TELESCOPE is WRECKED! Can I Restore It... Using A Basketball? (FULL VERSION) Reflactor
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- This telescope was abused by a previous owners. This is a total restoration of a telescope from the ground up. It was almost ready for the junkyard!
#broken #telescope #restoration
The most wrecked telescope I've ever bought, but in this video you get to the see the transformational process of making it good as new. We disassemble it down to basics and attack the problems one by one. The secret ingredient? A deflated basketball of course.
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** My new SciFi short story prequel, right here on CZcams **
• MARS Sci-Fi Audiobook ...
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MY OTHER TELESCOPE VIDEOS:
1) Detailed video for cleaning your telescope mirror:
• How To Clean A Telesco...
2) Restoration of a computer driven Meade ETX-70:
• TINY Telescope with a ...
3) How to attach a smartphone to any telescope:
• Connect Your Phone To ...
4) Build a cheap "no-brainer" adjustable counterweight:
• Video
5) Fixing azimuth stiction with an old vinyl album:
• Telescope: Reduce Fric...
6) How to add a setting circle to an Orion XT8 Dobsonian:
• Cheapest Quick-Aim Tel...
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CZcams NOTES:
1) This video complies with the CZcams Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
2) All sound tracks and sound effects were used with permission from my video editing suite, Camtasia, OR they came from the CZcams AudioLibrary provided for CZcams content providers.
3) All items were paid for by me.
4) This video does not contain offensive material, children, or bad language.
#restorationvideos #orion #astronomy #Dobsonian #Reflector
TABLE OF CONTENTS (SHORTCUTS):
1) Introduction (what's broken): • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
2) Refurbishing the viewfinder: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
3) Repairing the focuser: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
4) Base/Electronics disassembly: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
5) Cleaning the base: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
6) Refurbishing the broken electronics: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
7) Disassembling the tube: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
8) Removing mirror: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
9) Removing trunions: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
10) Removing mirror from cell/washing: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
11) Straightening the lock screw: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
12) Washing the mirror: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
13) Re-assembling the mirror: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
14) Re-assembling the base from scratch: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
15) Installing new feet on base: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
16) Installing electronics and new base plate: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
17) Adding a new two-way bubble level: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
18) Fixing the dents (BASKETBALL): • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
19) Re-painting the inside of the tube: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
20) Re-installing focuser: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
21) Re-installing viewfinder: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
22) Re-installing trunions: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
23) Re-installing the mirror cell: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
24) Re-installing the tube on base: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
25) Re-installing the diagonal mirror: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
26) Collimating: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
27) Re-installing the control knob: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
28) Testing the final product! • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
29) Special note: • TELESCOPE is WRECKED! ...
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#reflector
#reflactor
@reflactor
Never seen a telescope restoration video before 😊😊
I have several of them here. Check out the Giant Telescope series that I did.
I really appreciate your site. I’ve done astronomy most of my life. My eyes are not what they used to be. I’ve learned that the joy of doing now outweighs the viewing. Thank you so much for all your “doing”. You inspire me.
I completely understand. I sometimes think I have more fun restoring them than using them. The light pollution here in Fort Worth has gotten so bad (Bortle 8/9) that there's really not much to see anymore.
This is truly a masterpiece. A cool video to watch, and a great guide for telescope repair/cleaning.
Thank you for the kind words. It was a very fun project. Two years later, the new owner brought it back and I got to do a little bit of service on it, but overall, it held up well. Clear skies!
That thing looks like it got hit by a tornado. Glad you brought it back to its former glory.
I hate how some people let this happen/intentionally do this to these marvelous pieces of precision equipment. I've had the 10" version of this scope for about 4 years and the worst thats ever happened to it is a layer of dust.
I honestly don't know how it ended up that bad, but it was broken (flipped encoder disk) from the day it was assembled. He looked me in the eye and said it worked great!
@@reflactor Clearly that thing was in the wrong hands for way too long! He probably thought you were dumb to not know the azimuth encoder was installed wrong!
In Germany we can buy blow up bubbles. They are used to shut up waste water pipes in case of a flood. That way the flood would not come through your toilet or drains. I think this things would be perfect for bumping out dents, since they are a long cylinder.
That's a really great idea!
I’m buying a “restoration” reflector telescope for my new home, which is my first telescope. No visible damage to the telescope, just some light corrosion from being at the coast, but more so on the mount. So thanks for all you informative and helpful videos that have convinced me this actually does fall within my technical skill-set. Just something from me to you, I suggest if ever you wish to clean up electronic and things like encoder wheels, potentiometers, switches, commutators, servos etc I recommend cleaning with Spanjaard Electo Clean and lubricating with Spanjaard’s Lubricating Switch Cleaner, this stuff works wonders.
