I've just tightened up a teflon strip with an allen key as described. It's stopped the focuser from rocking and prevented the object I'm observing from moving in the FOV when I tighten up the locking screw. Brilliant!
Thanks so much for this video! I just got my first telescope, a Meade infinity 102mm and it has a focuser that looks similar to the one in the video. I've noticed a bit of astigmatism and it may be due to miscollimation of the focuser. This video has given me a better idea about how to collimate focuser (didn't know that was possible... I thought those little holes in the focuser were just random holes lol) and clean out the focuser if needed. I'm still too nervous to do it as I'm worried I'll mess it up but at least I know I can if I need to. Thanks!
I have the same refractor and the focuser has been giving me no end of trouble ever since I connected a DSLR to it. Thanks for the video, will definitely use it.
That's a very usefull guide. I have the same telescope and the focuser is a bit wobbly. However, I'm afraid to take it apart like that, because I am not sure if I'd be able to put it back together properly. Also, I don't have a collimation tool. But anyway, thanks for the very useful and practical information, I'll follow the guide if I decide to improve the focuser one day.
Had this exactly same problem yesterday, as i tried to focus Jupiter with a barlow and a c270 on a 150mm.. very shaky mount and could not fine tune the focus. Thanx for the video.
get 2 or 3 gallons of water and bungee cord them to your tripod to absorb the vibrations, and if you don't want to pack the water back just pour it out.
Thank you for the time it must take for you to do these videos - I am now in the process of doing this on a star travel 120 purchased two months ago that has some lateral movement when turning the focus wheel and have ordered the Skywatcher auto focuser to finish the job off. Could I just mention to wrap the dew shield in neoprene so as to banish dew problems (15mm thick on my Startravel 80 and 2 x 6mm with DIY heater strip between on the 120) and also to look at Astra Image (40 pounds including VAT) which was a tremendous find last week courtesy of Professor Morison's digest page.
I'm going to do a similar upgrade on the dew shield of my Startravel 102. I have a 10mm thick foam camping mattress. I've already made a DIY dew shield out of it for my Skymax 102 Mak. Cut it to size and stick some Velcro strips on it - job done. It works a treat too.
So, I have a Celestron Omni AZ 102. About as basic a focusing system as you can get. Took Martins advice and the difference is “a massive improvement” indeed. Still not perfect (nor will it ever be). So I wonder? Has anyone added an inline double helical focuser to a basic system with positive results?
There is chart which you can find the size to uprate your telescope to a uprated 10:1 Crayston focuser please check that out: agenaastro.com/articles/guides/gso-crayford-focusers-with-telescopes-compatibility.html There is GSO focuser which could fit your Omni AZ 102?? You need to confirm this with the retailer first?? agenaastro.com/gso-linear-bearing-refractor-crayford-focuser-112mm.html
Good grief Martin, you're right. I just received my Sky-Watcher Startravel 102T OTA. For an achromat, it's a cracking good little 'scope. However, the stock focuser is really sloppy. How on Earth can the goop smeared over the rack and pinion system be called lubricating grease, is anyone's guess. When I lived in America I used restore old military rifles for fun. They were always packed in some similar grease. The stuff is more like glue than lubricant. It's a complete pain in the arse/ass to clean off anything. While I wait for a replacement dual-speed Crayford focuser, I'll service the stock one. God I hate that packing grease. It's terrible stuff. Seriously, anyone who buys this 'scope, or one with a similar focuser. Servicing it should be a high priority. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Totally agree Andy, for a short focus Achromat Refractor it's really good at correcting some false colour too, also very sharp images too!! Though the CA (false colour) can be further improved with a Baader semi apo filter, which even corrects more false colour, here is a video based around that feature: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ko8TA3kxojs.html Yeah that grease is like tar, and it makes focusing even more difficult, trying to focus on a tiny dim object is not easy has it dances around like crazy!!! Yes you have made a good choice to opt for uprated dual speed Crayford, you will see a huge improvement and it will be so silky smooth, it will greatly improve your views on the 102 massively!!
@@MPAstro Thanks Martin for the advice. I've not heard of Baader semi-apro filter either. It looks like a very handy little beast for apros. For what you're getting, it's really not expensive. I've bunged it on my list of things to get.
