Tasco, the Packard Bell of Telescopes (ripped from a message board, your thoughts on my issues please)

original message thread, kinda funny
http://flyingmice.com/cgi-bin/squidc...pace/295.shtml

my response:

I saw this post and had to laugh and respond. I have had this scope
for 20 years and only recently gotten back into astronomy. It is in
quite good shape still. Problem is, I need to clean the primary mirror
and cant figure out how to take the back of the scope off without
possibly messing up the mirror alignment. I agree, the stock .965"
ep's are horrid, and id like to get an adapter for the focuser to bump
it up to 1.25" but its all useless unless i can figure out how to
clean the primary mirror.

last night i tried to look at the globular cluster and all i could see
was a smudge. i think if i cleaned the primary and got some 1.25 ep's
i might be able to limp by with this scope til i save up for another.

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece. or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:31:23 GMT, Fu Manchu wrote:
update from me after performign some maintenance.

Update:

I have cleaned the secondary and 20mm eye piece and things looked much
clearer in the day time, havent had a starry night to check it out
again. I have never collimated the scope before, and may try it next
starry night. I do indeed have the orignal cap that has a smaller cap
that can come out of the center. Heck, id like to do collimate it
right now in the day time as im bored and its going to be rainy the
next few nights, heh. any ideas on indoor/outdoor day time
collimation?

After some more looking at the primary mirror, it appears to be only
light dust, and no visible rot from mold or anything. so i may not
take the main mirror out after all just yet. the 20mm lense was quite
dirty and so was the secondary. i also discovered a small chip in the
secondary but it was right on the edge close to where the mounting
sleeve overlaps so i dont believe that will effect image quality that
much.

I also experimented on how a .965 to 1.25 adapter may work, and it
looks like a bust, with an adapter in, i wont be able to rack the
focuser in far enough to get the scope into focus. I tested this by
backing my 20mm eye piece out as far as it could go and trying to
focus. So, my thinking is ill buy some decent .965" eye pieces, maybe
a 25,20,10mm and see if that improves things. was thinking about
zhumell plossls from orion telescopes website.


original message thread, kinda funny
http://flyingmice.com/cgi-bin/squidc...pace/295.shtml

my response:

I saw this post and had to laugh and respond. I have had this scope
for 20 years and only recently gotten back into astronomy. It is in
quite good shape still. Problem is, I need to clean the primary mirror
and cant figure out how to take the back of the scope off without
possibly messing up the mirror alignment. I agree, the stock .965"
ep's are horrid, and id like to get an adapter for the focuser to bump
it up to 1.25" but its all useless unless i can figure out how to
clean the primary mirror.

last night i tried to look at the globular cluster and all i could see
was a smudge. i think if i cleaned the primary and got some 1.25 ep's
i might be able to limp by with this scope til i save up for another.

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece. or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.

Hay! This is being posted via a Packard Bell machine, slower than a slug on
ice, as kulzie as Dim.Min. and it sits here without any sides on it so I can
operate on it when needed, but it works.


--


"And for the second time in four million years, the monolith awoke."
Arthur C.Clarke 2062dyssey three

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Blast Off Cybershop
http://www.cafeshops.com/starlords
In the Garden Gift Shop
http://www.cafeshops.com/InGarden
Astronomy-net shop
http://www.cafeshops.com/Astronomy_net
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord

"Fu Manchu" wrote in message
...
original message thread, kinda funny
http://flyingmice.com/cgi-bin/squidc...pace/295.shtml

my response:

I saw this post and had to laugh and respond. I have had this scope
for 20 years and only recently gotten back into astronomy. It is in
quite good shape still. Problem is, I need to clean the primary mirror
and cant figure out how to take the back of the scope off without
possibly messing up the mirror alignment. I agree, the stock .965"
ep's are horrid, and id like to get an adapter for the focuser to bump
it up to 1.25" but its all useless unless i can figure out how to
clean the primary mirror.

last night i tried to look at the globular cluster and all i could see
was a smudge. i think if i cleaned the primary and got some 1.25 ep's
i might be able to limp by with this scope til i save up for another.