Thanks for the tip. As you can surmise from my videos, I'm a complete amateur when it comes to electronics, so your recommendation is much appreciated!
Thank you for this. My 20yr old Dob has a focuser just like that. I referenced your video to open mine up and fix the play and slop in it. Nice work.
I'm so glad it was helpful! Thank you for the comment. I hope your refreshed Dob serves you well. Clear skies!
@reflactor I have a Newstar (Efston Science) 8" f/6, the knockoff of the Skywatcher that became really popular 20 years ago. Unfortunately it came with. Rack & Pinion focuser rather than the crayford. That will be my next upgrade.
I bought my first telescope very cheap and rebuilt it similarly. Should see the damaged telescopes my local area has advertised and the ridiculously high prices people want for them. Other postings are the same in all types of things. I got lucky to finally get one.
I was lucky that the person I bought this from didn't just throw it in the trash - it was pretty bad.
A lot of work. You seem to know things. I am a beginner still trying to figure out which end of the optical tube to look through.
Admittedly, that restoration was probably the most involved one that I've done. It had so much wrong with it. But in the end, it turned out to be a great little telescope.
Very impressive - you have the patience of a saint. You have a new subscriber.
Thank you kind sir. Have a great eclipse day.
You did a great job on the scope, the basket ball was genius level. I have a few small dents on a C4.5 Celestron, now I have new ideas of how to repair them. Thanks! Clear skies!
It was a very challenging restoration, but it was fun. Good luck with your own project!
What a show! 👏🏻 Please other videos same this! You are #1.
Thank you for the kind words. This was a fun video to make. I keep my eyes out for broken and abused telescopes that need some fixing up. Clear skies!
Como orgulloso propietario de un XT6 (sin Intelliscope), le felicito por su extraordinario trabajo! Ese telescopio que hubiese acabado en la basura, puede ahora mostrar la belleza de los cielos a alguien gracias a esta restauración.
¡Gracias por ver! Me enamoré de la función Intellicope. Este telescopio terminó siendo maravilloso. Sin embargo, no tengo ningún trastero, así que tuve que venderlo. Una familia lo compró para un viaje a campo traviesa.
Thanks really helped me to refurbish my 8” Dob.
That's great news. I'm glad it helped. Clear skies!
I was tempted years ago to pick one of these up, I will keep my eyes open for a used one.
The Orion PushTo technology works way better than I expected. I loved it. I'm actually looking for an 8 inch PushTo to replace my ancient XT8.
I have 2 newtonians with similar large dents. This was a great tutorial! What were the tools you used for removing the dents? A rubber mallet, painters tape, and what was that large curved metal piece?
I'm glad it was helpful! The tools that I used were part of an autobody repair kit (removes dents). I borrowed one from my friend Bob. You can buy them at Harbor Freight, but they also sell a lot of different levels at Amazon: amzn.to/409mbY8 (Note, that's an affiliate link - Amazon might send a few pennies my way, lol). The dead blow hammer is sold at any hardware store. Pretty cheap.
@Refractor John, you did an excellent job restoring that Telescope ( I can't believe someone put the encoder on the wrong way?) Your methods and instructions are clear to help others restore scopes of this kind!, Q: What is the measuring tool you used on the focuser to gauge the piece of Teflon called or a link to find one?
Thanks! Those were dial calipers. I have one for inches and one for millimeters. I use them as a scribe sometimes which is probably a crime among machinists.
Excellent repair. Better then new with the modifications. Thank you for sharing this.
This restoration was a lot of fun. Thank you for watching!
Great job restoring that telescope!
Thank you!
Lovely hobby, repairing telescopes. I've done some myself. You wouldn't happen to know what the name is of the split bolts that hold the spiderarms? I've been looking around for those for my own builds.
Your timing is impeccable - I'm working on a restoration where I have to fix those. As far as my research goes, they don't have a name and nobody sells them. For now, I'm calling them "threaded spider lugs". I am making them from scratch. The video should be out in the next week.
One of the best youtube videos Iv’e ever seen! I watched it from beginning to end! Congratulations on the success!!!😊
Thank you for the very kind words! That really made my day. I've got lots of more fun videos planned.
I like base stability improvement, if Orion used at time of production, this telescope never been through this pain
Thank you for watching! I'll never know why this telescope ended up in the condition that it did. But it turned out great in the end. Clear skies!
