130P DS Owners How Do Your Focuser Feel

[acharris77]

Hi all, I need some advice from 130P DS owners. I have only had to mediocre clear skies since I took delivery of my 130P DS last Friday. I love the scope and can't wait to couple it with a EQ5 Pro Goto when I order it in a few weeks. While it is not a issue and the focuser is still nice to use and great for fine focus, I notice that when I wind the draw tube out around a 1/4 I get a little resistance, but it is not as bad going in. Before I undo the panel under it and look at the shaft, I was wondering if it could be the grub screw under it just touching a little, though unlikely.

Also does it have any little allen screws, etc to adjust on the outside to adjust? thanks in advance for any advice you give me.

[Joseki]

Skywatcher should really document how to correctly adjust their DS focusers.  I wonder how many fancy focuser upgrades have been sold because of badly set up focusers...  Anyway, I found this link very handy for adjusting my 100ed ds focuser and I think it might well be the same for your 130pds (my 200pds looks to have the same configuration). 

http://www.astronomyshed.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=4932

[acharris77]

Thanks for the link. Yeah it does look similar. I shall take a look later or tomorrow and see what is what.

Thanks again.

[Uranium235]

Be careful about backing off the tension, as you dont want to take it too far and lose all grip.

I have a suspicion its something to do with your flat (the underside of the focuser tube). I took a moment to sand mine down a little to increase the friction (as I use a heavy CCD camera with my 130). Having said that, theres nothing wrong if theres a little stiffness in you focuser - especially when it comes to AP. The only time you need to take action is if the problem stops the focuser moving at any point.

[acharris77]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't done nothing yet, so I might wait until I get a proper night and try it. I will be hanging a 1000D off it and to be honest the focuser feels good just  for that little bit of stiffness. Fine focusing is great as well.

Thanks again.