Removal of tube from front and rear cell (LX200)

Yet again, I have another question regarding my 12" LX200.


I am sending the tube out to be powder coated in a week or so but I can't for the life of me remove the rear or front cell.

Optics are all out, screws are all out...I've tried heating it with a heat gun but that didn't work. I tried working it out with a plastic mallet and that didn't work.

I am assuming that Meade has put some type of bonder between these fittings.

It's just about an inch or so larger than my oven so I can't put it in there to heat it up. I'm not going to use a blow torch.

Help!


Thanks again,

Phil

blow torch + time = success

It kills me to use the word "blow torch" when "telescope" is somewhere in the same sentence.

For those who are or were wondering how to do this, that's how.

It is necessary to heat the first inch back from the front and rear cell -- you may ruin paint, but if going to re-paint or powder coat, this is the only way. It's the same way you'd remove tripod legs from their cast mounts. Meade seems to love to glue things together.

You can hammer on it all day, but you'll break something. Just remove the optics and all plastic parts first!