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece. or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.736 / Virus Database: 490 - Release Date: 8/9/04

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:31:23 GMT, Fu Manchu wrote:

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece. or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.

There are a couple of ways the mirror cell is held on. With one way
there should be three pairs of phillips head machine screws on the
bottom of the telescope. Of each pair one screw will stick up a
little and one will be flush. Back out the three flush screws and the
mirror cell will come right out of the end of the telescope. Once the
mirror cell is out you will see that the mirror is held in by three
clips that are fastened by small screws. Loosen the small screws and
clips and you can take the mirror from the mirror cell. Don't lose
the little foam spacers. Now you can give the mirror a bath. The
Covad web site (and others) gives advice on cleaning.

http://home.covad.net/~alcoat/index.htm.

Be gentle. Don't rub. The secondary mirror is likely to be dirty
too. After the mirror is clean you need to put everything back
together and collimate the telescope. Mel Bartels' web site (and
others) gives advice on collimation.

http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~mbartels/kolli/kolli.html

Have fun.

"Fu Manchu" wrote in message
...
Problem is, I need to clean the primary mirror
and cant figure out how to take the back of the scope off without
possibly messing up the mirror alignment. I agree, the stock .965"
ep's are horrid, and id like to get an adapter for the focuser to bump
it up to 1.25" but its all useless unless i can figure out how to
clean the primary mirror.

Just take off the back. It's doubtful it is collimated at this point anyway.
And, it will need to be recollimated as it gets moved around anyway.
Collimation is easy to do. You can learn more at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_787_1.asp
http://www.amateurastronomy.com/collimate.html
http://perso.club-internet.fr/legault/collim.html
http://w1.411.telia.com/~u41105032/myths/myths.htm

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece.

Yes. Take it off with the whole cell.

More on how to clean optics at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_152_1.asp

Once you do that, locate a astro club near you. They are listed at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/

Go to a public night and you will not only get a lot of good hands-on help,
you'll also get to look through a lot of different scopes at a lot of
different objects. You are also likely to pick up a good deal if you want to
upgrade.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.

Okay, ill look over those links, thanks for the information. Today
has been a big learning day about collimation.

Now, im posting a link of the back of the telescope.

http://home.maine.rr.com/benno/Image-08.jpg

you can see the 3 thumbscrews and 3 phillips head screws. since im
without a manual for this thing, how is it that i adjust the mirror
with these? do i loosen the thumbscrews and do fine adjustments with a
screwdriver to the phillips screw, or vice versa?


I'd like to take the whole darn thing off as a unit to clean it. Now,
heres another point in my confusion. how to get the back off. Not
shown in the pic are three small screws that screw through the red
tube into the back. to me, these look like they hold the back on, but
when i take them off, and tug on the back,nothing gives. granted i
could tug harder, but am reluctant to do so without all the facts.


On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 10:30:28 -0700, "CLT" not@thisaddress wrote:

"Fu Manchu" wrote in message
.. .
Problem is, I need to clean the primary mirror
and cant figure out how to take the back of the scope off without
possibly messing up the mirror alignment. I agree, the stock .965"
ep's are horrid, and id like to get an adapter for the focuser to bump
it up to 1.25" but its all useless unless i can figure out how to
clean the primary mirror.

Just take off the back. It's doubtful it is collimated at this point anyway.
And, it will need to be recollimated as it gets moved around anyway.
Collimation is easy to do. You can learn more at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_787_1.asp
http://www.amateurastronomy.com/collimate.html
http://perso.club-internet.fr/legault/collim.html
http://w1.411.telia.com/~u41105032/myths/myths.htm

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece.

Yes. Take it off with the whole cell.

