Skywatcher Focuser

[Lorne]

On my old SW scope I swapped to a Revelation dual speed low profile Crayford focuser with brass compression rings on both the 2" and 1.25" EP holders, this was used in conjunction with an extension tube. At the moment I'm using the stock Skywatcher Crayford and the two dovetailed eyepiece holders with barrel scratching fixing screws. I've seen an adaptor, m54 female thread to 2" which screws on to the end of the SW drawtube, adding 12mm to the travel. My question (eventually) is, has anyone used one of these and will I still need to add an extension piece in to achieve focus?

Cheers, L.

[kirkster501]

Does not answer your question but first thing I did to my dob was upgrade the focuser to a Moonlite. A very worthwhile investment.

[Lorne]

Yeah Kirkster, just read through "Dude with a tube's" post where he fitted the Moonlite and it certainly looks the part.

[kirkster501]

Yeah Kirkster, just read through "Dude with a tube's" post where he fitted the Moonlite and it certainly looks the part.

It is - trust me

[SnakeyJ]

On my old SW scope I swapped to a Revelation dual speed low profile Crayford focuser with brass compression rings on both the 2" and 1.25" EP holders, this was used in conjunction with an extension tube. At the moment I'm using the stock Skywatcher Crayford and the two dovetailed eyepiece holders with barrel scratching fixing screws. I've seen an adaptor, m54 female thread to 2" which screws on to the end of the SW drawtube, adding 12mm to the travel. My question (eventually) is, has anyone used one of these and will I still need to add an extension piece in to achieve focus?

Cheers, L.

Lorne - I've just replaced the Synta/SW M54 dovetail ring with the 2" Adapter with Compression Ring - for SkyWatcher Newtonians with M54 thread - £ 37 delivered from Modern Astronomy. However, I wanted to reduce the extension so that I could put a filter wheel in the optical path. You would need an extension tube and a 2" - 1.25 adaptor if using this purely for visual. An old barlow with the lens removed can make a good extension tube, though there are some nice marked/scaled ones available - Telescope Service and MA are good places to start looking as is Skies the limit (ebay shop).

Hope this helps.

[Lorne]

Thanks Snakey, it does help. Ideally I'd have preferred enough focus travel without the extension on the new adaptor, but it's not too big a deal to use it.

OK, Ideally the Moonlite is the real preferred answer but I don't think I could sneak that under SWMBO's radar!!