+Graham Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Well it is finally here. Stripped it down this morning so I can start the rebuild. The RA drive gear. This is actually solid bronze not that you can tell ? I am going to clean it up and polish it back to its former glory. The White lump in the center is Teflon and is part of the limited slip clutch arrangement that allows the scope to be pushed into position but still allows the scope to be driven without slippage in the drive train. The RA setting circle. The mirror cell. The Fork. This nearly killed me moving it round to the back of my house ? The base plate. This is constructed from 1 inch thick steel plate and weighs a veritable ton on its own. The tube assembly. Collateral damage. This is the main central bearing that unfortunately did not survive the move. Not too much of an issue as I was going to change it anyway. Alec, BAZ, +Bino-viewer and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Looks like a lot of work, if you need anything grinding you cannot do yourself don’t hesitate to ask +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 9, 2018 Author Share Posted June 9, 2018 Thanks Alec. Should have it covered. I will strip the bearings off the base plate and then take it to work for a shot blast and powder coating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 9, 2018 Author Share Posted June 9, 2018 Amazing the difference you can make with a 9 inch Bosch grinder fitted with a wire cup brush. Before. After. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Fantastic Graham. You have some real heavy metal to work on now. ? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Looking forward to following the restoration. I'm sure the finished scope will look amazing and perform as such. ? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Looks like a hard hat and safety boots site! I bet you have not stopped smiling ?? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Looking forward to this build Graham ?? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Well done Graham how’s the hernia ?? lm sure it’s going to look special once completed , bet the neighbors were what the f###s he got on that trailer scud missle ? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 9, 2018 Author Share Posted June 9, 2018 Update. Day one. Spent most of the day removing 30 plus years of paint. Still the powered wire brush doesn't take any prisoners and it is soon gone. Just undercoated the counter weight balance bar so I can top coat it tomorrow to see if I like the colour. Smithysteve, +RonC and philjay 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 10, 2018 Author Share Posted June 10, 2018 Day Two Spent the morning making up an adapter so I can upgrade the focuser to my Revelation duel speed focuser. On the scope Bottletopburly and BAZ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 A man always need a project and this is a massive one. I bet it will look excellent once it's done. Looking ast the photo's it looks a pretty simple set up, just very bulky. +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 (edited) I'll bet anyone a Mars Bar this will be getting first light before Christmas at the pace Graham's going at! ????? Edited June 10, 2018 by BAZ +Graham, Bottletopburly and +RonC 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 I'll take that bet Martyn!! ??️ Bottletopburly and +Graham 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 10, 2018 Author Share Posted June 10, 2018 I fully intend to have it up and running by the end of the month Bottletopburly and BAZ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Any danger of it making an appearance at Kelling? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philjay Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Looking good Graham, nice to see an old scope being brought back to life. I like the circles, good ole lettraset from the looks of it +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 2 hours ago, Rusty Strings said: Any danger of it making an appearance at Kelling? Like this maybe... ? +Graham, Bottletopburly and +RonC 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 10, 2018 Author Share Posted June 10, 2018 (edited) Thats about the only way it would make it. Spent another couple of hours with the power brush this evening. Just about got all the paint off the fork. Another go tomorrow will finish it. Off to Galvoptics with the mirror in the morning. Then the local bearing suppliers to get a new main bearing. Edited June 10, 2018 by Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 DAY THREE Went down to Galvoptics this morning with the mirror. To see how much the Aluminium coating had deteriorated since Galvoptics originally did it back in 1984 we put it on a light table shiny side up. I wish I had taken a photo of it as there were that many holes in the coating where the light shone through it looked like the front of the mirror was covered in a lace curtain. Left it with them for a strip down and a nice new shiny coat. Hopefully I can go and collect it next Monday. Went to my local bearing suppliers and got a new main bearing for the fork. Then spent another couple of hours getting the paint off the forks. Finally got it finished. Gave it a bath in White Spirits to get it totally clean. Once that has dried I will give it a coat of undercoat this afternoon. BAZ and Bottletopburly 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 Well thats the first of many done. Smithysteve, Alec, BAZ and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Looking really good Graham. +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Do you need four candles? ? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Thats come up a treat. And what great weather to work in. (hope i've not cursed it now....?) +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 Thanks folks. Its been hard graft but it has been worth it. Matters not Rob as I have to go back to work in the morning. Managed to get a second coat of undercoat on it this evening. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now