I enjoy that everything did not work out perfectly. All of us struggle with telescopes. I want to defork my lx600 and the tip to remove the forks from plate to avoid scratching is great advice. I learned something. I also like you show us some unintended problems that arise. Problems we were not anticipating that can become larger than the initial problem. Well done.
Checking your channel out again. Found the video about de-forking the Meade 10” LX200GPS. Have been thinking of doing that on my Meade 10” LX200GPS if my fork’s electronics or AutoStar II hand controllers quit. I have three hand controllers, that I so far have kept functional. Need backups for those. Mead told me the OTA was 26-lbs leaving the fork base to be 36-lbs. I also have a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro and was told the weight carrying load capacity was 44-lbs. They told me the included 2 counterweights are not to be considered in the total weight carrying capacity of the 44-lbs. However, upon some researching, people say not to exceed 33% of the carrying capacity. I am assuming that means 44 minus 33% = 29.48-lbs of recommended weight carry capacity, I guess for good guiding. I would also assume that any additional counterweights would be included with the telescope’s weight as well as the accessories, guide scope, camera system etc. You mentioned that your mount is struggling at times indicates that, if I follow with de-forking the 10”, I too will need another GEM upgraded, from what I now have, in weight carry capacity. I have used the club’s old Celestron 8” SCT on my EQ6-R Pro GEM and it tracks well, but I have noticed the heavier the telescope load, the more PHD 2 tracking graph line is not flat. There have been times when I did not lose a picture with the SW GEM using smaller telescopes/camera lens but I did experience some losses on that 8” SCT but no where near as much as I lose on the Meade fork mounted SCT. I used your method and 3D print file to do the ZWO EAF modification to my micro focuser as well. It works great. Thank you for the TH-cam videos. I also started my TH-cam channel, it is called; Gadgetman Bowen.
I upgraded my mount about 18 months ago. The EQ6 struggles. It works but guiding especially at long focal lengths is a headache. If the budget doesn’t stretch, it’s worth trying but you’re in for a challenge. The weight is normally payload, not counterweights. I used to have 20kg of counterweight to balance my 10” OTA
I enjoy Your videos. Alot of great information! I have here a 8" LX200gps. I wanted to defork it and use the optics on a EQ6. I opened those screws on the bottom of the fork, but I cannot get the optic out of the Dec axis. Maybe just moving a little bit. Problem is, those 3 screws are completly behind the the fork and I cannot get to them. Do You have any tips?
This video was amazing. Thanks for posting. I was able to defork my lx200gps. My question is.. I have another lx200 but it’s classic and f6.3 instead of f10 I deforked. Could I use the leftover fork mount to mount the f6.3 OTA?
I have some documentation on my GitHub github.com/RobertPascale-Astronomy/MeadeLX200GPS/blob/master/Manual/Meade%20LX200GPS%2010in%20Screw%20Diagram.pdf
Thank you for your vidieo. Is your EQ6 pro close to maximum weight with all your equipment? I am thinking of maybe mounting a second scope at at a later date.
Yes, very much so. I had 20kg of counterweights to get balance. It struggles depending on where you’re pointing. I’ve upgraded my mount since to avoid this issue!!
Thanks for this video. Before I defork mine any idea what the scope of the LX200GPS weighs? I was thinking of getting a mount that supports a max of 30lbs to save some $$$.
Not 100% sure, but with the OTA and reducer, OAG, guide cam and imaging cam, on my EQ6 Pro, I need 20kg (about 45 lbs) of counterweights to get to balance. I also struggle with guiding a fair bit especially at long focal lengths, and it’s pushing the capacity of this mount to the limit. You really probably should probably go the other way and get a higher capacity mount, not lower.
I think close to 15kg from memory. They are quite a bit heavier than their Celestron counterparts. With my image train, I need 20kg of counterweights to get balance
I am looking to do the same with my Mead scope. Can you give some detail how you mounted the plate to your scope that the adapter you attached in this video connects to?
