MT-160 questions

I recently came across an ad for a Takahashi MT-160 (an older newtonian reflector that's natively at f6 but with an f8 extender and an f4.8 reducer), and made an offer...and a few days later a big well-padded box smelling of cigarette smoke arrived from overseas. The scope is an earlier pepto green/battleship grey model. Ijury-rigged it into my dob mount last night...fabulous views! It's a heavy scope, not sure how I will mount it, though I thought I might create an ultra-light tube for it.

I have a few questions for those in the know, however:

1. The 4.8 reducer is not usable visually, is that correct?

2. I have a 1.25" ep holder, but not a 2"...is it possible to get a 2"
ep adapter, and is it the same 2" adapter that the refractors with 2.7" focusers use?

3. Is the Feathertouch fine focuser usable on the 2.7" focuser?

4. Lastly, does anyone have any imaging experience with this scope with DSLRS?

thanks so much!
doug

Douglas Reilly said:

...and a few days later a big well-padded box smelling of cigarette smoke arrived from overseas.

thanks so much!
doug

Hi Doug,
I can't help with your questions, but can if the scope reeks of cigarette smoke. Clean every part of the scope you can EXCEPT the optics by swabbing it down with and wiping off with
1. alcohol
2. and/or vinegar
3. and/or hydrogen peroxide. Each of those will dissolve different chemical. Maybe rinse with water; you don't want vinegar fumes hanging around too long.

The acid vinegar (please use clear vinegar, not balsamic! Or not even apple cider) will cut through stuff the alcohol doesn't and vice versa.
Hydrogen peroxide: get the stuff from the drug store, which I think is 3%. The stronger stuff is too strong. It breaks down aromatic hydrocarbons or something like that.

Of course, if the optics look yellow from smoke...you've got a project.

Steven