WANTED - Secondary Assembly for 8" EdgeHD

[DeepSkyMan]

Hi there, I'm wondering if any SGL members might have a spare secondary assembly for an 8" EdgeHD.  Basically, the previous owner of my Edge did something abominable to the collimation screws which mean that they will not move.  I suspect the original owner has used a threadlock product or similar on the collimation screws.  I am therefore looking to replace the entire secondary assembly.  Shipping the scope off to David Hinds is one possibility and I am pursuing this, however I'm also looking at other options, such as replacing the secondary assembly myself.

 

Kind Regards

Paul J.

[Peter Drew]

Hello Paul.

 

I think it most unlikely that anyone would have a spare secondary assembly. There is also the perennial issue of whether these optics are assembled as a set and not necessarily compatible with individual replacement parts. If you could remove the assembly and send it to me I'm fairly confident I could repair it for you. 

[Cosmic Geoff]

I also read that these SCT optics are a set and if you break one the scope could be a write-off.  I understand that if the secondary assembly is marked 'Faststar' it is designed to come off easily by twisting and be replaced by a prime focus camera. Once you have it off you could try solvents or a bit more force or take the safer option and send it to Peter.

HTH.

[DeepSkyMan]

Peter, Geoff

Many thanks for your feedback.  Peter, I just might take you up on your offer, if so it probably won't be until mid-summer, hoping to get some more observing in while we still have some darkness, if the weather overlords see fit to grant us some clear skies that is.  Hadn't appreciated that the primary and secondary might be mated pairs, think I may need to do a little research on this topic.  Peter, ok to PM you if I decide to go down the route you suggest?

In all honesty I'm not one for DIY, my general philosophy when it comes to specialist fields is 'send the goods to the specialist' :-). I have an enquiry in with David Hinds, will wait and see what they come back with by way of an estimate.  Thanks again guys, much appreciated.

Paul.

 

[Astrobits]

The optical components might well be figured as a pair but the mechanical components will be common. I think that Peter's offer will be the best.

Nigel

[Peter Drew]

Paul. PM me as or if necessary. 

[moriniboy]

Similar thing happened to me with my MN190, overtightened screws from the previous owners collimation attempt combined with Skywatcher's abysmally weak metal screws.

Ended up drilling out the offending item with a drill smaller than the thread to keep it intact, then replaced with stainless allen heads.

[DeepSkyMan]

Brave man Moriniboy, no way I am going anywhere near my corrector plate with a drill, I was having palpitations just taking a screw driver to the phillips collimation screws, which brings up another issue, who in Celestron came up with the lunatic idea of using phillips screws for collimation  Finger controllable screws for me seem a logically safer approach,  flesh on glass a much better proposition than metal