I've decided to upgrade (fix up) my Orion XT8 first, instead of blowing money into a new scope. Hopefully, I will appreciate my equipment more this way... The items I'll be attempting to change, in order of importance (one item at a time), are:
(1) Alzimuth bearing and/or surface.
(2) Secondary and Primary Mirrors
(3) Focuser
Let's start with item one: What is the best way to improving the alzimuth bearing surface and or bearings.
(a) Can I buy a circular base plate (with ebony star surface?) that I can use to replace that bottom circular piece which presses against the current teflon bearings (drilling and screwing ok, preferrable no cutting - especially circular cuts - and sanding).
(b) Or is there a thin circular bearing surface I can just add - screw in - to the bottom of my base, between the current laminate surface and the teflon bearings?
(c) Should I replace the teflon bearings also?
(d) Maybe someone sells the complete rotating base pieces complete with bearing and bearing surfaces that I can just screw into my current XT8 craddle???
My estimate for Item 1 fix should cost between $10 and $100. Any and all ideas (including any ideas where fixing up my xt8 is a mistake or good idea) are welcome.
Thanks
(1) Alzimuth bearing and/or surface.
(2) Secondary and Primary Mirrors
(3) Focuser
Let's start with item one: What is the best way to improving the alzimuth bearing surface and or bearings.
(a) Can I buy a circular base plate (with ebony star surface?) that I can use to replace that bottom circular piece which presses against the current teflon bearings (drilling and screwing ok, preferrable no cutting - especially circular cuts - and sanding).
(b) Or is there a thin circular bearing surface I can just add - screw in - to the bottom of my base, between the current laminate surface and the teflon bearings?
(c) Should I replace the teflon bearings also?
(d) Maybe someone sells the complete rotating base pieces complete with bearing and bearing surfaces that I can just screw into my current XT8 craddle???
My estimate for Item 1 fix should cost between $10 and $100. Any and all ideas (including any ideas where fixing up my xt8 is a mistake or good idea) are welcome.
Thanks