Hi Martin, how's it going? I've just completed the service on the stock focuser. That packing grease Sky-Watcher uses, is really foul muck. I call it, dinosaur snot. We're on lockdown here in The Netherlands, so all the hardware stores are shut to the general public. I couldn't go and buy a can of WD-40. However, I do have a lot of turpentine, so I tried that with the toothbrush and rag. Eureka, turpentine eats through the dinosaur snot like a hot knife through butter. After all the muck was gone, I cleaned the excess turps with some isopropyl alcohol. It took me about 15 minutes to do. The reassembly and collimation was straightforward. There’s some wiggle room where the tube meets the focuser. This is very useful and helps getting everything lined up and parallel. When the hardware stores are open again, I’m going to swap out the Philips screws, for decent hex head screws. My wife gave me for Christmas a, 1.25" 90° TS Optics fully coated dielectric mirror diagonal. It's a gorgeous bit of kit. Viewing with it, makes everything really bright and clear. I’ve also a roll of the flocking material. I’ll get around to using it on the tube in the near future. Anyway, the focuser now works like a dream. It’s as smooth as silk, there’s no slop and it holds my Canon EOS 600D without slip. This easy to do service, has transformed a barely useable focuser into a very useable bit of kit. Everyone should make this easy service a priority when they buy the Sky-Watcher Startravel 102, or similar scopes. Using this scope, is now a a joy. I’ve also ordered the, Baader Semi APO filter from FLO. I’m looking forward to using it. Many thanks for the great tips. I have a couple of questions. What is the length of the extension tube you’re using? I’m using one for eyepiece projection. It’s about 6.4 cm long. This seems a little long for a straight through tube. I don't want to overly magnify things using the short tube 102. Also, which field flattener are you using? Thanks again for all of your help - stay safe.
@@AndyinMokum Awesome work and well worth the effort!! You could save a lot by not getting a Crayford focuser, as these are really intended for Astrophotography use, as the 10:1 ratio is handy for micro adjustments. I totally agree TS Optics Dielectric is superb, it was pity that your wife got you the 1.25", cos the 2" is a massive jump in performance with light grasp is concerned, but don't worry there is noticeably a gain in light grasp through the 1.25" but not so much compared to the 2" format, but I understand budget can be an issue for us all. The filter will massive improve on the colour correction and you'll get to see this yourself, and you really see the difference, Also I like to add the filter is now Baader have designed this filter with better coatings which also acts like a Light pollution moon and sky glow filter, so it can darken the background making observation of Deepsky nebula and galaxies stand out more!! So your buying a good investment there. I've used just a 50mm extension tube in the video but you can achieve focus with a 35mm minimum, Also in the video there is a field flattener and 0.8x focal reducer on the camera, these allows the optics to step down from F5 to a ultrafast F3.9 which what does is?? It allows the telescope to capture fainter detail on Nebula and shorten exposure times and widen the field of view too, very handy for Astrophotography. However using 0.8x may give distortions on the stars as the scope is already a fast F5 optics, but the 0.8x can give reasonable images!! Also a 0.5x Focal Reducer is handy gadget for observing faint Nebula and galaxies, not great for photography (has you will not achieve focus on this scope) Fitting the 0.5x Focal reducer on a eyepiece will make images much brighter and field of view will be wider, OK objects will be smaller due to reduction magnification, but the whole point is light grasp for Deepsky and this handy gadget will work at a super fast F2.5 ratio. Here is the link for the 0.5x focal reducer, there is 2" format as well, I will be making a review on this product!! www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p676_TS-Optics-Optics-TSRED051-Focal-reducer-0-5x---1-25-inch-filter-thread.html Also I just launched another video last night, if you missed out here it is Andy!!! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OoK_AP8bu5I.html
my ed80 was the opposite, if i didn't have the locking screw tighter that what would be considered normal it would shoot out and my camera would fly off and crash onto the ground
@@MPAstro I used the scope on Tuesday night was so much better to use jupiter and Saturn were fantastic I also purchased a new prism from willams optics with a helical focuser built in to it and a baader x2.25 barlow plus the semi apo filter after watching you other video on this scope then the clouds rolled in so not had a chance to use them as yet
if you get that grease on your hands, make sure to wash it off before you touch your eyes. I made that mistake and woke up with blisters on my eye lid along the lashes of my right eye. and of course I rubbed my eyes when I woke up busting those blisters and causing me to lose sight for a couple of days!. so be careful off that chinese grease!.
