So here's my plan...

[jrussell]

Ages ago when I was a boy I discovered this wonderful hobby with the most low end department store reflector you can imagine (no, no, cheaper than that).  Then about 20 or so years ago my interest rekindled, I bought a reflector on clearance which got little use and put away. Now the embers have caught flame again and I'm determined to stick with it this time. The telescope bought years back is being put back into service. It's a Tasco Galaxsee 114mm x 500mm (~F4.3) reflector. Fortunately, in my research I've done I've found it's not a Bird-Jones as I feared for a bit,  however, I can't find out for sure if the mirror is spherical or parabolic (I've seen it claimed both ways).  Like many others I've had one of the plastic clamps on one of the tripod legs break. My temp fix didn't work out so well, so I decided to find a replacement (easier said than done for a single leg). I ended up buying a Celestron Firstscope 114mm x 900mm  (F-8) reflector, mainly as a parts scope for the tripod, but also because it had a couple of other parts I wanted and otherwise couldn't find.

So the Celestron in some ways is a little worse for wear, but I think I'm going to end up with two functioning scopes. The main problem with the Tasco has been the tripod and mount (no surprise I'm sure). The Celestron mount and tripod seem to be a little beefier, plus it has tube rings which the Tasco doesn't. Also the parts on the Celestron mount that I wanted are for mounting an RA drive. I actually got a Tasco RA drive by happenstance back in the mid-80's but was never able to mount it to the Tasco I got because I lacked the other parts. So, my thinking is that I'll mount the Tasco OTA to the Celestron EQ mount and tripod (and as soon as I can find it again, the RA drive). That should make a decent little rich field telescope. The Celestron needs a little more attention. It came in pretty rough shape. Lots of dirt, bit of rust on some of the screws, but mainly the knobs, the piece they attach to, and the piece that holds them to the focuser are missing. Also after pulling out the focuser tube, some of the teeth on that are in pretty bad shape. The good news is the mirrors and the rest of the OTA seem to be good shape. At first looking down the tube it looked like the primary mirror had a chip and a stress crack on it. After removing the primary cell I was relieved to find it was only a bit of debris. Other than dirt the primary looks to be good. I'm not sure yet how I'm going to fix the focuser problem (has to be inexpensive, as in CHEAP as in my CFO is already a little annoyed at my buying a second scope).  But I figure once I have that problem solved and I get the OTA cleaned up, I'll build a dob base for it, thus a second scope a little more geared towards moon and planetary viewing.  Do I need two telescopes? No. Do I want two telescopes, each dedicated to viewing different types of objects? Yes. I'm going to see what I can squeeze out of these two. If nothing else, it'll be an interesting project. 

[Alan64]

5 hours ago, jrussell said:

Ages ago when I was a boy I discovered this wonderful hobby with the most low end department store reflector you can imagine (no, no, cheaper than that).  Then about 20 or so years ago my interest rekindled, I bought a reflector on clearance which got little use and put away. Now the embers have caught flame again and I'm determined to stick with it this time. The telescope bought years back is being put back into service. It's a Tasco Galaxsee 114mm x 500mm (~F4.3) reflector. Fortunately, in my research I've done I've found it's not a Bird-Jones as I feared for a bit,  however, I can't find out for sure if the mirror is spherical or parabolic (I've seen it claimed both ways).  Like many others I've had one of the plastic clamps on one of the tripod legs break. My temp fix didn't work out so well, so I decided to find a replacement (easier said than done for a single leg). I ended up buying a Celestron Firstscope 114mm x 900mm  (F-8) reflector, mainly as a parts scope for the tripod, but also because it had a couple of other parts I wanted and otherwise couldn't find.

