) and bits of whatever shirt I am wearing. No scratches, marks and the single laywer AR coating is perfect still. So not the delicate material I keep reading about.

[smulx]

I would have thought that with a slight gap where there shouldn't be one, it wouldn't focus properly. I'll give it a try on the next clear night though and see if it's still usable