For the optical tube assembly you could use a piece of 6 inch black stove pipe and just drilled holes in for all your mounting of parts.
and just replaced all the logos.
But good job hammering out the dents.
good video
Good point. I could've used a replacement tube, but I'd have to find a pretty exact match because of the end cells. They were made from cast metal with a very tight fit. The mirror was 6 inches, so the outer tube was somewhere between 6.5 and 7 inches. My sheet metal creation skills are sorely lacking. Thank you for watching!
Great job.
Thanks! It was a fun restoration.
Great video. THANKS!!!
Thank you for watching. Clear skies!
I ❤ed how very well detailed the video & not done too fast so we can understand it better. I appreciate that. Thanks.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you liked the video - this telescope was a fun learning experience for me.
lol, got it, Red Hope, 99 cents - just purchased! Thanks for the instructive and fun videos!!
Thank you very much for your support! Hopefully the videos have been helpful. Clear skies!
excellent work, Now I am looking for a 6" tube for a DIY project just the tube alone I have all the other pieces
Thanks. Hopefully yours isn't quite as banged up as this one was. Clear skies!
@@reflactor If I don't get an original tube then my next option is to get one made at the local metal stop but I would really like an OEM tube
OK OK…. I bought the book! Looking forward to reading it soon. Great video too!
It worked! All joking aside, thank you for supporting the channel. :) Clear skies!
I have a 12" Zhumell that has a few issues, but not as many as that one. My problem has always been that the trunnions do not hold firm enough; it's too easy to move the scope. That hand controller is actually fairly cool; not ever seen one like it. Great job on repairing a really beat up telescope.
I have a 12" Zhumell too! When you say it moves to easily, do you mean it tilts up and down at the slightest touch and/or change of eyepieces? I ended up building a really cheap adjustable magnetic counterweight for all of my telescopes. I create one for the camera at the end of the the following video:
czcams.com/video/HAbyDqZl83Y/video.html
@@reflactor Yes, that's it. I really enjoy going to star parties with our Fort Worth group. Unfortunately, younger folks get excited easily and want to touch it. Or people put their eye on the eyepiece and move it. So I guess it is right to say it too easily moves in both axes. I currently use the same blue straps as you and put 1/2 lb ankle weights under the straps. The weights are covered in soft material. It allows some movement but not near as much as you washcloth-wrapped-magnet-weightbar. Cool!
I've heard excellent things about the Fort Worth Astronomy group and hope to make it to one of the star parties soon. Congrats on getting the carrying straps - those are real back savers.
Did you check to see if the mirror needs recoating? Like shining a light from the back of it and seeing if any light comes through the other side?
Good question. I did check that. I've had a mirror in the past that had terrible pitting and it shined through like the Hercules Cluster, lol. This one only had a few pinholes which is okay.
@@reflactor Good to hear!
I picked up an 8" XTI my arm encoder was destroyed. The feet were attached with cotter pins that were bent over. It had no Teflon pads as the cotter pins were there. I didn't know about the o-ring for the spotter scope. Thanks The mirrorhadabouta1/4" of dust on it. It turned out great. You wouldn't know where to find an Azm encoder wheel would you? I enjoy your videos.
And guess what. Orian was no help.
Congrats on the great find - I have been looking for an XT8i for a long time, they are extremely rare. Wow, yah, that encoder disc on Intelliscopes is pretty unique. The only place I could think of finding one would be on the used market like Cloudy Nights or eBay. Unless somebody is parting one out, you'd probably need to purchase the entire base (the Intelliscope system is so great that it might be worth it). Fortunately, the azimuth disc is the same as the elevation disc, so that might make it slightly easier to find a used one. Try contacting Skywatcher. Although Orion won't sell you parts, Skywatcher will and they often sell the same equipment, just rebranded. EDIT: This seller may still have the parts you need! www.cloudynights.com/classifieds/item/199338-orion-xt10i-part-out/
Thanks for the reply. I'll give Skywatcher a try. It's a shame that Orian is the way they are. The one I bought was in good shape except the base. The guy I got it from said that it was his father's and it was in perfect shape. Then I started pointing things out like the mirror and the base and the encoder disk. He thought that it was $1100 new. I showed him that it was much cheaper than that. I let him know that without the encoder disk it's just an XT8. But it still works and was worth the money I paid for it. Thanks again.
