Advice sought for setting up a Mead model 300 "equatorialrefractor" telescope

On Jun 10, 4:25*am, "Angel A." wrote:
My kid inherited this apparently ancient Meade 3.1-inch equatorial refractor
telescope, model 300, presumably in working order - but it doesn't work for us:
*http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/13283857.jpg

We *think* we have all the parts; but we're not sure.
*http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/13283853.jpg

Do you know of a decent forum where we can discuss the parts, setup, and
operation of this telescope for looking at the stars and moon?

Note: We can't even get the scope to work, at least not on the trees in the
distance:
*http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/13283856.jpg

Try removing the black component that is located between the focuser's
drawtube and the diagonal. Then use your lowest power eyepiece (it
will have the highest number in "mm")and try aiming the 'scope at the
Moon. DO NOT AIM AT THE SUN!!

Do not attempt to clean the main lens at this time. Dirty lenses work
better than lenses that have been damaged by improper cleaning. The
lens should have a small dust cover that would have kept the lens
relatively clean, even despite the 'scope's possible age of three to
four decades. (I found this 'scope advertised in a '76 issue of Sky &
Telescope.)

The large component with the cord is probably a motor drive for the
scope. Be careful with whatever is in the jar. I don't know how the
coax accessory figures into any of this. :-)

This should be an interesting scope, especially since it has an
equatorial mount with slow motion controls and possibly a clock drive.