1. Final Announcement: We're Saying Goodbye to AstronomyConnect. Read Our Closing Notice.
Dismiss Notice
New Cookie Policy
On May 24, 2018, we published revised versions of our Terms and Rules and Cookie Policy. Your use of AstronomyConnect.com’s services is subject to these revised terms.

FOCUSER FOR SKY-WATCHER ST80 REFRACTOR?

Discussion in 'Telescopes and Mounts' started by Mak the Night, Jan 13, 2018.

FOCUSER FOR SKY-WATCHER ST80 REFRACTOR?

Started by Mak the Night on Jan 13, 2018 at 12:35 PM

40 Replies 8274 Views 0 Likes

Reply to Thread Post New Thread
Page 2 of 3
  1. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 15, 2018
    #21
    Think I'm going for the GSO after all.
     
  2. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, Jan 15, 2018
    #22
    I'm glad to hear it. The Synta's an unknown quantity to me. Questions from everything from strength, workmanship, action, etc. But the GSO is a known quantity. And it's damned good!

    Enjoy!
     
  3. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 15, 2018
    #23
    Cheers Dave, at least I know it will fit lol. I've ordered everything now.
     
    Dave In Vermont likes this.
  4. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 16, 2018
    #24
    Stage one of Operation Crayford:

    shoe.jpg

    All I need now is the focuser.
     
  5. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 16, 2018
    #25
    I've just got some info back on the Synta focuser and the flange diameter is 97mm, which is 11mm too big.

    ota1.jpg

    You can see where I had to use a Swiss Army Knife and a coin to free the dew shield. It has no impact on the performance of course. The air spaced doublet is fine.

    ota2.jpg
     
  6. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, Jan 16, 2018
    #26
    Yes - for the ST80, you want the 86.4mm:

    https://agenaastro.com/gso-crayford-focusers-with-telescopes-compatibility.html

    The GSO will be a perfect fit and look completely 'seamless' like it's original equipment. A work of aethetic beauty!


    Orion ST80 with Crayford-Focuser d.JPG



    ST80 Outfitted For Use As SolarTelescope80 i.JPG



    ST80 Outfitted For Use As SolarTelescope80 a (PNG).png


    Simply put - the combination of excellence in focusing, beauty & grace in form, and the utter ease in installing - these and more sent me off on a misson to install these GSO Dual-Speed 10:1 Crayford's on all my telescopes - even my 1.25" 200mm F4 Rich-Field Newtonian got the lone 1.25" single-focus GSO Crayford installed. Though a single-speed, it's totally smooth and true - without any backlash whatsoever and easily adjustable to hold everything you wish to attach to your eyepiece & drawtube from a bird-feather to Bull-Elephant.

    You'll love it!
     
  7. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 16, 2018
    #27
    My TS Optics/GSO 150mm Newtonian has one. They are very good.

    IMG_20180116_154033.jpg
     
    Dave In Vermont likes this.
  8. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 17, 2018
    #28
    Well, the focuser and dovetail/tube rings should arrive tomorrow. I've tried the 9x50 RACI on the Orion ST80 and the AZ5 to get a feel for the weight. It seems fine.

    IMG_20171023_135231.jpg

    Dave, you may find this useful below. I think you've been looking for a can lol.

    ddbd0ec3-efce-464d-8f07-7c3004f97f4c.png
     
  9. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, Jan 17, 2018
    #29
    I'll take a case, please!
     
  10. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 17, 2018
    #30
    I think you'll need it lol.
     
  11. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 18, 2018
    #31
    Dovetail came. Wrong bloody screws!
    IMG_20180118_111017.jpg

    The silver screw on the right was made in China and came with the tube rings. It fits. The black screw on the left and the dovetail were made in England. The dovetail's fine. The black Allen headed screw has the wrong thread, new screws are arriving shortly <expletives and offensive references to inserting screws into bodily orifices deleted>. :mad:
     
  12. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 19, 2018
    #32
    Ta da!

    IMG_20180119_110110.jpg IMG_20180119_110459.jpg
    IMG_20180119_124317.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2018
  13. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jan 19, 2018
    #33
    Indoor weight/balance trials.

    With GSO 1.25" Amici prism, 9x50 RACI & 30mm Vixen NPL, no extension tube.
    IMG_20180119_151025.jpg

    With GSO 1.25" Amici prism, Sky-Watcher 9x50 RACI & 19mm TeleVue Panoptic, plus 1.25" TS Optics (possibly GSO) extension tube.
    IMG_20180119_151712.jpg

    Everything seems hunky dory so far.
     
  14. sickfish

    sickfish Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Posts:
    97
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Watertown Massachusetts U.S.A.
    sickfish, Mar 17, 2018
    #34
    I installed the GSO focuser on my Orion ST80.
    Best move to make a good scope a great one.
    Second to my XT8 in the usage category.
     
  15. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Mar 17, 2018
    #35
    I've done that.

    IMG_20180206_112753.jpg
     
    sickfish likes this.
  16. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, Mar 17, 2018
    #36
    Me too:


    ST80 Back Again! a.JPG

    Dave
     
    Mak the Night likes this.
  17. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Mar 17, 2018
    #37
    That's a cool looking Orion ST80 Dave. You know they're collectors items now as Orion don't do them anymore lol.
     
  18. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, Mar 17, 2018
    #38
    Yes, I remember our talk about just that! Damn! I should bit-down the price on a case of these things!
     
  19. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Mar 17, 2018
    #39
    You could buy a ruck of Omegon ST80's and paint them white with an Orion decal. I guess they would be fake fracs then.
     
  20. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, Mar 17, 2018
    #40
    Someone would want them anyways - ushering in a new hobby - Collecting 'Counterfeit Telescopes!' Selling for 10X the cost of a 'real' one.

    I swear they're out there!
     
Page 2 of 3

Share This Page