Horrible focuser slack! Need your help please!!

Hello everyone. I have a severe problem with my 2" focuser and need your advise. My focuser appears to be your standard Synta 2" rack and pinion deal that you see on most Orions and Meades. My telescope is a Konus 1793. My problem is this; there is too much vertical play in the focuser tube. You can wiggle the tube up and down by as much as 1 to 1.5 millimeters. I can not even laser collimate my scope because the beam will jump up and down as I rack the focuser.

is there any way to tighten the slack in this thing?? It is driving me crazy.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Look for 2 little hex setscrews on the backside of the focuser. There is a knob back there that you tighten so the focus will not move. Above and below this knob are the set screws. This should take the slop out of your rack and pinion focuser. Going back outside, see ya!

Hi James -

I have the same Konus telescope as you do. My focuser had a little play as you described. As Anthony mentioned, there are two small allen screws on each side of the focus lock knob. Tighten these until there is no play in the focuser. Once they the play is gone, the focuser might be stiff (mine was). So you then need to adjust the 4 focuser tension screws, which are located on the opposite side of the focuser. Loosen them all each a 1/4 turn at a time, and then check the focuser. Continue doing this until it feels smooth. I did this procedure on my focuser, and it now has no play whatsoever, and moves very easily and smoothly.

This is the correct way to adjust this focuser - the wrong way is to tighten the focus lock to take out the play - that will make your focuser move in stiff, jerky motions, and will wear out the focuser lock.

Hope that helps!

-Jake