More on how to clean optics at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_152_1.asp

Once you do that, locate a astro club near you. They are listed at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/

Go to a public night and you will not only get a lot of good hands-on help,
you'll also get to look through a lot of different scopes at a lot of
different objects. You are also likely to pick up a good deal if you want to
upgrade.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.

Okay, ill look over those links, thanks for the information. Today
has been a big learning day about collimation.

Now, im posting a link of the back of the telescope.

http://home.maine.rr.com/benno/Image-08.jpg

you can see the 3 thumbscrews and 3 phillips head screws. since im
without a manual for this thing, how is it that i adjust the mirror
with these? do i loosen the thumbscrews and do fine adjustments with a
screwdriver to the phillips screw, or vice versa?

The screws are in sets of two. One of the screws cinches the cell up against
the end of the tube --- it "pulls" the cell in. The other screw will "push"
the cell away from the tube. Hence the term "push-pull." If you loosen the
screws, you will quickly see that one set of three screws go into the ring
and pull. Those are the three that will enable you to remove the cell to
clean the mirror.

When you go to put the mirror back, thread the "push" screws in so they are
not sticking out more than a couple of millimeters. Then screw in the other
three (pull) screws until they are all holding. Make sure they are in quite
a ways before letting go of the cell and depending on them. Then do your
collimation as per the links I sent earlier. You do want to watch that you
don't end up going several rounds of turns, getting the pull screws farther
and farther out until you hear a sickening crash. Other than that, you are
very safe. Collimation will take a while your first time, then be quicker
each time until you hit a very good speed.

Have fun with it and enjoying knowing how to adjust your own scope!

I should add that you don't want to clean that mirror very often. The
aluminum coating is very fragile. If you go to a star party and arrive early
enough to check, you will see a lot of dusty mirrors. Only clean when you
have to. Now diagonals and eyepieces do need to be cleaner.

I'd like to take the whole darn thing off as a unit to clean it. Now,
heres another point in my confusion. how to get the back off.

See above --- removing the three "pull" screws should let it come off in
your hands. Don't be afraid to play with it. It is not complicated and you
will be able to get it all back together, even if you start out turning the
wrong screws. And you will be able to collimate it as well.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

Not
shown in the pic are three small screws that screw through the red
tube into the back. to me, these look like they hold the back on, but
when i take them off, and tug on the back,nothing gives. granted i
could tug harder, but am reluctant to do so without all the facts.


On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 10:30:28 -0700, "CLT" not@thisaddress wrote:

"Fu Manchu" wrote in message
.. .
Problem is, I need to clean the primary mirror
and cant figure out how to take the back of the scope off without
possibly messing up the mirror alignment. I agree, the stock .965"
ep's are horrid, and id like to get an adapter for the focuser to bump
it up to 1.25" but its all useless unless i can figure out how to
clean the primary mirror.

Just take off the back. It's doubtful it is collimated at this point
anyway.
And, it will need to be recollimated as it gets moved around anyway.
Collimation is easy to do. You can learn more at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_787_1.asp
http://www.amateurastronomy.com/collimate.html
http://perso.club-internet.fr/legault/collim.html
http://w1.411.telia.com/~u41105032/myths/myths.htm

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece.

Yes. Take it off with the whole cell.

More on how to clean optics at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_152_1.asp

Once you do that, locate a astro club near you. They are listed at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/

Go to a public night and you will not only get a lot of good hands-on
help,
you'll also get to look through a lot of different scopes at a lot of
different objects. You are also likely to pick up a good deal if you want
to
upgrade.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.

The screws are in sets of two. One of the screws cinches the cell up against
the end of the tube --- it "pulls" the cell in. The other screw will "push"
the cell away from the tube. Hence the term "push-pull." If you loosen the
screws, you will quickly see that one set of three screws go into the ring
and pull. Those are the three that will enable you to remove the cell to
clean the mirror.

Thank you, that helped me visualize the mirror mount and therefore the
removal process.