So the Celestron in some ways is a little worse for wear, but I think I'm going to end up with two functioning scopes. The main problem with the Tasco has been the tripod and mount (no surprise I'm sure). The Celestron mount and tripod seem to be a little beefier, plus it has tube rings which the Tasco doesn't. Also the parts on the Celestron mount that I wanted are for mounting an RA drive. I actually got a Tasco RA drive by happenstance back in the mid-80's but was never able to mount it to the Tasco I got because I lacked the other parts. So, my thinking is that I'll mount the Tasco OTA to the Celestron EQ mount and tripod (and as soon as I can find it again, the RA drive). That should make a decent little rich field telescope. The Celestron needs a little more attention. It came in pretty rough shape. Lots of dirt, bit of rust on some of the screws, but mainly the knobs, the piece they attach to, and the piece that holds them to the focuser are missing. Also after pulling out the focuser tube, some of the teeth on that are in pretty bad shape. The good news is the mirrors and the rest of the OTA seem to be good shape. At first looking down the tube it looked like the primary mirror had a chip and a stress crack on it. After removing the primary cell I was relieved to find it was only a bit of debris. Other than dirt the primary looks to be good. I'm not sure yet how I'm going to fix the focuser problem (has to be inexpensive, as in CHEAP as in my CFO is already a little annoyed at my buying a second scope).  But I figure once I have that problem solved and I get the OTA cleaned up, I'll build a dob base for it, thus a second scope a little more geared towards moon and planetary viewing.  Do I need two telescopes? No. Do I want two telescopes, each dedicated to viewing different types of objects? Yes. I'm going to see what I can squeeze out of these two. If nothing else, it'll be an interesting project. 

You can contact Celestron.  E-mail them, and tell them about your 114/900, and how it needs a new draw-tube, at least.  The rack, on the draw-tube, is of plastic, therefore the teeth as well.  The pinion-gear, however, is of metal, and is what chewed up the rack's teeth through abuse/misuse.

[mikemarotta]

On 06/07/2021 at 16:36, jrussell said:

Ages ago ... Then about 20 or so years ago ....  a Tasco Galaxsee 114mm x 500mm (~F4.3) reflector. ...  a Celestron Firstscope 114mm x 900mm  (F-8) reflector... Also after pulling out the focuser tube, ... as in CHEAP as in my CFO is already a little annoyed at my buying a second scope). ...  I'll build a dob base for it, ... it'll be an interesting project. 

You are quite the hound dog, Jack Russell! I am impressed with your hands-on ability. Myself, I tend to work with paper and pencil. The mechanical stuff is a challenge. I saw a YouTube video about this guy who always bought WHITE telescopes so that his SO could not easily tell how many there were in the house.. and he kept one in the car. 😄

I agree with Alan64. I have found that whatever else about Celestron, their customer service has never let me down. They exceeded my expectations. 

On 06/07/2021 at 22:21, Alan64 said:

You can contact Celestron.  E-mail them, and tell them about your 114/900, ... 

Astronomy is a small market. Most of the sellers work hard at customer service because there is no second chance to do it right: people walk away and shop elsewhere. 

Allow me to recommend that you reach out to the local astronomy club. The stars at night are big and bright.

Edited July 23, 2021 by mikemarotta

[Alan64]

5 hours ago, mikemarotta said:

Astronomy is a small market. Most of the sellers work hard at customer service because there is no second chance to do it right: people walk away and shop elsewhere. 

Allow me to recommend that you reach out to the local astronomy club. The stars at night are big and bright.

The astronomy-club closest to my home is in the middle of a large city to the north, about 30 to 40 miles away.  They actually observe in that location.  But I don't dare travel to that city these days; too dangerous, especially at night.

Then, I have my own "club" here at home.  

[jrussell]

I did contact Celestron, unfortunately there was some doubt whether they still had the parts and there was a flat $20 shipping charge since I'm not the original owner. Since cost of the parts and shipping would be more than I paid for the telescope I didn't pursue it further. I did however get the parts from someone at a different site that had them extra. I still haven't had any time to get started on my two projects, but I'm hoping to soon. I'm going to try and have the Tasco rigged up and ready to go by this weekend, and the Celestron the following weekend hopefully. Now that Jupiter and Saturn are coming back into view soon without having to stay up too late I'm wanting to have both of them ready. 

There is a local astronomy club. Out of the last three months of trying to make it, I've been to one of their star parties. I'm really thinking of joining if I can get the CFO to release the funds for it lol.