You need SCT mounting blocks that suit your size scope. eg. for 10” Meade sct you’d use this www.bintel.com.au/product/losmandy-dm10-dovetail-plate-meade-10-inch/?v=322b26af01d5
Given the weight of a 12” ota I’d want to have a good think about weight capacity limits for your mount. My preference would have been to have the dual puck saddle, but that seemed to be on endless back order. I’m at the max weight on my EQ6 Pro with a 10” so I’d really want to make sure your mount is up to it. www.bintel.com.au/product/orion-narrow-to-wide
It would have been an older iteration of the Losmsndy D size dovetail. I got 2, one for top and bottom. www.bintel.com.au/product/losmandy-dm10-dovetail-plate-meade-10-inch
Sorry - not at this time. I may put it back in the forks at some time in the future and install the Buck's Gears I purchased which may help alleviate the guiding problems I was having. The OTA is a little bit too heavy for the EQ6 Pro, so it's a bit tough to guide at the moment.
Just an FYI, your filter wheel is backwards. The filters are closer to the hump in the wheel and that should be on the camera side. The documentation for the wheel explains it. The way you have it, your not getting the full benefit of the filters and may be causing some unwanted vignetting. On the balancing, you want it just slightly scope side heavy so it engages the tracking motors and helps remove any backlash that may be present. There used to be a saying about making the balance East heavy.
LOL - You're right - it was on backwards in this video, as I was just test fitting everything (and was a bit flustered). I did however mount it correctly subsequently, and never imaged with it the wrong way. As for balance, this setup is quite heavy (I need 20kg of counterweights to balance). I do try to have it every so slightly off balance but of course, it depends on it you're pointing N/S and which side of the pier you're on. I seem to be able to guide pretty well regardless now. I have recently had the Rowan belt-mod kit installed, and that seems to have helped quite a bit with my guiding with the OAG.
I really appreciate this video, and that you included the issues you ran into
Much appreciated that you documented this. I am about to move a 10" LX 200 to a Losmandy G11G and your video what I needed to see.
Loosen up the fork screws on the bottom of the yoke to give clearance when removing the ota tube. Much easier and avoids scratches.
I enjoy that everything did not work out perfectly. All of us struggle with telescopes. I want to defork my lx600 and the tip to remove the forks from plate to avoid scratching is great advice. I learned something. I also like you show us some unintended problems that arise. Problems we were not anticipating that can become larger than the initial problem. Well done.
Checking your channel out again. Found the video about de-forking the Meade 10” LX200GPS. Have been thinking of doing that on my Meade 10” LX200GPS if my fork’s electronics or AutoStar II hand controllers quit. I have three hand controllers, that I so far have kept functional. Need backups for those. Mead told me the OTA was 26-lbs leaving the fork base to be 36-lbs.
I also have a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro and was told the weight carrying load capacity was 44-lbs. They told me the included 2 counterweights are not to be considered in the total weight carrying capacity of the 44-lbs. However, upon some researching, people say not to exceed 33% of the carrying capacity. I am assuming that means 44 minus 33% = 29.48-lbs of recommended weight carry capacity, I guess for good guiding. I would also assume that any additional counterweights would be included with the telescope’s weight as well as the accessories, guide scope, camera system etc.
You mentioned that your mount is struggling at times indicates that, if I follow with de-forking the 10”, I too will need another GEM upgraded, from what I now have, in weight carry capacity. I have used the club’s old Celestron 8” SCT on my EQ6-R Pro GEM and it tracks well, but I have noticed the heavier the telescope load, the more PHD 2 tracking graph line is not flat. There have been times when I did not lose a picture with the SW GEM using smaller telescopes/camera lens but I did experience some losses on that 8” SCT but no where near as much as I lose on the Meade fork mounted SCT.
I used your method and 3D print file to do the ZWO EAF modification to my micro focuser as well. It works great.
Thank you for the TH-cam videos. I also started my TH-cam channel, it is called; Gadgetman Bowen.
I upgraded my mount about 18 months ago.
The EQ6 struggles. It works but guiding especially at long focal lengths is a headache. If the budget doesn’t stretch, it’s worth trying but you’re in for a challenge.
The weight is normally payload, not counterweights. I used to have 20kg of counterweight to balance my 10” OTA
I enjoy Your videos. Alot of great information! I have here a 8" LX200gps. I wanted to defork it and use the optics on a EQ6. I opened those screws on the bottom of the fork, but I cannot get the optic out of the Dec axis. Maybe just moving a little bit. Problem is, those 3 screws are completly behind the the fork and I cannot get to them. Do You have any tips?