When you go to put the mirror back, thread the "push" screws in so they are
not sticking out more than a couple of millimeters. Then screw in the other
three (pull) screws until they are all holding. Make sure they are in quite
a ways before letting go of the cell and depending on them. Then do your
collimation as per the links I sent earlier. You do want to watch that you
don't end up going several rounds of turns, getting the pull screws farther
and farther out until you hear a sickening crash. Other than that, you are
very safe. Collimation will take a while your first time, then be quicker
each time until you hit a very good speed.

Have fun with it and enjoying knowing how to adjust your own scope!

Thanks again for the advice. In my case, the "push" screws are
regualar screws, and the "pull" screws are actually thumbolts as those
screws themselves are a permanent part of the mirror mount that pass
out through the backplate, and these are spring loaded. See picture
below

http://home.maine.rr.com/benno/Image-10.jpg


I should add that you don't want to clean that mirror very often. The
aluminum coating is very fragile. If you go to a star party and arrive early
enough to check, you will see a lot of dusty mirrors. Only clean when you
have to. Now diagonals and eyepieces do need to be cleaner.

After removal, it was actually surprisingly clean for never having
been cleaned in 20 years of ownership. Although a good many years it
sat in a box. My main reason for removing it though was so i could
center mark the primary for collimation. Going to mount a paper donut
in the center


I'd like to take the whole darn thing off as a unit to clean it. Now,
heres another point in my confusion. how to get the back off.

See above --- removing the three "pull" screws should let it come off in
your hands. Don't be afraid to play with it. It is not complicated and you
will be able to get it all back together, even if you start out turning the
wrong screws. And you will be able to collimate it as well.

There were three tiny sheetmetal screws going through the back plate
into the tube that looked like once they were removed, i could slide
the whole endplate out of the tube. Eeven after removing these, i
still couldnt get that bugger to come off. So I loosenend the thumb
bolts and set screws and the mirror assembly came loose, but the
backplate was still in there rock solid. I was careful to have the
scope pointing at the ceiling while doing this to avoid the sickening
crash. I ended up having to pull the mirror assembly out the front of
the tube, it just barely fit out. I then tried in earnest to get the
backplate off, but to no avail. Must be hung up on something.
Shouldnt be a problem though as i can just feed the mirror assembly
down the front of the tube again.


Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

Not
shown in the pic are three small screws that screw through the red
tube into the back. to me, these look like they hold the back on, but
when i take them off, and tug on the back,nothing gives. granted i
could tug harder, but am reluctant to do so without all the facts.


On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 10:30:28 -0700, "CLT" not@thisaddress wrote:

"Fu Manchu" wrote in message
.. .
Problem is, I need to clean the primary mirror
and cant figure out how to take the back of the scope off without
possibly messing up the mirror alignment. I agree, the stock .965"
ep's are horrid, and id like to get an adapter for the focuser to bump
it up to 1.25" but its all useless unless i can figure out how to
clean the primary mirror.

Just take off the back. It's doubtful it is collimated at this point
anyway.
And, it will need to be recollimated as it gets moved around anyway.
Collimation is easy to do. You can learn more at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_787_1.asp
http://www.amateurastronomy.com/collimate.html
http://perso.club-internet.fr/legault/collim.html
http://w1.411.telia.com/~u41105032/myths/myths.htm

so, have you taken the primary mirror off yours? does the whole back
come off? lookin at the tube from the side, do i loosen the three
small screws that screw through the tube into the back piece.

Yes. Take it off with the whole cell.

More on how to clean optics at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/sco...icle_152_1.asp

Once you do that, locate a astro club near you. They are listed at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/

Go to a public night and you will not only get a lot of good hands-on
help,
you'll also get to look through a lot of different scopes at a lot of
different objects. You are also likely to pick up a good deal if you want
to
upgrade.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

or
looking at the tube end on from the back, do i loosen the large
phillips screws or loosen the thumb screws.