Meade 8" Starfinder Rings / Adapter to Dovetail Style Mount

[1001001]

Hello, everyone,

I mentioned a while back that I had been gifted a Meade 8" Starfinder reflector mount (and thank you to all the people here who helped me identify it!).  I recently acquired a used Skywatcher EQ-6-R-Pro mount with the intent of installing the Meade tube on that mount.  However, I have been having a lot of difficulty finding a set of tube rings to fit this tube, which measures 9.7" in outside diameter in most locations.  I have been advised by some that these fiber tubes are not dimensionally stable and can grow and shrink over time (presumably due to absorption of moisture).

I'm wondering if anyone has adapted the saddle (with straps) that is used on the original Starfinder equatorial mount to attach to the EQ-6 or similar dovetail style mount.  Any thoughts?  I removed the saddle from the Starfinder mount and I could probably fabricate an attachment adapter by machining a short shaft on a lathe, but frankly, I'd really prefer to either find a set of modern rings that will mount directly to a dovetail, or if someone makes an adapter to attach the original Meade saddle to a dovetail.

Thanks in advance!

[John]

I have not done this personally (the Meade Starfinder that I owned many years back was the dobsonian version) but I would think that you will need to find a way to bolt either a Vixen or Losmandy (preferable) type dovetail bar / plate to the original Meade saddle plate. That should then fit in the dovetail clamp on the EQ6R-Pro mount. 

Finding a set of tube rings that fit the rather old Meade sonotube tube might be pretty difficult. 

There are many more of the Meade Starfinder scopes in the USA than here in in the UK or Europe I think so it might be worth making a similar enquiry on the US-based forum "Cloudynights" as well.

A Losmandy dovetail bar / plate looks like this but there are many different brands available:

 

[1001001]

4 hours ago, John said:

I have not done this personally (the Meade Starfinder that I owned many years back was the dobsonian version) but I would think that you will need to find a way to bolt either a Vixen or Losmandy (preferable) type dovetail bar / plate to the original Meade saddle plate. That should then fit in the dovetail clamp on the EQ6R-Pro mount. 

Finding a set of tube rings that fit the rather old Meade sonotube tube might be pretty difficult. 

There are many more of the Meade Starfinder scopes in the USA than here in in the UK or Europe I think so it might be worth making a similar enquiry on the US-based forum "Cloudynights" as well.

A Losmandy dovetail bar / plate looks like this but there are many different brands available:

 

 

Thank you.  I did post the question to Cloudynights as well; we'll see what people have to say there.  I was kind of hoping not to have to modify the original Meade saddle if it's not necessary.  One other thing I might be able to do is make a solid aluminum adapter plate and shrink-fit a steel shaft into it that the Meade saddle would attach to.  The Meade mount has a short hardened steel shaft that the cast saddle slides over and a set screw to lock it in place.  Again, I'd rather spend my time doing something else, so fabricating a mount is not high on my list.

I definitely have been having a difficult time finding rings to fit this tube.

Edited Tuesday at 13:22 by 1001001