Meade LX3 (1985)

[soberarmadillo]

Greetings:

I have perused the site a bit and searched for LX3s.  I've seen a few folks who have owned these dinosaurs but nothing current.

Here's the challenge - I've been gifted (or saddled with, ha) a very neglected LX3 that I believe was built in 1985.   Since it has been left on a covered porch for the last 30 years year round give or take, I think it needs to be dissassembled and refurbished.  Shipping changes the economics of a project like this, but I travel from Dallas to South Dakota frequently.  Do any of you fine folks have a recommendation of a servicer of older Meade telescopes that would be willing to do this?  Preferably somewhere in the central US or close to Dallas (within say a 10 hour drive).

Thanks in advice for any points in the right direction!

[michael8554]

Does it have the handbox that attaches via cable to the control panel?

Without that the functionality is very limited.

If it does then I would use the scope and see if there are any problems, may not need any refurbishment.

Run the focus knob at the back many many turns in both directions, to each end of the focus range.

This redistributes the thick grease that the big heavy mirror slides on.

(Count wrist-twists so that you end up roughly back where presumably it was focused 30 years ago).

There is some LX3 chat on this site:

https://groups.io/g/meade-lx5-lx6/topics

Michael