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Subject: New LX200 12 "
From: Frank Loch
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Sun Jan 21 07:02:31 1996

Since its arrival on 1/16/96 , I'be been gradually working on setting
it up. First Light has not occured yet, but I would like to share som
initial "Observations" about the scope in general.

1. Gosh it's big! I have it mounted on the super wedge on the tripod
and the tripod setting on and clamped to my "Pipedream" wheely bar.
Now this wheely bar has three 12" fully pneumatic wheels which raise
the tripod's feet about 6" off the ground. It has 3 jackscrews for
leveling.

Thus, the centerline of the OTA (when in the horizontal position) is
about 74" off the ground. Add 6" to the top of the eyepiece in the 2"
diagonal -- that puts the "eye" at about 80" from the groung. Pretty
good for Michael Jordan, but not for an ordanary 6 footer like me. So
I am using a 10" stool, and have turned the "diagonal" to the make
the eyepiece axis about horizontal.

Hey -- I can live with this! I just wanted to let you all know about
it.

2. Yesterday I was installing the #1206 Electric focuser. I had a
problem. The gear - split clamping ring assembly slides over the
focus knob and then by means of a screw should clamp the split
ring to the focus wheel. Well, after tightening the clamp ring to the
limit, there was still about 1/64" clearence between the clamp ring
and the focus knob, and the clamp ring was quite loose. I solved this
problem by wraping a 1/2" wide aluminum foil shim tape around the
focus knob to build up its diameter enough so the clamp ring could be
tightened securely on to the focus knob. I wonder if any one else has
had this problem??

Hopefully my next "obvervations" will be "optical". <g>

still loose.

Frank Loch -- floch@postoffice.ptd.net