Some very good practical methods, Loved the basketball method, To help the metal return to the original unstressed form, Some very gentle heated around the general area and avoiding heat spots really reduce the crease removal and dolly work, Use waxed cooking paper on the inside between the ball and tube to reduce mat black paint scuffing. The paint is quite durable. Makes one cry to see such an instrument of learn abused, Nice work mate.
Excellent advice! I didn't even think about applying heat - I think that would've definitely helped (and reduced the required effort). The hammering did really mess up the inside matte finish and it took a lot of matte paint to tone that back down. I probably could've even flocked it when I was done. Clear skies!
Time is money, I make a lot of money. Energy can be wasted, it’s better to just put it in recycling.
Alot of work, good job.
Thanks! It was fun and educational.
That’s awesome how you fixed the focuser!
Thanks! I couldn't remember if the original one should have a Teflon block there, but it made sense and when I was done there was no slop at all.
Absolutely great!! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for watching. It was a fun project.
Awesome video. I have the 8 inch version of this telescope. I've never used the intelliscope feature but seeing your video has given me the confidence to try it.
I have trouble getting to my target with the 9×50 finderscope
Thank you for the kind words - glad you enjoyed the video. Congrats on owning the XT8i, that is pretty much my most desired 8 inch Dobsonian - haven't found one at a good price yet. As far as "locating astronomy targets" goes, the Intelliscope is so much faster than the GoTo version. I loved this Intelliscope. For my 8 inch Dobsonian, I use a red-dot finder because it works so well. My larger telescopes have a red dot finder (for quick coarse aiming) and then an optical viewfinder for more precision.
@@reflactor you really do have a way of bringing across the information clearly and is easily followed, keep it up bro.
I recently purchased an Astromania telescope reflex sight so I can maximize my time with the scope not struggling with the 9×50.
Great job!
I’m interested in getting into my first telescope, a 6 or 8 inch reflector. I’d like to get a used one, but also buy one from someone like you that knows what good working condition looks like. Do you have any for sale? Or do you have a video that is a buyers guide for assessing a used scope?
Loved this video. My son plays trumpet. You remind me of the craftsman that cares for brass instruments in my area, has repaired my son’s expensive instrument several times.
I see you have a buy/repair guide. Do you have a guide for assessing a used unit? Any smart suggestions for how to find one? I keep seeing 8 inch used on Facebook for $450. Orion sells refurb 8 inch for $550. Doesn’t seem like a deal.
I have a video that is a guide to buying a used telescope ( czcams.com/video/-qdi1dx7a-s/video.html ). The thing to keep in mind is that a lot of folks who are selling a telescope don't know much about it. So you'll need to show up kindof knowing what to look for (see video link above). I'm finishing an Orion 10 inch Dobsonian restoration and upgrade and it'll be for sale in a few weeks.
@@coletc You should be able to get an 8 inch Dobsonian from between $350 and $500 - it depends on accessories and condition. If it comes with a lot of eyepieces, then it'll be more.
@@reflactor thank you. Will watch. Do you post them for sale on your channel? I live in Chicago suburbs,
¡Great job! Congratulations.
Thanks for watching!
Nice job bring me back to life, Reminds me last week of my problems with my scalp although this is 10 times worse
Thanks! I wish I could put out more videos more often. They're pretty fun to make.
nice work! you only need to level the base when adjusting the mechanical vertical tube stop bumper so that the top of the tube is also level, ie: tube square to the base. Once that is done you no longer need to level the base during setup. It will work sitting on an angled driveway for example.
That is fantastic news and frankly, it makes me even more impressed by the PushTo system. I've used a GoTo and it's kindof a chore to get setup, so the ease with which this PushTo is setup keeps surprising me. It is extremely accurate too (I've been using it every other night as weather permits). My driveway has about a 5 degree slope.
This thing looks like someone took it apart, couldn't get it back together right and took out their frustration on it.
Oddly enough, the person that I bought it from said it works great! Lol, it did not work great. :)
@@reflactorThey always say that: "minor cosmetic details but works great"
Looks like a flat earther bought it and found out they were wrong. 😅 They started smashing it, then just like in the pursuit of knowledge, they quit. 😂
Cool Video!
Thanks! I got some lucky breaks on the electronics. Had the circuitboards been shot, it would've gotten expensive quickly.
What kind of spray paint did you use for this project? I have a dobsonian that has a lot of reflected light and I'd like to repaint the inside.
Thanks
Thanks for watching! I used a very matte black spray paint called Rustoleum Camouflage Black. You can buy it at Walmart or at Amazon: amzn.to/3Pz6pRj Clear skies!