This video was amazing. Thanks for posting. I was able to defork my lx200gps. My question is.. I have another lx200 but it’s classic and f6.3 instead of f10 I deforked. Could I use the leftover fork mount to mount the f6.3 OTA?
I suggest you ask over on this group. They will know the difference.
groups.io/g/LX200GPS
Do you remember the thread pitch/size of the ota saddle screws?
I have some documentation on my GitHub
github.com/RobertPascale-Astronomy/MeadeLX200GPS/blob/master/Manual/Meade%20LX200GPS%2010in%20Screw%20Diagram.pdf
Thank you for your vidieo. Is your EQ6 pro close to maximum weight with all your equipment? I am thinking of maybe mounting a second scope at at a later date.
Yes, very much so. I had 20kg of counterweights to get balance. It struggles depending on where you’re pointing.
I’ve upgraded my mount since to avoid this issue!!
Thanks for this video. Before I defork mine any idea what the scope of the LX200GPS weighs? I was thinking of getting a mount that supports a max of 30lbs to save some $$$.
Not 100% sure, but with the OTA and reducer, OAG, guide cam and imaging cam, on my EQ6 Pro, I need 20kg (about 45 lbs) of counterweights to get to balance. I also struggle with guiding a fair bit especially at long focal lengths, and it’s pushing the capacity of this mount to the limit. You really probably should probably go the other way and get a higher capacity mount, not lower.
I see the Peterson Focus Upgrade, so on my 8' Meade you can't get near those screws
Hello, could you tell me what is the weight of the 10" tube without the U fork?
Thanks.
I know the LX50 10" is 26 lbs so it should be around that ballpark without the dovetail and accessories.
I think close to 15kg from memory. They are quite a bit heavier than their Celestron counterparts. With my image train, I need 20kg of counterweights to get balance
I am looking to do the same with my Mead scope. Can you give some detail how you mounted the plate to your scope that the adapter you attached in this video connects to?
You need SCT mounting blocks that suit your size scope. eg. for 10” Meade sct you’d use this www.bintel.com.au/product/losmandy-dm10-dovetail-plate-meade-10-inch/?v=322b26af01d5
Thanks for this video. I'm looking into doing the same with my LX600 12" OTA. What was the model name / number for the dovetail adapter? Thanks!
Given the weight of a 12” ota I’d want to have a good think about weight capacity limits for your mount. My preference would have been to have the dual puck saddle, but that seemed to be on endless back order. I’m at the max weight on my EQ6 Pro with a 10” so I’d really want to make sure your mount is up to it.
www.bintel.com.au/product/orion-narrow-to-wide
What rails did you use on the sct? I have an ETX I want to mount on top of my 10” lx200
It would have been an older iteration of the Losmsndy D size dovetail. I got 2, one for top and bottom.
www.bintel.com.au/product/losmandy-dm10-dovetail-plate-meade-10-inch
Nice job! Is the fork for sale? please let me know, Thanks.
Sorry - not at this time. I may put it back in the forks at some time in the future and install the Buck's Gears I purchased which may help alleviate the guiding problems I was having. The OTA is a little bit too heavy for the EQ6 Pro, so it's a bit tough to guide at the moment.
Just an FYI, your filter wheel is backwards. The filters are closer to the hump in the wheel and that should be on the camera side. The documentation for the wheel explains it. The way you have it, your not getting the full benefit of the filters and may be causing some unwanted vignetting. On the balancing, you want it just slightly scope side heavy so it engages the tracking motors and helps remove any backlash that may be present. There used to be a saying about making the balance East heavy.
LOL - You're right - it was on backwards in this video, as I was just test fitting everything (and was a bit flustered). I did however mount it correctly subsequently, and never imaged with it the wrong way.
As for balance, this setup is quite heavy (I need 20kg of counterweights to balance). I do try to have it every so slightly off balance but of course, it depends on it you're pointing N/S and which side of the pier you're on. I seem to be able to guide pretty well regardless now.
I have recently had the Rowan belt-mod kit installed, and that seems to have helped quite a bit with my guiding with the OAG.