A Warning About SkyWatcher Bolts...

[fatwoul]

I'm sure veterans are already aware, but I just discovered something and wanted to share it with other newbies.

The bolts used on my MN190 to hold it onto the dovetail bar look identical to those doing the same job on my 80ED DS Pro...but they are not.

The bolts on the MN190 appear to be 1/4 Whit, but the ones on the 80ED are a thinner thread and shallower pitch.

I only noticed this when my rig was dismantled, and the bolts got muddled up, and got bound up in the threads of the tube rings. Fortunately no damage was done, but had I not realised and persisted, SW tube rings being a little soft, I could have wrecked something.

So make really sure what bolts go on what rings, everyone.

[NGC 1502]

It's so easy to make a mistake when dismantling/reasembling something,

I know, because I've done it myself.

So now, when taking an item to bits, I put parts in various containers with

a label, only takes a moment, and really helps, especially if reasembly takes

place on a later day.

Glad you found the mistake before damage was done.......Ed.

[Psychobilly]

They seem to mix and match M6 and 1/4" both the bolts and the tapped holes in the dovetails... and a couple of M5's for cone alignment...

Billy...

[George]

I re-tapped everything on my setup to metric some time ago for the very reasons that have been stated.