@@reflactor excellent thank you very much for your prompt response . Hopefully that is going to solve my issue, the telescope is properly collimated but still, when watching bright objects such as Jupiter or Mars, there is some glare around the object, some people say it can be some light bouncing back.
Better to flock the inside of the scope for better contrast.
My god! What on earth did they do to it? Drop it off a multistory car park or something similar. Great job sir. When aligning the scope your stars were too close to each other and this often results in poor accuracy. Much better for the stars to be at least a quadrant apart >90 degrees.
I met the seller at a gas station. He looked me in the eye and said, "It works great." HAHAHA. I agree on the star alignment, but in my case, my view is very constricted due to trees and neighbors house. Regardless I love the Orion PushTo system. It works great.
Your right
Thanks for watching!
Look for a product called Bullfrog electronic cleaner...
After using a rubber eraser to scour off contact corrosion on the hand controller. a swab of that stuff on a Qtip will keep them corrosion free for months.
The stuff is spendy... but it's 100% legit. Best electronic cleaner/protectant for maritime and outdoor environments out there in my experience.
Used to use it on sensitive electronic components in high voltage protection system instrumentation at my substations. Discovered it years ago when looking for something to keep my fish finder electronics in my kayak from getting fried by salt water.
Trust me... the stuff is really really good. Smells a bit funky... but it WORKS.
Thanks! I'd not heard of that before.
What do people do to these poor things? Is this a case of "if all you see are nails, anything will serve as a hammer in a pinch" type of situation? I mean, I understand accidents happen, but these are precision instruments. How on earth do so many of them end up so beat up?
That's a very good question!
What happened to it that it got in such condition?
Good question. The guy I bought it from looked me in the eye and said, "It works great!" Hahaha.
Somebody beat that xt6 to hell.finder scope on ass backwards. The encoder disk upside down. Some people .😢 Great restoration John
Thanks! This one was really the hardest one so far because, as you mentioned, it was severely damaged.
😳Outsch!! 🥺This poor thing was really kind of brutalized by someone. It's good that you took care of it and saved it.👍
Reminds me of my purchase a few years ago: A Tasco 4.5"/900mm from the 80s. Probably stored for years in hot attics and damp basements. The tube is practically full of spiders and webs, the axles are bend and parttially rusted - not to mention the dirt all over it and on the mirrors... But was really cheap, nearly given. So I took it and puttet also 1 Week of work into it... I still have it and love to to have look through into the sky here and there...
The guy that I bought it from said "It works great!" No joke. He really said that. Your Tasco sounds like a fantastic fun project. :)
@@reflactor 😆😆😆 Unbelieveable! 🤣Hope you did get a really good price for this excellent working and carefull maintained Newton😅 And that you have so much fun with your big, shiny teleskope!
Yeah, it was. 😃
I know
What kind of MONSTER would abuse a telescope? Shameless!😢
Apparently the guy i bought it from. :(
@@reflactor You rescued a telescope 🔭 you're a good person. 👍
Sad to see a fine instrument trashed like that!
I completely agree. The guy I bought it from told me that it worked great, lol. It's like they used it as a hammer.
You don’t really like your toes right? Just joking, excellent restoration!
Thank you for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Happy stargazing!
How did it get like that?
Good question. I honestly don't know. The person I bought it from wasn't the original owner, so I was probably the 4th or 5th person down the line?
That's a lot of work for a 6-inch
It was the most effort I've put into a refurb, but it ended up being a great telescope. Clear skies!
6 inches is a good size.
My very first Dobsonian was one I built from the Berry book called "Build Your Own Telescope". It's a 6" Dob and it's lasted over 25 years!
It is a good compromise between smaller sizes & the real big sizes.
But sooner or later everybody gets aperture fever.
I'd like to get an 8" or 10" Dobsonian, thru I may have to build it myself.
I think my next project will be a pipe EQ mount on a tripod for my little 6" mini-Dob.
Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!
@@jons2447 You bring up a good point. Since I buy broken telescopes and fix them up, I've ended up with quite a few. The current mantra is "Aperture is King" and in theory, that's true. But here in the light-polluted city, I've found that my 12" Dob doesn't really perform much better than my 8" Dob. It's kindof frustrating actually. After a couple of experiences taking the 8" telescope camping in dark skies, I have a new version of that saying: "Aperture may be King, but dark skies trump everything". Clear skies!
came for the info, left because of the music.
Is it too loud? Too often? Incorrect temperment?
too awful @@reflactor
@@reflactorimo music is fine, great video :)
Some people just like to bitch .. the music is fine....