Secondary mirror damage on new scope

[Ricochet]

2 hours ago, Jonny_H said:

Yes that it what I was thinking.  I will wait for a response from them then pose that question.

I havent done anything like this before but if they say that is fine - how 'easy' is it to swap the assembly over?  Is it an easy DIY job?

So long as you take care so as not to scratch either mirror, swapping the primary cells and/or mirrors is quite straight forward. If you need to loosen the mirror clips or wash the mirror in future you will be doing the same operation anyway. 

[Peter_D]

Personally speaking, I wouldn't be happy having a non-standard looking element on my new scope -  it'll be something that could potentially affect its resale value (even if it is only cosmetic). Really frustrating to send it back too but better to be 100 percent satisfied with a new purchase imho.

 

[discardedastro]

6 hours ago, Jonny_H said:

I am starting to feel like I have been rather unlucky with this scope!  

I'd probably send it back to the shop and take your money elsewhere - seems a bit iffy.

Swapping the primary isn't hard but shipping it back without damage is the trick - in the tube it's pretty well protected, out (even in the cell) it'll need careful packaging.

[Louis D]

I assume the OP has both OTAs right now and can swap the primary mirror cells between the two before sending the original with the chipped secondary back.  I'd probably take them both out and do some critical observing with them to see if there is any difference between them first.  Perhaps one primary has a better figure than the other.