Dual focus knob removal

[greealilee]

Can anyone help,

Looking to remove the dual focus knobs of my WO Z73. I have fitted the ZWO EAF on the opposite side and have had this on for some time now, all works very well. Reason for wanting to take the other knobs off is to make space for a new Geoptik bag because I'm tired of breaking the scope down for it to fit the WO bag I already have. I have got as far as taking the knobs off far it to leave the focus pin. Not sure what to do next if at all possible.

Lee 

[newbie alert]

Should only be grubscrew holding them on

[greealilee]

It's this bit I'm not sure about.

[DaveS]

That's the other end of the spindle that has the pinion on it. Sorry but you're stuck with it unless you want to take a hacksaw to it (DON'T!).

[haitch]

5 minutes ago, DaveS said:

That's the other end of the spindle that has the pinion on it. Sorry but you're stuck with it unless you want to take a hacksaw to it (DON'T!).

Like he says, I think on that model the spindle runs all the way through. On some WO focusers I've seen the dual speed has a second smaller spindle that runs between some ball bearings in a planetary fashion but that looks different. You can probably take the rest of the knob off but I don't think the spindle is going anywhere.

[haitch]

Actually, easy enough to check - does that spindle turn at the same rate as the knob at the other end?

 

[greealilee]

Thanks all,

I think I will leave it and look for a better way to store the scope.

 

[John]

That is about as far as you can take it. There are ball bearings within that silver and brass housing that bear against the shaft. If you take it off, getting it back on with the bearings in the correct place can be very tricky indeed. It's very difficult to get the same "feel" that it used to have.

 

[Captain Scarlet]

I have destroyed a TS Optic Monorail focuser trying to do more or less what you’re doing and going, let’s say, a touch too far ... a hammer was involved. The knob turns still, but it grinds and nothing else moves...